The strength of the Vietnamese Air Force in 1979

In 1979, the main force protecting the skies of North Vietnam was still the "steel fists" that had achieved many victories in the resistance war against the US, such as the 921st Red Star Regiment with MiG-21s or the 925th Regiment equipped with J-6s.

However, in response to new mission requirements, the air force was tasked with deploying many captured second-generation fighter jets from the South to the North to reinforce its forces and gain an advantage over the enemy.

The history of the Vietnam People's Air Force (1977 - 1999) clearly states: On February 20, 1979, Noi Bai air base organized the reception of Type 2 bombs and ammunition transferred from the South and prepared a plan to receive Type 2 aircraft for deployment in combat in the North.

Also on the 20th, the Commander of the Air Force briefed the leading officers on the main features of the enemy and instructed agencies and units on the immediate tasks, including:

Exercising air superiority; providing combat support to the army and navy; transporting personnel and combat equipment of the Ministry; conducting reconnaissance, defending airfields, and taking advantage of opportunities for training according to combat plans.

A portion of the 372nd Air Division's forces were deployed north to carry out new missions, including: 1 squadron of F-5 aircraft (10 planes); 1 squadron of A-37 aircraft (10 planes) and 1 squadron of UH-1 and U-17 helicopters (UH-1: 7 planes, U-17: 3 planes).

From February 22nd to March 3rd, 1979, the entire combat mobile force of the 372nd Division moved to Noi Bai Airport as planned.

In February 1979, the Air Force focused on carrying out large-scale air transport missions.

Dozens of C-130, C-119, C-47 transport aircraft and passenger planes of the 919th Regiment carried out hundreds of flights transporting personnel, weapons, and technical equipment of the main army corps from the South to the North.

From the latter half of January to mid-February 1979 alone, the Air Force conducted 805 transport flights, carrying 8,900 people and nearly 1,000 tons of cargo, making a significant contribution to troop transport for the Ministry of National Defense's repositioning of troops.

When several infantry units stationed in the South were ordered to move North, Mi-6 and Mi-8 helicopter crews of the 916th Air Regiment coordinated with troop transport units from various locations to Tan Son Nhat, Can Tho, and Da Nang airports.

Later, the troops marched north by aircraft of the 918th Air Regiment and by other means of transport.

Some Mi-6 crews stationed at Tan Son Nhat airport were ordered to the North to carry out new missions, while An-2 crews continued training new pilots and flying support missions for the Air Force's paratrooper unit.

The Ka-25 squadron of the 916th Air Regiment moved to Cat Bi airport for recovery and inspection flights.

In addition, the 916th Air Regiment also created all the necessary conditions for the U-17 and UH-1 flight crews of the 917th Air Regiment to perform combat duty at Hoa Lac airfield.

After the second-generation aircraft and helicopters had been deployed to northern airfields, the 372nd Air Division urgently organized command posts at several airfields and assigned officers to air force staff units in military regions and corps.

Comrade Dao Dinh Luyen, Commander of the Air Force, visited the headquarters of the 372nd Air Division to inspect combat readiness preparations and listen to the division's report on its determination to fight.

By promptly transferring forces from the South to the North, the air force successfully carried out its mission of protecting airspace, controlling the skies over the sea and land, countering large air forces, and protecting ground troops in action.