Late in January 1968, the Communists launched their famous Tet Offensive throughout South Vietnam. The 67th TRW was soon followed by detachments of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, based at Kadena AB, Okinawa, which also flew RF-101 reconnaissance missions over Laos and South Vietnam, first from bases at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand from 31 March 1965 to 31 October 1967 and then from South Vietnam. [16]:107The 315th Group was assigned to the 315th Air Division, but came under the operational control of MACV through the 2d Air Division. Officials in Hanoi realized that this would be necessary to counteract the improvements in the armed forces of South Vietnam. A new plan was instituted - South Vietnamese troops were to pacify the countryside, while U.S. and Allied forces were to battle Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops. The VPAF lost 54 MiGs (including 36 MiG-21s and one MiG-21U) and they claimed 90 U.S. aircraft were shot down, including 74 F-4 fighters and two RF-4C (MiG-21s shot down 67 enemy aircraft, MiG-17s shot down 11 and MiG-19s shot down 12 enemy aircraft[citation needed]). Most of these missions were into southern North Vietnam, leaving Hanoi to continue its build-up in the north. Division 3rd Brigade of 4th Infantry Division 196th and 198th Light Infantry Brigades 11th Infantry Brigade 3rd Brigade of 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) also attached SOUTH VIETNAM FORCES: 1st Division 51st Regiment 2nd Division It called for the U.S. to remove all of its forces from South Vietnam and for all POWs to be returned within 60 days. From May to December 1966, the US lost 47 aircraft in air battles, destroying only 12 enemy fighters. [1]:108[24]:165, In April 1963 the 777th Troop Carrier Squadron equipped with 16 C-123s deployed to the base. See "Published Government Documents" and "Secondary Sources" below. When South Vietnam was overrun by PAVN forces on 30 April 1975, approximately 877 aircraft were captured by PAVN. [1] The airfield was run by the South Vietnamese Department of Civil Aviation with the RVNAF as a tenant located on the southwest of the airfield. This brought a North Vietnamese agreement on December 29 to return to the peace table. 910 Training Regiment (Trung on Khng qun 910) with Yak-18 trainers. [11] The aircraft were soon deployed to forward operating locations at Binh Thuy, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Pleiku Air Bases. Other courses included navigation classes and helicopter transition and maintenance training for the CH-47 Chinook. The bombing lasted for 14 months. The North Vietnamese and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam continued their attempt to overthrow President Nguyn Vn Thiu and remove the U.S.-supported government. The original Dirty Thirty pilots eventually rotated home during early 1963 and were replaced by a second contingent of American pilots. In September 1975, the four newly created regiments were formed into the 370nd Air Division "L Li" and the 372nd Air Division "Hai Van" was formed, including among others the 925th fighter regiment. Early in 1962 tests began for defoliating the jungle to deny the enemy cover. The VNAF was now responsible for 70% of all air combat operations. The earliest casualty record contains a date of death of . 'Service of Air Defence - Air Force') or the Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF, Khng qun Vit Nam (KQVN)), is the aerial warfare service branch of Vietnam. 307th Strategic Wing. During the Vietnam War Tan Son Nhut Air Base was important for both the USAF and the RVNAF. 472.9.7 Records of the Navy Division; 472.9.8 Records of the Air Force Division; 472.9.9 Records of the Special Assistant to the Ambassador for Field Operations; 472.10 RECORDS OF THE MILITARY EQUIPMENT DELIVERY TEAM, CAMBODIA (MEDTC) 1955-76 (bulk 1971-75) 41 cu. In addition, the 377th ABW was responsible for housing numerous tenant organizations including Seventh Air Force, base defense, and liaison with the RVNAF. [1]:229. USAF and Navy aircraft losses began to mount and in April, Washington finally approved attacks on four of the five MiG airfields as part of Operation Bolo, whose purpose was to destroy the North Vietnamese Air Force. The operational element of the PAVN Air Force was the air regiment, of which there were seventeen in 1987 grouped into air divisions and headquartered at Noi Bai (Hanoi), Da Nang, Tho Xuan, and . The regiment's fleet consisted of: 917th Mixed Air Transport Regiment was moved to Cn Th International Airport in 2017. The wing was inactivated in-place on 31 August 1971. [2] : 52 At dawn on 29 April two A-1 Skyraiders began patrolling the perimeter of Tan Son Nhut at 2,500 feet (760m) until one was shot down, presumably by an SA-7 missile. By the end of the year, Rolling Thunder