Air Defense - Air Force receives Gold Star Order

On the morning of October 18, the Air Defense - Air Force Service (PK-KQ) held a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its traditional day (October 23, 1963/October 23, 2013) and received the Gold Star Order.

President Truong Tan Sang attended the ceremony. Also attending the ceremony were Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, Chief of the General Staff, Deputy Minister of National Defense; Admiral Nguyen Van Hien, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defense, Commander of the Navy; Senior Lieutenant General Pham Thanh Ngan, former member of the Politburo, former Director of the General Department of Politics, former Commander of the Air Force; Lieutenant General Mai Quang Phan, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics.

President Truong Tan Sang reviews the guard of honor

The ceremony was also attended by military attaches and defense attaches from several countries in Vietnam; representatives of central ministries and branches; representatives of the Hanoi Party Committee; representatives of military regions, military services, army corps, and arms; and former leaders and commanders of the Air Defense - Air Force Service through the periods, along with nearly 300 officers currently working at the Service.

President Truong Tan Sang pinned the Gold Star Order on the Victory flag of the Air Defense - Air Force Service.

In his commemorative speech, Lieutenant General Phuong Minh Hoa, member of the Party Central Committee and Commander of the Air Defense - Air Force Service, highlighted the historical journey and glorious tradition of the Air Defense - Air Force service over the past 50 years.

President Truong Tan Sang speaks at the ceremony

During the resistance war against French colonialism, despite many shortages, the Air Defense Force was established. During the Dien Bien Phu campaign, although still young, with a spirit of victory and high determination, the Air Defense troops shot down 52 planes and damaged 117 others, isolating the French expeditionary force and the puppet army at the Dien Bien Phu stronghold, creating favorable conditions for the infantry to completely destroy the stronghold, creating the Dien Bien Phu victory that resounded throughout the five continents and shook the world.

Lieutenant General Phuong Minh Hoa, member of the Party Central Committee, Commander of the Air Defense - Air Force Service, read the commemorative speech.

Promoting the achievements, in the resistance war against the US to save the country, the Air Defense - Air Force Service has continuously grown and achieved resounding victories, the peak of which was the victory of Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air (December 1972). At the end of the resistance war against the US imperialists, the Air Defense - Air Force troops shot down 2,635 aircraft of all types, including many of the most modern types in the world. With such great contributions, the Air Defense Service, the Air Force Service, the Anti-Aircraft, Missile, Radar Services and hundreds of groups and 87 individuals were awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces and many other noble awards.

Entering peacetime, with the attention and care of the Party and the State, the Air Defense - Air Force Service has been invested in and equipped with many modern weapons and has continuously grown and matured. The Air Defense - Air Force troops actively study, train, and strive to master the weapons and equipment in their ranks; always uphold the spirit of vigilance, firmly protect the beloved sky of the Fatherland, and resolutely not be surprised by situations in the air.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, President Truong Tan Sang pinned the Gold Star Order on the Victory flag of the Air Defense - Air Force Service. This is a noble award, a recognition from the Party and State for the Service's contributions over the past 50 years.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Truong Tan Sang praised the exploits in combat and the outstanding achievements that the Air Defense - Air Force Service has achieved in the new revolutionary period. The President expressed his gratitude to the states, people and armies of other countries for their loyalty and affection for Vietnam and the Air Defense - Air Force soldiers in fighting and winning the fierce war. The President advised generations of officers and soldiers of the Air Defense - Air Force Service not to forget that great service and to actively cultivate that affection so that it becomes deeper and deeper.

The President requested the leaders and commanders of the Air Defense - Air Force Service to be more united; to grasp the Resolution of the 8th Central Committee (9th tenure) on the strategy to protect the Fatherland in the new situation in order to apply and build a strong Air Defense - Air Force force in terms of politics, ideology and organization; to build strong Party organizations, associated with building the VMTD unit. Air Defense - Air Force units are highly combat-ready; to exploit, use and effectively manage existing weapons, equipment and supplies; to absolutely not lose safety in training; to regularly research and produce modern equipment, vehicles and weapons, meeting the requirements of repair and replacement.

The President emphasized: The Air Defense - Air Force Service needs to develop plans, be ready to fight back the enemy and win from the start. Coordinate closely with units, forces and localities, effectively participate in rescue missions, disaster prevention and control. The Service needs to actively research and summarize practical combat experiences; inherit the military art of "using the small to defeat the big, using the few to defeat the many" in the treasure trove of Vietnamese military art to apply to build an increasingly strong Air Defense - Air Force Service. Next, the President advised that the Air Defense - Air Force Service needs to actively participate in the field of economic production, closely combining the economy with national defense to effectively contribute to building an increasingly strong Service.

According toQĐND Online – LT