Also attending were comrades: Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission; Tran Quang Phuong, Party Central Committee member, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly; leaders of ministries, departments, branches and central agencies.
On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam - Secretary of the Central Military Commission, President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Central Military Commission sent congratulatory flower baskets.
In the early 60s of the 20th century, at the same time as promoting the "special war" strategy in the South, the US imperialists began a secret campaign of harassment and sabotage and actively prepared for an air and naval war against the North of our country. Implementing the Decree of President Ho Chi Minh, on October 22, 1963, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnam People's Army signed the Decision to establish the Air Defense - Air Force Service. This was an important historical event, marking a remarkable development step of our Army.
The more painfully the US imperialists lost on all battlefields, the more they tried to expand the destructive war to the entire North, with increasingly fierce scale and nature. However, with the determination to "Find the enemy", "Aim straight at the enemy and shoot", "Rather sacrifice than leave the battlefield", "Once launched, bring back victory", the Air Defense - Air Force, together with the army and people of the North, fought bravely, steadfastly, intelligently, creatively, flexibly applied many unique fighting methods, had many battles, many campaigns with high combat efficiency, fought well with any weapon, any force and made excellent achievements. Not only fighting to protect the great rear of the North, protecting strategic transportation, the Air Defense - Air Force also participated in many major campaigns and made excellent achievements.
In 1972, after heavy defeats on all battlefields, the US imperialists frantically launched a second destructive war in the North, with an extremely fierce scale and nature, culminating in a strategic air raid, mainly by B.52 strategic aircraft on Hanoi, Hai Phong and some neighboring provinces at the end of December 1972. This was an unprecedented "battle of fire" in history. However, with the spirit of revolutionary attack, initiative, creativity and a very high spirit of vigilance and combat readiness, combining the combined strength of the entire nation, the Air Defense - Air Force, together with the army and people of the North, defied all hardships and sacrifices, fought bravely and resiliently, shooting down 81 US aircraft; including 34 B.52s; 5 F.111s, destroying and capturing many enemy pilots.
The Air Defense - Air Force alone shot down 53 aircraft of various types, including 32 B.52 aircraft, contributing to the victory of "Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air". This is an unparalleled feat, a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism, representing the spirit, intellectual height and mettle of Vietnam in the Ho Chi Minh era, forever the pride of our people, our Army and the heroic Air Defense - Air Force. It was also the first time in history that the "super B.52 flying fortress" was defeated and the US Air Force suffered the heaviest losses, fundamentally changing the situation of the resistance war against the US to save the country.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, leaders and generals of the Air Defense - Air Force Command. (Photo: Tran Hai)
During the 1975 Spring Strategic Offensive, the peak of which was the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, the Anti-Aircraft Artillery, Missile, and Radar units marched at lightning speed, present in the campaign formations, both fighting the enemy in the air and on the ground, shooting down many planes and destroying many enemy forces. The Vietnam People's Air Force used captured enemy planes to form a "6th wing" to suddenly attack the nerve center, destroying 24 enemy planes, contributing to the overall victory of the nation, fully implementing the teachings of beloved Uncle Ho "fight to drive out the Americans, fight to overthrow the puppets", liberating the South and unifying the country.
A colorful performance was performed at the Anniversary Ceremony. (Photo: Tran Hai)
At the successful end of the resistance war against the US to save the country, the Air Defense - Air Force forces shot down 2,635 out of a total of 4,181 US aircraft shot down by our army and people, including all the most modern types of the US Air Force, including 64 B.52s; 13 F.111s, destroying and capturing hundreds of enemy pilots...
At the ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to the Air Defense - Air Force Service.
Speaking at the ceremony, on behalf of General Secretary To Lam - Secretary of the Central Military Commission and leaders of the Party and State Committee, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent to the leaders, distinguished delegates; revolutionary veterans, heroic Vietnamese mothers, heroes of the people's armed forces; generals, officers, soldiers; wounded and sick soldiers, relatives of martyrs of the Air Defense - Air Force Service my respectful greetings, sincere greetings and best wishes! In this sacred and solemn moment, we respectfully remember and express our infinite gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh - the genius leader, teacher of the Vietnamese revolution, national liberation hero, world cultural celebrity, beloved father of the Vietnamese people's armed forces, who "brought glory to our nation, our people and our country". We respectfully bow in gratitude and forever remember the heroic sacrifices of countless heroic martyrs, generations of officers and soldiers of the People's Army's armed forces, including the Air Defense - Air Force, for the independence and freedom of the nation, for a prosperous and happy life of the people.
The Prime Minister affirmed that our Party and President Ho Chi Minh paid special attention to building the air defense and air force, demonstrating the mindset of early preparation, proactiveness, and not being surprised by the enemy's strategic air attacks. After 62 years of building, fighting and growing, the Air Defense - Air Force Service has written golden pages of Vietnamese courage, intelligence and mettle, with feats of historical and strategic significance, contributing to changing the revolutionary situation of our country.