had progressed northward, reaching the Hanoi area, and the B-52 Operation Arc Light missions started over North Vietnam. [1]:277, In June 1956 the 2nd Transport Squadron equipped with C-47s was established at the base and the RVNAF established its headquarters there. [3]:38 In April 1962 the unit was designated Detachment 3, Pacific Air Rescue Center. So the U.S. doubled its air operations south of the 20th parallel, concentrating on enemy troops and supplies crossing the DMZ. The general staff plan for the invasion of South Vietnam called for 20 divisions, it anticipated a two-year struggle for victory. The United States Air Force was deployed to South Vietnam as part of this effort. Because of the North Vietnamese offensive, President Nixon on May 8 suspended peace talks and ordered Operation Linebacker, the renewed bombing of North Vietnam and the aerial mining of its harbors and rivers. When the VC scored some impressive victories over South Vietnamese troops, the U.S. increased its forces even more. Also there was decreased support from villagers who resettled in refugee camps rather than risk being bombed by the USAF for having Viet Cong in them. An array of specialized U.S. Air Force units took on some of the Vietnam War's most dangerous missions by Jon Guttman 12/27/2021 The crew chief gives the pilot of a fully loaded B-26K Counter Invader of the 1st Air Commando Squadron the signal to start engines at Nakhon Phanom Air Base, Thailand, in 1969. Acting against the advice of the Pentagon, the Johnson Administration chose not to escalate the Rolling Thunder attacks under the belief that the Communist Chinese and North Vietnamese would charge that the pause over Tet was just a prelude to more drastic actions. [1]:278, In April 1965 a detachment of the 9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron comprising 4 RB66Bs and 2 EB66Cs arrived at the base. FACs had the critical job of telling tactical fighters where to drop their ordnance. It was decided that from this time only C-130s would be used for the evacuation due to their greater maneuverability. [3] Consequently, 3 April became "North Vietnamese Air Force Day". From April 1965 to November 1968, in 268 air battles conducted over North Vietnam, VPAF claimed to have shot down 244 US or Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) aircraft and they lost 85 MiGs.[6]. In June 1965, the B-57s were moved from Tan Son Nhut AB to Da Nang AB. [1]:148, The establishment of a country-wide tactical air control center was regarded as a priority for the effective utilisation of the RVNAF's limited strike capabilities, in addition an air operations center for central planning of air operations and a subordinate radar reporting center were also required. On 1 July 1955, the RVNAF 1st Transport Squadron equipped with C-47 Skytrains was established at the base. [16]:4156 The Air Division received the Presidential Unit Citation recognizing their efforts during the Battle of Khe Sanh. It is the successor of the former North Vietnamese Air Force and absorbed the South Vietnamese Air Force following the reunification of Vietnam in 1975 and is one of three main branches of the People's Army of Vietnam, which is under the control of the Ministry of National Defence. The ARVN relied heavily on air support, and with the absence of the USAF, full responsibility fell on the RVNAF alone. 5, 1965. For 11 days, the USAF pounded every possible military and transportation target with B-52s and tactical fighters. On 1 June 1969 the unit transferred to become 360th TEWS Det 1. Before this program RDF involved tracking the signals on the ground. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. The plotters invited loyalist officers to a routine lunch meeting at JGS and captured them in the afternoon of 1 November 1963. [13]:69, On 28 April at 18:06, three A-37 Dragonflies piloted by former RVNAF pilots, who had defected to the Vietnamese People's Air Force at the fall of Da Nang, dropped six Mk81 250lb bombs on the base damaging aircraft. U.S. [15]:4901. This page was last edited on 31 March 2023, at 22:29. Project Drillpress also used modified C-47s, listening into VC/PAVN traffic and collected intelligence from it. . Shenyang J-6. During the last half of 1965, Viet Cong activity inside South Vietnam continued to increase. While there is general agreement among sources as to units and equipment, there is a glaring discrepancy between reported order of battle. [13]:24 On 4 April a C-5A aircraft carrying 250 Vietnamese orphans and their escorts suffered explosive decompression over the sea near Vng Tu and made a crash-landing while attempting to return to Tan Son Nhut; 153 people on board died in the crash. [3]:75, On 1 July 1971 the entire 38th ARRS was inactivated. China. By slowly advancing the target areas northward across North Vietnam, it was hoped