Aware that the enemy would adjust their forces and develop new plan to fight back, then Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Van Tien Dung had a meeting with the Air Defense - Air Force Service Command on December 21, 1972.
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Sorties of Vietnamese aircraft (A file photo: VNA) |
After analyzing the reasons for the victory in the past few days, the strengths and disadvantages of each arm, as well as the upcoming enemy's plot, the chief of the General Staff instructed the service to carry out an air defense operation against the strategic air raid of the U.S. Air Force.
In order to win greater victories, it was necessary to bring into play the synergy of arms and services, create conditions for the air force to gun down B-52 bombers, and promote the combat effectiveness of the anti-aircraft troops to fight the enemy on land. The chief of the General Staff also directed to reserve weapons and ammunition to ensure long and continuous fight against enemy and strengthen the anti-aircraft force to protect missiles to shoot down B-52s.
Following the chief of General Staff’s direction, the Air Defense - Air Force Service deployed Anti-aircraft Regiments 262 and 223, Missile Regiment 267 to reinforce to protect Hanoi, suggested higher levels to send entire Missile Regiment 285 to guard the North of Hanoi. Missile units camouflaged in the daytime and fought B-52s at night.
In the daytime, 180 sorties of enemy’s tactical aircraft attacked key targets, such as Hang Co Station and Hanoi Public Security Department, Yen Phu Power Plant, the Ministry of Transport, Phu Ly Bridge, and Thanh Hoa town. During the night of December 21 and early morning of December 22, the enemy mobilized 24 sorties of B-52s and 36 sorties of escorted tactical fighters to attack Noi Bai and Gia Lam airports and other targets in Hanoi, such as Giap Bat and Van Dien, and Bach Mai Hospital. F-4s and F-105s raided Bac Giang, Kep station, Yen Bai airport, ports, and Cat Bi, An Lao, Kien An districts of Hai Phong city.
Bringing into play feats-of-arms obtained in three previous days, Vietnamese troops and people downed 11 aircraft, including three B-52s.
Translated by Tran Hoai