Remembering the special flight to see off Uncle Ho

That autumn morning in Hanoi, Ba Dinh Square echoed with the solemn sound of funeral trumpets. The sky suddenly became turbulent as a formation of 24 MiGs of the Vietnam Air Force flew across, as if bidding farewell to Uncle Ho.

Editor's note: To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, people across the country will be able to watch the wings fly in a majestic parade.

Over the past 80 years, the pilots of the Air Defense - Air Force have carried out special missions for the country, from the tragic farewell to Uncle Ho in 1969, the triumphant march to celebrate the victory on May 15, 1975 to the sky filled with flags and flowers on September 2, 1975 and the flight to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the country in 1985...

VietNamNet published a series of articles called “Flights that accompany the nation’s history” with many stories revealed for the first time by heroic fighter pilots who participated in important events.

On September 9, 1969, 24 MiGs made the most special flight in the history of the Vietnam People's Air Force. It was the flight to send Uncle Ho to the eternal world.

The farewell team to Uncle Ho included pilots from the North and South.

Colonel, Hero of the People's Armed Forces (AHLLVTND) Nguyen Van Nghia, former Political Commissar of Air Division 370, is one of the veteran pilots of Regiment 921 (Sao Do Regiment), having participated in many historical missions.

Sharing about the flight to visit President Ho Chi Minh on September 9, 1969, he emphasized: “For fighter pilots, flying in formation is not a difficult job. But for us, that flight was the most sacred. The country lost its Father, so every flight movement contained solemnity, respect and deep affection for him.”

Memorial service for President Ho Chi Minh at Ba Dinh Square. Photo: VNA

In 1969, according to the State's decision, the Air Force was assigned to participate in the parade celebrating the 24th anniversary of National Day on September 2. At that time, Uncle Ho was very weak, and the Central Government wanted him to be happy.

Colonel Nguyen Van Nghia said the parade had been carefully prepared, with a flying formation showing off the force in the sky over Ba Dinh. However, on September 2, Uncle Ho passed away. On September 3, superiors decided to change the parade mission to a flight to see him off.

“At that moment, all the pilots understood that this was not just a military order but a heartfelt responsibility,” Colonel Nghia recalled.

Colonel Nguyen Van Nghia emotionally recalled the day he flew the MiG-21 to see Uncle Ho off. Photo: Manh Hung

The flight crew was also adjusted to include both Northern and Southern pilots. This was a meaningful arrangement because during his lifetime, Uncle Ho was deeply concerned about visiting the Southern people and offering incense to his father in Dong Thap .

No one wanted a flight like that. But that was our mission, the pilots chosen to see Uncle Ho off. Colonel Nguyen Van Nghia

The formation of 24 MiGs was divided into two blocks: 12 MiG-17s led by Hero Nguyen Van Bay and 12 MiG-21s commanded by Hero Nguyen Hong Nhi.

Mr. Nghia was then a young pilot, assigned to fly the 12th MiG-21, which was also the last one in the formation.

“To fly with other Southern brothers to see Uncle Ho off was a great honor that I will never forget in my whole life.”

24 MiG planes solemnly saw off Uncle Ho.

Colonel Nguyen Van Nghia said that on September 8 - one day before the funeral, the entire squadron practiced together for the last time.

The formations took off from Da Phuc airport (Noi Bai), using Yen Phong (Bac Ninh) as the starting point, adjusted their formation to fly over Trai Cau (Thai Nguyen), then from Trai Cau turned left, taking a 168-degree direction, flying straight to Ba Dinh, Hanoi in 4 minutes and 40 seconds. At Trai Cau, there was a support station, with pilot Pham Ngoc Lan in charge of the crew.

Every second was carefully calculated so that at the exact moment General Secretary Le Duan finished reading the eulogy, the squadron would appear in the sky.

The plane solemnly saw Uncle Ho off at Ba Dinh Square. Photo: VNA

On the way, the Command ordered the pilots to increase speed to 900km/h to ensure the flight over Ba Dinh on time. Because during the memorial service on September 9, General Secretary Le Duan read the eulogy faster than the time during the rehearsal.

