Story about the first B52 shot down in Hanoi

PANO – One of the exhibits on display in the Air Defence and Air Force Museum making a strong impression on visitors is the missile system that shot down the first B52 in the campaign against the US Air Operation Linebacker II in 1972, “Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the Air”.

Although decades have passed, the missile system, standing proud in the Air Defence and Air Force Museum in the Capital City, is an affirmation of the Hanoian people’s and soldiers’ resolve, heroism and glorious victories during the campaign against the US Air Force’s strategic air strikes on Hanoi and other neighbouring localities in December 1972.

On the night of December 18^th, 1972, the first night of the Campaign “Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the Air”, a combat crew of Battalion 59, Regiment 261, Division 361 under the Air Defence and Air Force, headed by Battalion Commander Nguyen Thang, used the missile system to bring down the first B52 of the US Air Force. The victory delighted people, soldiers in Hanoi and people and troops across the country.

At 8.13 pm, Regiment 261 ordered Battalion 59 to scout the sky for possible targets. At 8.16 pm, the battalion’s radar station caught an interference strip and decided that it could be a group of B52s flying from the direction of Tam Dao in an attempt to attack Dong Anh district, Hanoi.

Radar soldiers determined the targets and Battalion Commander Nguyen Thang ordered the launch of the first missile. Six seconds later, two other missiles were launched. The interference range was dense so soldiers had to operate the line of fire of the missiles manually.

The three missiles went through the darkness towards the anticipated aircraft. Soldiers patiently manipulated the missiles, carefully detecting a trace of the B52. As soon as the missiles went into range, the light spots of the missiles on the screen flared up and the interference range disappeared. Some minutes later, observation posts continuously reported a large fire in the sky crashing down. It was a B52. The remains of the US Air Force’s strategic bomber fell into Chuom rice field in Phu Lo commune, Dong Anh, Hanoi, nearly 10km away from the battalion’s missile battlefield.

This was the first B52 Hanoian people and soldiers had shot down during the Campaign “Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the Air”.

The victory held great significance, especially when the US Air Force used its strategic bombers to attack Hanoi, Hai Phong and other northern provinces to put pressure on our delegations at the Paris Peace Talks. The victory defeated the enemy’s plot on one hand and created a source of encouragement for Hanoian people and troops on the other. The event also fostered much confidence in the air defence troops in fighting B52s.

After the first B52 was shot down, General Vo Nguyen Giap made a phone call to the unit, praising the victory and encouraged the unit’s troops to shoot down more US aircraft, especially B52s.