Truong Son Martyrs Memorial Temple - Ben Tat - Photo: D.T.
On a peaceful morning, we had the opportunity to revisit the National Monument of the First Missile Battlefield that shot down a B52 aircraft in Vietnam, located in Vinh Khe commune. In early October 2024, the site underwent restoration of the monument, trees, and landscaping; it has become a significant location for educating the younger generation about patriotic and revolutionary traditions, and a place to honor the heroic achievements of the Missile Troops.
Historically, in 1965, in an attempt to further advance the war of aggression against Vietnam, the US imperialists deployed troops to the South and used B-52 bombers to bomb the North. The B-52 "flying fortress" was considered the most advanced bomber in the US arsenal, capable of carrying up to 30 tons of bombs and 20 missiles, flying continuously for 16,000 kilometers at an altitude of 13 km above sea level. Along with a dense escort system of attack aircraft, fighter jets, refueling aircraft, and electronic jamming systems, the B-52s launched a fierce bombing campaign north of the 17th parallel in 1966, causing significant damage to the Vinh Linh area.
To prevent the enemy from acting with impunity in the skies of North Vietnam and to make them pay for their crimes, in accordance with the directives of the Politburo, President Ho Chi Minh, and the Ministry of National Defense , in April 1966, the 238th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Ha Long Regiment) of the Air Defense-Air Force Command was ordered to mobilize and fight in the Southern battlefield of Military Region IV, and to undertake the special task of researching how to attack B-52 strategic bombers. A missile battery was set up in the rubber forests of the Quyet Thang Farm in Vinh Khe commune, Vinh Linh district.
After days of meticulous research on how to attack B-52 aircraft, preparing weapons, equipment, and personnel, and fostering a spirit of decisive victory, the moment of confrontation with the enemy finally arrived. At 5:03 PM on September 17, 1967, at the T-5 (Team 3) battlefield of the Quyet Thang Farm, under the direct command of the Air Defense-Air Force Command and Military Region IV, Battalion 84, commanded by Mr. Nguyen Dinh Phien, with its main combat crew consisting of control officer Le Hy and operators Pham Viet Ngoan, Tran Hong Thinh, and Nguyen Van Ngan, launched two missiles into the sky, instantly destroying a B-52 while this "super flying fortress" was carrying bombs and committing atrocities in the Vinh Linh area. This was the first B-52 aircraft shot down by our missile troops in North Vietnam.
Victory followed victory. At 5:34 PM, another group of B-52s flew into the battlefield. With only one missile remaining, the battalion resolutely fought and destroyed another B-52. This was an exceptionally brilliant battle of historical significance, marking the first time a US "super flying fortress" was destroyed on the Vietnamese battlefield. This event is considered the first building block laying the foundation for the victory of the strategic "Dien Bien Phu in the Air" battle at the end of 1972 over Hanoi , Hai Phong, and other areas.
A memorial plaque commemorating the first anti-aircraft missile site to shoot down a B52 aircraft in North Vietnam is located in Vinh Khe commune, Vinh Linh district - Photo: D.T.
Leaving the memorial commemorating the first B52 missile strike in Vietnam, we passed through Ben Quan town, where a famous state-owned farm called Quyet Thang once stood; a source of pride for the "steel land" of Vinh Linh. Chronicles of this western Vinh Linh region record that, after completing its combat mission in the resistance war against French colonialism, the 325th Division was assigned by the Party, State, and the Central Military Commission to be stationed in Quang Binh province and the Vinh Linh area to both protect the border, develop the economy, and ensure national defense and security.
On August 19, 1958, in the western part of Vinh Linh district, in Vinh Ha commune, officers and soldiers of Battalion 332, Regiment 18, Division 325, reinforced by officers and soldiers from two companies of Regiment 101, two companies of Regiment 95 of Division 325, and two companies of Brigade 341, were assigned the task of establishing the Quyet Thang State Farm. Along with the decision to establish the farm, to lead the task of economic development and protect the strategic area, the Standing Committee of the Vinh Linh District Party Committee decided to establish the Quyet Thang State Farm Party Committee.
Upon its establishment, Quyet Thang Farm was allocated 1,200 hectares of hilly land in Vinh Long, Vinh Ha, and Vinh Khe communes to develop industrial crops such as rubber, tea, and pepper, as well as raise buffalo, cattle, and pigs, and cultivate freshwater fish.
Over time, the Quyet Thang Farm gradually grew stronger and became a new economic center and a fairly bustling residential area in western Vinh Linh. In early 1965, when the US imperialists escalated their bombing campaign against North Vietnam, Vinh Linh in general and the Quyet Thang Farm in particular embarked on a new mission: organizing on-site evacuation and protection, ensuring production, supporting the war effort, and directly fighting to protect the achievements of many years of construction, while simultaneously providing manpower and resources to the Quang Tri and Southern battlefields.
On May 27, 1965, American planes dropped devastating bombs on the Quyet Thang Farm, causing significant loss of life and property. Following that initial bombing raid, throughout the bombing campaign against North Vietnam, the Quyet Thang Farm area became a frequent and intense target of bombing and shelling by the American air force and artillery.
As the American war of destruction intensified, in 1967, the Quyet Thang Farm organized the evacuation of some cadres, workers, and their children to farms in Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces during the K10 campaign. Those cadres and workers who remained to fight and rebuild the farm were truly steadfast soldiers.
The farm self-defense regiment was organized and equipped as a main army unit to ensure territorial defense, with a company of 37 mm anti-aircraft guns, 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine guns, 82 mm mortars, 75 mm recoilless rifles, etc.
Not only were they skilled fighters and steadfast defenders of their territory, the Quyết Thắng Farm self-defense force also sent personnel to participate in combat and support operations, contributing thousands of man-days to the battlefields of North Quảng Trị. The farm's 75mm recoilless rifle anti-tank unit achieved many glorious victories.
Standing firm in the western part of Vinh Linh during the 7 years of fierce resistance against the destructive war waged by the American imperialists, the Quyet Thang Farm excelled in production, effectively prevented and organized evacuations, and coordinated with the main army, local troops in the Vinh Linh area, and the people and soldiers of Vinh Ha, Vinh Khe, Vinh Truong, Vinh Long, Vinh Thuy, Vinh Chap communes... to bravely fight, shooting down many American planes and capturing many enemy pilots. The farm's self-defense force alone shot down two enemy aircraft on the spot. With these exceptionally outstanding achievements, on January 1, 1967, the Quyet Thang Farm was awarded the title of Heroic Unit by the Party and the State.
Half a century has passed since the reunification of the country, with North and South united as one nation. Today, as we travel along the Ho Chi Minh Trail to offer incense at the Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery, we all feel an indescribable joy as we pass through lands echoing with heroic deeds and undergoing daily transformation.
In 1994, the Government issued Decree No. 79/ND-CP dated August 1, 1994, establishing Ben Quan town. All residents of the Quyet Thang State Farm and some households from the two mountainous communes of Vinh Khe and Vinh Ha were relocated to a new place called Ben Quan town.
For over 30 years of dedicated effort in building and developing, the Party Committee, government, and people of Ben Quan town have worked together to effectively utilize the potential and advantages of land and labor to develop the economy; paying attention to socio-cultural development, improving the spiritual life of the people, and creating momentum for building and developing their homeland.
From a land of fire, Ben Quan has become a land of peace. The people of this semi-mountainous region are writing a new chapter in history, building and developing, striving towards a prosperous and civilized future, worthy of the legendary achievements of their heroic homeland...
Dan Tam
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/ve-noi-dat-lua-dat-lanh-193372.htm
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