the North Vietnamese leaders would eventually be convinced to sit down at the peace table. The U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy continued to lay down great expectations on the F-4 Phantom, assuming that the massive arms, the perfect on-board radar, the highest speed and acceleration properties, coupled with the new tactics would provide F-4s an advantage over the MiGs. This article is about the current Vietnamese air force. An immediate recall was issued, and within 72 hours, 90 percent of the RVNAF was on duty. The reconnaissance Voodoos at Tan Son Nhut were incorporated into the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in February 1966. The Service Branches comprise of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Defence Force and Coast Guard. Legend states Col. Toon had allegedly downed 13 US aircraft during his tenure. The 1876th Communications Squadron was reassigned on 1 April 1972, and moved to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. Migs over North Vietnam: The Vietnam People's Air Force in Combat, 196575, Stackpole Military History, PATTERNS AND PREDICTABILITY: THE SOVIET EVALUATION OF OPERATION LINEBACKER II, by Dana Drenkowski and Lester W. Grau. A total of 201 air battles took place between American and Vietnamese planes in 1972 sorties. (1) GROUND FORCE PERSONNEL, including Army aviation, generally are indexed at the Regimental level but there are exceptions. Flights to and from France, as well as within Southeast Asia were available prior to World War II. Although equipped with large numbers of Cessna A-37 Dragonfly and F-5 attack aircraft to carry out close air support, during the 1972 offensive, heavy bombardment duty was left to USAF aircraft. Fourteen aircraft were damaged at the base.[7][8]. 935 fighter regiment "ng Nai" and no. [6] The culmination of the struggle in the air was 10 May 1972, when the VPAF aircraft completed 64 sorties, engaging in 15 air battles. Most U.S. aircraft were destroyed by SA-2 surface-to-air missiles or anti-aircraft artillery (AAA), and in some cases, even small arms. Fighter aircraft. [citation needed] Two nights later, other attacks (now known not to have occurred) were reported against the USS C. Turner Joy. After shooting down a few American planes and forcing some of the bombers to drop their bombs prematurely, the MiGs did not wait for retaliation, but disengaged rapidly. Casey, Michael, Clark Dougan, Samuel Lipsman, Jack Sweetman, Stephen Weiss, et al.. Hobson, Chris, "Vietnam Air Losses USAF/NAVY/MARINE, Fixed-wing aircraft losses Southeast Asia 19611973. [21]:4950 In early January 1962 the 3rd RRU's compound at Tan Son Nhut was renamed Davis Station. The next month a U.S. Navy plane was lost to a SAM and the U.S. began a series of special missions named "Iron Hand" against the rapidly expanding missile sites. By the same time, the Seventh Air Force had assumed command-and-control responsibilities from the 2d Air Division. Lane company for the U.S. Operations Mission, but parking aprons and connections to the taxiways were required. One O-1 managed to land on the USSMidway, carrying a South Vietnamese major, his wife, and five children. He announced that he would not run for re-election. On March 28, 1973, the last U.S. military personnel departed South Vietnam. With the withdrawal of the French in 1955, the South Vietnamese Air Force came into existence and inherited much of the former French aircraft. By midyear, the RVNAF had grown to thirteen squadrons; four fighter, four observation, three helicopter, and two C-47 transport. The first such unit was the 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron, formed on Oct.1, 1961, in response to the activation of the South Vietnamese National Liberation Front, or Viet Cong, in 1960. [1]:277, In November 1956, by agreement with the South Vietnamese government, the USAF assumed some training and administrative roles of the RVNAF. Previous Next The War in South vietnam: the Years of the Offensive, 1965-1968 by John Schlight. Because of their rather unusual situation, these pilots soon adopted the very unofficial nickname, The Dirty Thirty. The list is then in order by location, with a list of units assigned to that location. In the first month of the offensive, transports from Tan Son Nhut ferried thousands of troops and delivered nearly 4,000 tons of supplies throughout the country. 1968 was the midpoint of the Vietnam War. [1]:236, On 8 March 1965 the 315th Troop Carrier Group was redesignated the 315th Air Commando Group. 