The first victory of the Navy and the Air Defence-Air Forces of the Vietnam People’s Army against US forces 50 years ago was the main focus of a scientific seminar held in the northern port city of Hai Phong on July 30.

Participants at the seminar. Photo: qdnd.vn

In early August 1964, the US staged the so-called Gulf of Tonkin incident, using it as an excuse to send planes and ships to attack northern Vietnam.

Fighting back, Vietnamese armed forces shot down eight aircraft and arrested the first US pilot Everett Alvarez in northern Vietnam. They also drove the US destroyer Maddox out of the northern waters.

Speeches by military officers, witnesses and scientists at the seminar highlighted the significance of the victory, hailing the sound leadership of the Party and late President Ho Chi Minh.

They also drew lessons from the victory in terms of strategic guidance and ways to bring into play the united strength of the nation in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty.

On July 29, construction began on a memorial to the navy’s first victory in Hoang Truong commune, Hoang Hoa district, central Thanh Hoa province, which used to be an important base of the force during the fight against the US’s destructive war. On August 5, 1964, a US military plane was shot down in the area.

Source: VNA