Delegates at the event (Photo: VNA)
The workshop highlighted the significance of the “Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air” victory as well as the lessons learned to apply in the national cause of building and defense in the new situation.
On December 9, a national scientific conference with the theme "The Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu victory in the air 1972-Vietnam's strength and the stature of the times" took place at the hall of the Ministry of National Defense, Hanoi.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the victory "Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air" (December 1972-December 2022), the workshop clarified the domestic and international historical context; analyzing the plots, tricks and battle plans of the US imperialists when conducting massive air raids in the north of Vietnam with Hanoi, Hai Phong and neighboring areas suffering the most.
An overview of the workshop (Photo: VNA)
It also highlighted the guidelines, leadership and direction of the Party Central Committee, Central Military Commission and Ministry of National Defense when opening the Hanoi-Hai Phong Air Defense Campaign.
Besides highlighting the significance of the “Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air” victory, the workshop also revealed the lessons learned from the historic victory to apply in the national cause of building and defense in the new situation.
During the 12 days and nights of Operation Linebacker II (December 18-29, 1972), the US military mobilized B-52 strategic aircraft 740 times and tactical aircraft more than 1,000 times, using the jamming electronic weapons, dropping more than 36,000 tons of bombs on economic and military targets in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen and some other places. In which, B-52 bombers carpeted on hospitals and densely populated areas in Hanoi, such as Bach Mai hospital (on the night of December 21) and Kham Thien street (on the night of December 26) killing and injuring 500 people and destroying nearly 2,000 houses.
With active preparation and strong determination, Vietnam’s air defense force and air force, the Vietnamese army and people of Hanoi, Hai Phong and the northern provinces and cities, shot down 81 aircrafts, including 34 B-52s and 5 F-111s, and captured many American pilots. This is the first time in history that such a large number of B-52 strategic bombers, which were dubbed the "Flying Fortress" of the US military, was shot down.
Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defense, said; “The 1972 Hanoi-Hai Phong air defense campaign was the first in the world that shot down such a large number of B-52s, inflicting the hardest hit to the US Air Force in history, defeating the US’s attempt to win the negotiation and forcing the US to sign the Paris Peace Accords (January 1973) on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam. The "Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air” victory created favorable conditions and strategic opportunities for the entire Party, people and army to end the resistance war against the US.”
50 years have gone by, but the glorious echo of the "Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air victory" still resonates as a brilliant milestone in the history of the Vietnamese nation. The victory reflects the bravery, intelligence, strategic vision of the Vietnamese Party and the strength of the Vietnam People's War in the Ho Chi Minh era, in which the Vietnam People’s Army is the core. The stature, meaning, and valuable lessons learned from the victory are still valid today in Vietnam’s national construction and defense.
The victory was of strategic importance creating a turning point for the Vietnamese people’s resistance war against the US, heard the workshop. It was manifestation of Vietnam’s courage, intellect, and strength. It embraces a profound imprint of the times, demonstrates the invincible power of the Vietnamese and encouraged progressive people around the world./.