35,000 personnel (2023) 223 active aircraft, High Command of Vietnam People's Air Force. These records were transferred into the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration in 2008. If a plane was badly damaged, but managed to land, the USAF did not count as a loss, even if it was too damaged to fly again. Responding to the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) attack, the RVNAF flew more than 20,000 strike sorties which helped to stem the advance. Many VPAF aircraft were destroyed on the ground, and those that were not, were withdrawn to a sanctuary in the north west of the country or into China. This data gave insights into the plans and strategy of both the VC and the PAVN. In May 2009, they signed a deal to procure additional 12 aircraft from the Russians to bolster their ageing fleet. 200-250 VC/PAVN soldiers were based at Camp Davis (see Davis Station below) at the base from March 1973 until the fall of South Vietnam.[12]. [13] In late March, two or three of these MAC aircraft were arriving each day and were used for the evacuation of civilians and Vietnamese orphans. On 8 July 1965, the 33d Tactical Group was redesignated the 6250th Combat Support Group. Before the rotation ended in July 1970, pilots and F-102 aircraft from other Far East squadrons were used in the deployment. [10] In addition airborne "rocket watch" patrols were established in the Saigon-Bin Ha area to reduce attacks by fire. [3]:113, In February 1973 the 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group left Tan Son Nhut AB and moved to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base. Led by Colonel Robin Olds on 2 January 1967, Operation Bolo lured MiG-21s into the air, thinking they were intercepting an F-105 strike group, but instead found a sky full of missile-armed F-4 Phantom IIs set for aerial combat. Former VNAF F-5Es, C-123s, C-130s, and UH-1s were used by the VPAF for many years after the end of the War. [1]:245, On 30 October 1965 the first RF-4C Phantom IIs of the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron arrived at the base and on 16 November they began flying missions over Laos and North Vietnam. [1]:277[16]:106 On 8 December 1962 the 315th Air Commando Group, (Troop Carrier) was activated replacing the 6492nd Combat Cargo Group and became responsible for all in-country airlift in South Vietnam, including control over all USAF airlift assets. (U.S. Air Force) [3] A small-scale training was carried out in the following years. 2001. [1]:74 The RF-101s would depart in January 1962 leaving Detachment 1, 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron to undertake photo-processing. In the years between 1953 and 1991, approximately 700 warplanes, 120 helicopters, and 158 missile complexes have been supplied to North Vietnam by the USSR and PR China (primarily the MiG-19 (J-6 series). It was the most extensive air campaign within North Vietnam in three years. The prevailing mood in the United States at the time of the November presidential election was to get out now and cut our losses while we can. The organisational levels of Vietnam People's Air Force, from highest to lowest are: Some airbases in the south were built by the French, Japanese* (World War II), United States Air Force or United States Navy for South Vietnam. The RVNAF also had a special missions squadron at the base equipped with 3 C-47s, 3 C-45s and 1 L-26. [1]:81 On 20 May these detachments were redesignated the 6220th Air Base Squadron. In 1972, the buildup of the RVNAF at Tan Son Nhut was expanded when two C-130 Hercules squadrons were formed there. Vietnam's rapid economic development is opening the country to foreign investment and has resulted in Hanois new acquisition of more modern equipment. American support continued though the 1950s, with additional B-26s, Douglas A-1 Skyraiders and North American T-28 Trojans for pilot training. On 3 February 1964, the first fighter regiment No. Unlike the USAF Farm Gate personnel at Bien Hoa Air Base, the C-47 co-pilots actually became part of the RVNAF operational structure though still under U.S. control. The most notable was Colonel L Quang Tung, loyalist commander of the ARVN Special Forces, which was effectively a private Ng family army, and his brother and deputy, Le Quang Treu. 3rd Marine Division. An invention of the American pilots, Colonel Toon was a combination of good pilots in Vietnam, like the "solo artist" lonely night bombing in World War II was called Washing Machine Charlie. [19], According to Dana Drenkowski and Lester W. Grau, the number of U.S. aircraft lost confirmed by themself is unconfirmed since the U.S. figures are also suspect. F-102s and TF-102s (two-seat trainer version) were deployed to Tan Son Nhut initially because ground radar sites frequently painted small aircraft penetrating South Vietnamese airspace. From the Easter Offensive of 1972, it was clear that without United States aid, especially air support, the ARVN would not be able to defend itself against continuing PAVN attacks. The 315th ACW was transferred to Phan Rang Air Base on 14 June 1967. [3]:127, From December 1961, the 8th and 57th Transportation