Bodies of two MiG pilots missing 47 years ago found
Missing during a training flight in 1971 in Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc), the bodies of two pilots were recently discovered after a search campaign lasting many years.
"The two pilots were identified as Vietnamese and the other as Russian. One body was still quite intact, the other only had parts of it left," said Mr. Dinh Duc Trong - Chief of Office of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Military Command.
The remains were found by military units two days ago on the slopes of Tam Dao mountain, in Yen My commune, Dai Tu district (Thai Nguyen province) after a search campaign lasting more than a year.
Since 2017, when local people found debris of a MiG-21U aircraft on the slopes of Tam Dao mountain, the Air Defense - Air Force coordinated with the Thai Nguyen Provincial Military Command to set up a command post on the spot and sent teams to search many times.
During the search at the end of September, about 50 people including soldiers, militia and locals dug 2 meters apart around the area where people reported plane debris.
"This search was expected to last 10 days, but on the 5th day it was found," said Mr. Trong.
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Russian pilot missing during flight training in Tam Dao, Vietnam. Photo:Family provided |
On September 29, the bodies of the two pilots were brought to the Thai Nguyen Provincial Military Command. "Authorities are conducting DNA tests. Once the official results are available, a funeral will be held for the martyrs," Mr. Trong added.
On April 30, 1971, a MiG-21U aircraft belonging to the 921st Air Force Regiment went missing during a training flight over Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc). On board at that time were pilot Cong Phuong Thao and instructor, Soviet Air Force Captain Poyarkov Yuri Nikolaevich.
