PANO - Over the past 60 years of building and development, anti-aircraft troops have always heightened their vigilance, promoted combat readiness posture and actively held exercises to master weapons and other equipment, contributing to protecting the nation's airspace.

On April 1st, 1953, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Defence Minister and Commander-in-chief of the Vietnam People’s Army, signed Decision 06/QD on the establishment of Air Defence Artillery Regiment 367 as a foundation for the birth of a new combating arm- the Anti-aircraft Arm, marking the growth of the Vietnam People’s Army on its way towards regularity and modernity.

In the resistance war against foreign invaders, anti-aircraft soldiers shot down nearly 3,100 different advanced aircraft of the enemy, accounting for nearly 75 per cent of aircraft downed by our army and people in the North.

Notably, the image of hero To Vinh Dien sacrificing his life to prevent an artillery piece from sliding down a mountain and the immortal motto of hero Nguyen Viet Xuan, “Aiming at the enemy, shoot!”, were among the highlights of anti-aircraft soldiers in the historical Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

On the occasion of the 60th traditional anniversary of anti-aircraft soldiers, PANO would like to introduce some images of troops in training, taken by photographer Vu Ngoc Hoang.

Translated by Mai Huong