Companies (Light Helicopter) arrived with Piasecki CH-21C Shawnee's. SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) sites were first detected in North Vietnam on Apr. [9], On 12 June 1968 a mortar attack on the base destroyed two USAF aircraft and killed one airman. [24]:254 In addition to the reconnaissance operations, the 460th TFW's base flight operated in-theater transport service for Seventh Air Force and other senior commanders throughout South Vietnam. VPAF flew their interceptors with guidance from ground controllers, who positioned the MiGs in ambush stations. This halt followed one of six days the preceding May. The last 45th TRS RF-101C left Tan Son Nhut on 16 November 1970. Contents 1 Chronology of the USAF involvement in Vietnam 1.1 Advisory Years (1961-1964) 1.2 The Buildup (1965-1968) [13] The resulting dogfight became extended. 917 mixed transport regiment "ng Thp" were created in July 1975. The northern bases were likely built with assistance and/or use by the French, China or the Soviet Union during the Vietnam War. As the headquarters for the RVNAF, Tan Son Nhut was primarily a command base, with most operational units using nearby Bin Ha Air Base. Cunningham climbed steeply, and the MiG pilot surprised Cunningham by climbing as well. There were several times during the war that the US bombing restrictions of VPAF airfields were lifted. It was then that the USAF sent jet aircraft into South Vietnam for the first time. Another function of Tan Son Nhut Air Base was as an RVNAF recruiting center. In early 1975 North Vietnam realized the time was right to achieve its goal of re-uniting Vietnam under communist rule, launching a series of small ground attacks to test U.S. reaction. On December 24, 1965, President Johnson declared a bombing halt over North Vietnam to try to persuade Hanoi to discuss a political settlement. The Vietnam War The U.S. traveled back to Southeast Asia to halt the spread of communism. After North Vietnam agreed on December 29, 1972 to return to the peace table in Paris, the U.S. restricted its air attacks on North Vietnam to the area south of the 20th parallel. U.S. Air Force: Vietnam Cease-Fire: . RVNAF F-5s took off in pursuit, but they were unable to intercept the A-37s. On September 3, 1966, North Vietnam sent up its Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s in force for the first time from five air bases which had not previously been attacked because they had been hidden in underground bases. The 505th Tactical Air Control Group was assigned to Tan Son Nhut on 8 April 1964. At 07:00 the AC-119 was firing on PAVN to the east of Tan Son Nhut when it too was hit by an SA-7 and fell in flames to the ground. Also in 1962 the 2d Air Division was assigned as the command-and-control authority for USAF units; this arrangement would last until 1966. As Viet Cong activity increased, so did the response and U.S. personnel were given permission to engage the enemy under certain conditions. Without this system, it would not have been possible for the RVNAF to deploy its forces effectively where needed. The designs for an entire generation of aircraft, with engineering optimised for daylight air-to-air combat (dog fighting) against both older, as well as for emerging MiG fighters, were put on the drawing board. COIN The Geneva Accords of July 1954 temporarily divided Vietnam into two parts along the 17th parallel, pending all-Vietnam elections in 1956. 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. In late 1969 C Flight, 17th Special Operations Squadron equipped with five AC-119G gunships was deployed at the base. Only one Il-28 sortie was flown in 1972 against Royal Laotian forces. [9] The site was eventually overrun by People's Army of Vietnam commando climbers. The United States used it as a major base during the Vietnam War (19591975), stationing Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine units there. Local base rescue helicopters and their crews then became detachments of the parent unit, the 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group. [3] On 7 September, the No. By the end of 1967, the year's score was 178 MiGs downed at a cost of 25 U.S. aircraft in air-to-air combat. But in encounters with lighter VPAF's MiG-21, F-4 began to suffer defeat. This sudden loss of qualified C-47 pilots brought the 1st Transportation Group's airlift capability dangerously low. [2] RMK-BRJ also constructed an air-control radar station in 1962, and the passenger and freight terminals in 1963. The MiGs made fast and devastating attacks against U.S. formations from several directions (usually the MiG-17s performed head-on attacks and the MiG-21s attacked from the rear). The VPAF claimed shooting down two United States Navy (USN) F-8 Crusaders, which was not confirmed by U.S. sources, although they acknowledged having encountered MiGs. In 