The "Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air" Victory was half a century ago, but the echo of that glorious victory still resonates like an immortal epic song of the twentieth century.  That victory has created several valuable lessons. Among those, the one on ideological work is prerequisite, decisive and should be firmly upheld in safeguarding the sky of the Fatherland today.

Looking back at the history of the resistance war against the U.S. for national salvation, especially the period from 1965 to early 1972, there has never been an air raid that the enemy attacked concentratedly on a large scale, fierce and barbaric like the 12-day and night-strategic aerial bombardment at the end of 1972 on Hanoi, Hai Phong and other neighbouring provinces. As constructed in advance by President Nixon and the top military officers of the Pentagon, the devastating air raid named "Linebacker II" was aimed at “bringing North Vietnam back to the stone age”, forcing us to accept the scheme to end the war according to their arrangements. However, the U.S. made a big mistake in assessing the will, bravery and intelligence of the Vietnamese people in any invasion. In 12 days and nights at the end of 1972, our army and people, at the core of whom was the Air Defence - Air Force, were resilient, clever and brave in fighting to smash the strategic air attack of the U.S. contributing to the great Victory of "Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air”.

That victory is a combination of the power of many elements in which, the lesson on ideological work is prerequisite, decisive, and still valid until now. This should be promoted in the cause of safeguarding the Fatherland, especially the air sovereignty.

First of all, deeply grasping the Party's guidelines and viewpoints, directives and orders of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defence, and the Campaign Command in building the will to "dare to fight, know how to fight and be determined to fight". This is the source, the decisive factor of the victory. Profoundly understanding the strategic lines and direction of the Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh is the foundation for building the will and determination: "Even though the U.S. imperialists have a huge military power and a lot of money, with B-57s, B-52s or something more advanced, we will fight.  So many planes and troops, but more than that, we also fight, but once we fight, we will definitely defeat them”. At the same time, it is the basis for implementing Uncle Ho's Directive: "... The key solution is to find the way to shoot down the B-52s.  This responsibility was assigned to the Air Defence - Air Force”. The ideological work in the Campaign set out the requirements to make our entire Party, Army and People realise the new plots and actions of the U.S. imperialists, clearly see their strengths, weaknesses, advantages and difficulties of ours and the enemy's.  On that basis, build the will and belief to fight, to win, to be ready to defeat any war tricks of the U.S.; overcome all difficulties, hardships, sacrifices, build the spirit of self-reliance, fight against subjective thought, "illusion of peace". The ideological work of the Party committees, political cadres and political agencies and commanders at all levels has paid special attention to the work of educating, motivating and maintaining the fighting will of the soldiers throughout the process of the Campaign.  The great success of the ideological work has been to make the soldiers always thoroughly grasp the strategic determination of the Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh; closely combine the promotion of revolutionary heroism with creative intelligence and expertise in techniques and tactics, building the will to defeat the invading American aggressors".

Su-30MK2 jet fighters on training

Currently, in the cause of safeguarding the Fatherland, air defence combat space conditions are not extended to the entire territory, airspace, sea, cyberspace, etc.  Therefore, in order to always be the core force on the air-to-air front in the people's war to safeguard the Fatherland, the first and foremost crucial factor is to do well the ideological and political work, construct the determination and belief to defeat all enemies in any situation. This is a matter of principle in building the human factor, building Air Defence - Air Force soldiers with a firm and steadfast stance and ideology, absolute loyalty to the Party, Fatherland and People who were ready to take and accomplish all assigned tasks. Therefore, the Party Committee and Command of the Air Defence - Air Force determined on continuing to lead and direct at all levels to regularly and thoroughly grasp the guideline and viewpoint of safeguarding the Fatherland "early and from afar"; the policy of "safeguarding the Fatherland since it is not in danger", especially the new awareness and new thinking of the Party on military, national defence and safeguarding the Fatherland in the new context. Meanwhile, actively recognise, research, analyse and accurately forecast the world’s and the region’s situations, clearly identify the combat targets of the Air Defence - Air Force; promptly provide scientific arguments to advise the Party, State, Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence in planning guidelines and policies of defence, security and foreign affairs, to firmly safeguard the Fatherland.