At an altitude of 200m, 24 MiGs flew in a neat, solemn, and quiet formation like a farewell song.

Pilot Nguyen Van Nghia was born on May 3, 1946.
• 1965: Passed the military pilot exam, went to the Soviet Union to learn to fly the MiG-21.
• 1968: Graduated from Krasnodar Air Force School, returned to fight in Regiment 921 (Red Star Air Force).
• September 3, 1973: Awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.
• 1979: Regiment 935 (of which he was the Regiment Commander) was awarded the title of Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces.

“At that moment, the whole team seemed to hold back their emotions. We were no longer soldiers flying in formation but children seeing our father off to his final resting place,” Colonel Nguyen Van Nghia emotionally said.

Regarding the use of pilots in this historic flight, the personal diary of People's Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Hong Nhi recorded details that coincide with the content recorded in the diary of People's Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Van Nghia.

“I am a pilot born in the South, and was wholeheartedly cared for by Uncle Ho since my student years in Southern schools in the North.

"It was a great honor for me to fly to see Uncle Ho off with other Southern pilots, Nguyen Hong Nhi, Tran Viet, Pham Thanh Nam, and Nguyen Van Lung," said Colonel Nguyen Van Nghia, filled with emotion.

ACE Class Pilot

Not only participating in the flight to see off Uncle Ho, Colonel Nguyen Van Nghia also participated in a special flight across the length of the country to parade in the sky of Ho Chi Minh City on May 15, 1975.

He is one of 19 "ACE" class pilots of Vietnam - a title given to pilots who shot down 5 or more enemy aircraft.

Three ACE-class pilots of Vietnam. From left to right: Vu Ngoc Dinh - Nguyen Van Nghia - Nguyen Hong Nhi. Photo: NVCC

In the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in the Air, or Operation Linebacker II as the US Air Force called it, he was the first pilot of the Vietnam People's Air Force to shoot down an American aircraft, opening the way for the Vietnam People's Air Force to shoot down 7 more American aircraft, including 2 B52 aircraft.

He was also the first Vietnamese MiG-21 pilot to fly the captured F-5, becoming a flight instructor for the next generation. To his teammates, Colonel Nghia was an exemplary teacher, rich in battle experience...

Today, at 79, he is still vigorous and his voice is clear. He said: “We fighter pilots are proud to have contributed a small part to the unification of the country. And we are even prouder to have participated in the historic moments of the nation.”

On the day Uncle Ho was sent off, 24 MiGs tore through the sky of Ba Dinh, leaving an indelible mark in the nation's history. It was a blend of sadness and pride, tears and bravery.

Pilot ACE Nguyen Van Nghia and his teammates, through that sacred farewell flight, deeply engraved a message: This nation knows pain in the face of loss, but knows how to stand firm and proudly continue on the path that Uncle Ho chose.

Efforts to complete the A80 mission

Colonel Nguyen Huy Tuan - Deputy Head of Political Department of the Air Defense - Air Force Service shared: The Air Force is always proud to inherit the heroic tradition from previous generations, especially the glorious feats in the resistance war against the US, saving the country. Historic flights such as farewell flights to President Ho Chi Minh in 1969, celebrating the great victory of spring 1975 or participating in parades to celebrate the country's major holidays have affirmed the core role of the Air Force on the air front.

In the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2 (mission A80) taking place on September 2 at Ba Dinh Square, the Service is assigned the responsibility of participating both on the ground and in the air.

"The Air Force has actively practiced the flight content to ensure the most accurate and magnificent performance on September 2. The performance not only demonstrates the strength of the Vietnam People's Air Force but also sends a message about the spirit of solidarity and the ability to protect the Fatherland to the people of the whole country and international friends," Colonel Tuan emphasized.

Lieutenant General Pilot, 3 Auxiliary Fuel Tanks and Historic Flight Across the Country In 1975, right after the country's reunification, the Vietnam Air Force carried out a special mission: flying from the North to the South to participate in the victory parade.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nho-chuyen-bay-dac-biet-tien-dua-bac-ho-2436678.html