1965, the VPAF were supplied with supersonic MiG-21s by the USSR which were used for high-speed Ground-controlled interception (GCI) controlled hit and run intercepts against American air strike groups. [4]:146[16]:191. [5][6]:173, The base was attacked by the VC in a sapper and mortar attack on the morning of 4 December 1966. On 13 May 1961 a 92-man unit of the Army Security Agency, operating under cover of the 3rd Radio Research Unit (3rd RRU), arrived at Tan Son Nhut AB and established a communications intelligence facility in disused RVNAF warehouses on the base (104836N 1063856E / 10.81N 106.649E / 10.81; 106.649). [1] Caldara decided to judge the situation for himself. Two aircraft flew on to the strike, while the other two split off. 937 fighter-bomber regiment "Hu Giang", followed by no. [25], With the lifting of the US embargo on lethal weapons exports to Vietnam, the first lethal Western arms procured were Israeli-sourced medium-range SAM-system SPYDER-MR. First deliveries began in 2016.[26]. This organization formed the nucleus of South Vietnam's tactical air control system. [1]:50, In October 1959 the 2nd Liaison Squadron equipped with L-19 Bird Dogs moved to the base from Nha Trang. The 149 th Military Intelligence Group (Collection) absorbed the mission and assets of its predecessor, Detachment I of the 500 th Intelligence Group; the 1 st Military Intelligence Battalion (Air Reconnaissance Support), which had the mission of interpreting, reproducing, and delivering Air Force imagery flown in support of ground tactical comm. In order to alleviate the problem, United States Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, on the recommendation of MAAG Vietnam, ordered thirty USAF pilots temporarily assigned to the RVNAF to serve as C-47 co-pilots. Because of security concerns the operation's name changed two more times first to Combat Cross and then to Commando Forge. [10]:2189. Over the war's course, air superiority became an ever-growing priority, leading to further needed leaps in development. [27]:18, From 1962 the Utility Tactical Transport Helicopter Company (UTTHCO) was based here initially with Bell HU-1A Huey's then UH-1B's. On 24 February another rocket and mortar attack damaged base buildings killing four US personnel and wounding 21. Bombing missions against the North required a large amount of photographic reconnaissance support, and by the end of 1967, all but one of the Tactical Air Command RF-101C squadrons were deployed to Southeast Asia. History [ edit] Early years [ edit] 10. Billie D Tedford As the US waged a. Nha Trang. The Vietnam Air Force - VNAF (Vietnamese: Khng lc Vit Nam Cng ha - KLVNCH) was the Air Force branch of the Republic of Vietnam's Military Forces, the official military of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) from 1955 to 1975. President Nixon ordered Operation Menu, the secret bombing of Cambodia. On 30 March 100,000 South Vietnamese soldiers surrendered after being abandoned by their commanding officers. The base was adjacent to the headquarters of the Joint General Staff of South Vietnam, and was a key venue in various military coups, particularly the 1963 coup that deposed the nation's first President Ng nh Dim. Further development of aviation in North Vietnam began in 1956, when a number of trainees were sent to the USSR and China for pilot training. The VPAF was a defensive air arm, with the primary mission of defending North Vietnam, and until the last stages of the war, did not conduct air operations into South Vietnam; nor did it conduct general offensive actions against enemy naval forces off the coast. The Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File of the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) Extract Files contains records of 58,220 U.S. military fatal casualties of the Vietnam War. On March 2, 1965, the USAF instituted its famous Operation Rolling Thunder campaign, the systematic bombing of North Vietnam, starting at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Vietnam. Conventional forces could also capture and hold more real estate than the guerrilla units. [13]:3031. [1]:113. American efforts focused on four major areas of combat: South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. [24]:203. During the rainy season which began in May, North Vietnam began stockpiling supplies and equipment inside its border with Laos, and it built an oil pipeline into the Laotian panhandle. However, the Tet Offensive had a devastating effect upon the U.S. No. In February USAF and VNAF aircraft conducted concentrated preemptive strikes against North Vietnamese positions, attempting to thwart the anticipated invasion. The MiG-21 tactics became so effective that ultimately an operation was mounted to especially deal with the MiG-21 threat.
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