A national symposium highlighting the Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu air battle victory was held on November 28 to remember the 40th anniversary of the event (1972-2012).

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Cung, Deputy Defence Minister and head of the steering board of the conference, recalled the armed forces and militia’s historical victory against the US air attacks on Hanoi and the northern provinces in December 1972 that reversed US pressure at the negotiations for the Paris Peace Accords.

Over 12 days and nights from December 18, armed forces in the north shot down 81 US aircraft, including 34 B52s, leading to the victory, which contributed to the end of US bombing in the northern region, the signing of the Paris Accords, and US troop withdrawal from Vietnam, restoring peace in the country.

Cung added that the results of the conference will contribute to educating soldiers and people, especially the youth, uphold the revolutionary tradition and nourish the spirit of patriotism, national pride and respect, the love of socialism and the tradition of great unity.

Delegates at the event affirmed that the victory reflected the strategic vision of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, and the sound, timely and creative leadership of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Party Commission and the Defence Ministry.

They also highlighted the resilient and brave fighting spirit of the Air Defence and Air Force service, as well as the northern soldiers and militia, especially those in the cities of Hanoi and Hai Phong.

The “Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the Air” victory was considered a ground-to-air warfare victory based on three forces, with the Air Defence and Air Force Service at the core.-VNA