Conference highlights victory against US air blitz
A national symposium on the Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu air battle victory was held on November 28 to mark 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 blitz over Hanoi and the northern provinces in December 1972 that turned the negotiating table for the Paris Peace Accords.
For a short period of 12 days and nights starting on 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 raid over the northern region, the signing of the Paris Accords, US troop withdrawal from Vietnam, and restoring peace in the country.
Cung added that the results of the conference will promote education of 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 to 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 Haiphong.
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 their core.