The people who defeated the American "thunder god" in Tam Quang
One afternoon more than 43 years ago (March 31, 1967), an F-105 bomber of the US Air Force was hit by bullets in the sky of Tam Quang commune (Tuong Duong) and continued to sway over the airspace of Tam Dinh and Tam Thai communes, finally crashing into the upstream area of Canh Trap stream, close to the Vietnam-Laos border.
One afternoon more than 43 years ago (March 31, 1967), an F-105 bomber of the US Air Force was hit by bullets in the sky of Tam Quang commune (Tuong Duong) and continued to sway over the airspace of Tam Dinh and Tam Thai communes, finally crashing into the upstream area of Canh Trap stream, close to the Vietnam-Laos border.
The achievement of shooting down the American "Thunder God" belongs to the Tam Quang Commune's Militia Team. The old feat is gradually fading into the past, more than half of the nearly 20 militia soldiers of the past have now become "dead people". Recently, having the opportunity to visit this land, we took the trouble to look for "the people who made history".
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Mr. Bui Van Thu and Phung Lac Vinh are still side by side. |
After nearly half a day of asking around, we were finally introduced to and met Mr. Bui Van Thu (born in 1936), former deputy commune leader in charge of the Air Defense unit, and the second person was Mr. Phung Lac Vinh (born in 1940), former head of the Air Defense unit, who directly shot down the F-105 to learn more about this event.
Having passed the "rare" age, their steps have become heavy, their memories are not as good as before, but when asked about the old air defense team, their eyes suddenly lit up. Mr. Thu and Mr. Vinh said that the Tam Quang Commune Air Defense Militia unit was established in the year the US Empire escalated its bombing of the North (1964).
At that time, Khe Bo coal mine was being exploited to serve the cause of building socialism, so it became one of the fiercest targets of the US air force. Along with the bridge and culvert system along Highway 7A running through the area, US aircraft continuously bombed with the aim of preventing support for the Lao battlefield, Tam Quang became a "bag" to receive bombs. The number of troops mobilized for the unit was nearly 20 people, including both men and women, taking turns on duty, equipped with a machine gun and a K-44 rifle.
The unit fought under extremely harsh conditions, and food supplies were extremely difficult. There were days when enemy planes continuously bombed, making it impossible to supply those on duty. Everyone had to endure hunger and thirst, taking turns digging banana roots to fill their stomachs to have the strength to continue fighting.
One day, Mr. Thu and Mr. Vinh took their motorbike to Tam Thai commune (about 20 km away) to receive ammunition. Their comrades waited for them for a long time but they did not return, so they sent someone up to look for them. When they reached the top of Tam Bong slope, they saw the two men lying on the side of the road. It turned out that on the way back, they were so hungry and tired that they were dizzy, their heads were spinning, and they were so exhausted that they had to stop the motorbike to rest, but both of them fell asleep without realizing it.
On March 31, 1967, after being trained in how to shoot down planes, on the purpose of enemy aircraft movements in the air to command the air defense position and promptly seize the opportunity to fire, Mr. Phung Lac Vinh returned to convey it to his comrades right on the battlefield. At that moment, around 3:00 p.m., a group of 13 planes arrived, including an F-105 that was hovering over the coal mine area and then flying straight up to drop bombs.
Holding a machine gun, Mr. Vinh fired at the moment the plane was swerving down. After the series of shots, he saw the left wing of the "Thunder God" smoke and then sway towards Tam Thai commune, then turned towards the headwaters of Canh Trap stream. A moment later, he saw two helicopters hovering, hoping to rescue the pilot, but because it was getting dark and the terrain was difficult, they had no choice but to turn away. After this feat, the Tam Quang Commune Air Defense Team was awarded the Third Class Military Exploit Medal, and Mr. Phung Lac Vinh was also honored to receive this title.
Returning to normal life, the members of the Tam Quang Commune Air Defense Team are once again attached to the fields, gardens, and mountains, contributing to building their homeland and keeping intact the memories of the extremely difficult but heroic days.
Cong Kien