The Air Defense - Air Force has excellently completed its assigned tasks, further enhancing the good qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers", creating precious values and glorious traditions: "Infinite loyalty, determined to fight and win"; "Close coordination, bravery and intelligence"; "Self-reliance, self-strengthening, mastering the Fatherland's sky".
The Prime Minister pointed out that in the coming period, the world and regional situation will develop rapidly, complicatedly, and unpredictably; the risk of conflict and war will increase. Modern warfare tends to apply high technology, smart weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare, cyberspace, etc. In particular, recent wars have shown that air and missile attacks are always the main attack points, so the air defense and air force have become the front line of national strategic defense. This requires the Air Defense - Air Force to always be loyal to the Party, filial to the people, effectively serve the cause of building and defending the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam, firmly grasp the situation, not to be passive or surprised, be exemplary, pioneer in science and technology, digital transformation, force modernization, focused investment, key points, and identify possible situations. Develop the force according to the motto "3 no's": Do not be negligent, subjective, or lose vigilance; Do not be arrogant, complacent, or satisfied with past achievements; do not fear any enemy; once in battle, victory is assured.
In that spirit, the Prime Minister requested the Air Defense - Air Force to perform well a number of tasks:
Firstly, building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern Army Corps that can meet its tasks in all situations. First of all, the Army Corps must constantly innovate its strategic thinking, improve its combat readiness, and firmly protect the Fatherland "early and from afar" in the spirit of Resolution No. 44-NQ/TW dated November 24, 2023 of the 13th Central Executive Committee on "Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in the new situation" and resolutions on defense strategy and military strategy. Building a clean, strong, and exemplary Army Corps Party Committee; improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of Party organizations and Party members; maintaining solidarity and unity within the Party Committee and the Army Corps. Focus on building a truly strong force in terms of human resources, building a contingent of cadres at all levels with political mettle, practical capacity, and high professional qualifications. Promoting traditional values to become endogenous strength, a driving force to build a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and modern Army. Having policies to attract, train, and utilize talents, especially technical and high-tech personnel.
Second, continue to do a good job of grasping the situation, providing strategic advice on military, national defense and combat missions to protect the Fatherland. Continue to advise the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense on strategies to build people's air defense forces and the entire army's air force, creating a strong and widespread position. Promote the role of the core force on the air front, always ready to fight and fight victoriously against any enemy invasion. Continue to study and summarize lessons learned from practical experiences of wars to protect the Fatherland and experiences in recent wars around the world, especially in major air defense campaigns, to apply in new conditions. Focus on studying and summarizing military theory, military art, practical combat experience, developing fighting and combat methods, especially in protecting sovereignty over seas and islands; responding to high-tech warfare.
Third, make breakthroughs in development, application of science and technology, digital transformation, improve combat and management capacity; consolidate and make breakthroughs in the defense industry. Promote modernization, enhance technological autonomy; research, produce, manufacture, equip and master high-tech, modern weapons; repair, improve, innovate equipment, manufacture spare parts and replacement components. Promote the application of science and technology, artificial intelligence, digitalization in management and operations; synchronously integrate weapons and equipment systems in the entire army. Research and propose to the Party, State and Army to purchase and supplement modern technical weapons and equipment, meeting mission requirements and suitable to the country's economic conditions.
Fourth, firmly manage, control and protect national airspace. Closely monitor and control all flight activities of civil and military aircraft, domestic and foreign; ensure the safety of political, economic and defense centers; focusing on researching and developing the "Sustainable Air Defense Dome" project. This will help maintain security and order in the air, operate flights safely, and create conditions for economic, tourism and international trade activities to take place safely and smoothly.
Fifth, continue to focus on and perform well the functions of the working army and the production labor army. Actively participate in and contribute to building a self-reliant and modern national aviation industry; develop civil aviation infrastructure and services, and participate in the aviation engineering supply chain. Promote research, application, and technology transfer; train high-quality human resources in the aviation sector. Improve the operational efficiency of defense enterprises. Pay attention to improving the material and spiritual life of officers and soldiers; take care of and implement well the military and military rear policies; and perform gratitude work. Continue to do well the work of overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, searching and rescuing, and eliminating hunger and reducing poverty, which is one of the important, regular, and humanitarian tasks of the Service as well as of the heroic Vietnam People's Army.
Sixth, strengthen and improve the effectiveness of defense diplomacy. Continue to innovate and promote foreign affairs and international exchanges, contributing to raising the position and prestige of the Service and the Vietnam People's Army. Strengthen international cooperation to contribute to strengthening defense potential, ensuring weapons, equipment and training high-quality human resources, close to reality and the task of protecting the Fatherland.
The Prime Minister emphasized that we expect and believe that, under the leadership of the Party, directly by the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, all cadres, generals, officers and soldiers of the Air Defense - Air Force will continue to strive, overcome all difficulties and challenges, excellently complete all assigned tasks, have more achievements and feats, make greater contributions to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, forever worthy of the trust and love of our Party, State and People.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/phat-huy-truyen-thong-hao-hung-da-ra-quan-la-chien-thang-khong-de-to-quoc-bi-dong-bat-ngo-post916830.html
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