Facing the impact of the negative side of the market economy and the agitation and fierce opposition of hostile forces in the ideological and cultural fields. In particular, the Air Defence - Air Force are adjusting the organisation of forces in the direction of "elite, compact, and strong" advancement to modernity, which will have a significant impact on the army's ideology. Therefore, agencies and units need to strengthen education, orientation and comprehensive awareness raising for the army; to handle flexibly and promptly all problems that arise, not to be passive or surprised in thoughts. Educational content must be comprehensive, but focus on thoroughly grasping and effectively implementing the Party's directives and resolutions, with the concentration are: Resolution No. 230-NQ/QUTW, dated April 2, 2022 of the Military Commission  Central Committee on leading the implementation of the organisation of the Vietnam People's Army in the period of 2021 - 2030 and the following years;  Resolution No. 35-NQ/TW, dated October 25, 2013 of the Politburo (12^th tenure) on "Strengthening the protection of the Party's ideological foundation, fighting against wrong and hostile views in the new situation”. Thereby, it is hoped to reach consensus on perception and thought; to uphold the sense of self-discipline to abide by the law and discipline and to build a strong and comprehensive agency and unit that is "exemplary and typical", contributing to the construction of the "revolutionary, regular, elite, modern" Air Defence - Air Force.

Secondly, educating, motivating and encouraging cadres and soldiers to master weapons and technical equipment; promoting intelligent and creative ways of fighting, combatting bravely and resolutely against the enemy's air combat tricks.  During the 12-Day and Night-Campaign in late 1972, the committees, commanders, and political agencies of the units always attached great importance to conducting study on the enemy in terms of tactics, campaigns, strategies and techniques of the U.S. Air Force. On that basis, several forms and measures were created to encourage and motivate the intelligence and creative capacity of cadres and soldiers in finding the most effective ways to fight at all levels, in all units and all forces. Thoroughly exploit the technical and tactical capabilities of all existing weapons and equipment; promptly organise symposiums to disseminate the above fighting determination, exchange experiences, democratically discuss, overcome difficulties, and suggest the most effective ways to defeat the enemy.

Promoting the above lessons, the current ideological leadership of agencies and units in the Air Defence - Air Force must promote democracy, encourage cadres and soldiers to dedicate their intelligence, and strive to improve their learning technical, tactical and professional qualifications, ensuring that soldiers have both solid political will, pure revolutionary morality, and mastery in training, tactics, ingenuity and creativity in combat readiness, manoeuvre,  military festivals, contests and regular and unexpected tasks. Closely combine political and ideological education, preserving the quality of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" with education in cultural knowledge, science and technology, and military tactics. Encourage cadres and soldiers to continue enhancing the implementation of the Campaign "Promoting tradition, dedicating talents, worthy of the title of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" in the new period and "Well managing and exploiting weapons and technical equipment with durability, safety, economisation and traffic safety". Focusing on research and application of scientific and technological achievements in manufacturing, upgrading and integrating technological lines into technical assurance and serving tasks; step by step reduce dependence on imported weapons and equipment, in accordance with the plan set up the battlefield, troops, ready to fight, and defeat all invading enemies.

Thirdly, closely combine ideological, organisational and policy work with battlefield propaganda, to bring into full play the strength and effectiveness of ideological work. During the 12-Day and Night-Campaign in late 1972, ideological work was closely combined with organisational work, going into specific aspects such as: campaign planning, force preparation, logistics, technical, operational security and all other necessary factors; doing well in enemy operations, etc. Well organise emulation movements to promote initiatives, improve techniques, research and find out how to beat well; do well in promoting the battlefield, promptly propagating the victory news, disseminating combat experience, etc.  By closely combining ideological work with organisational work anywhere, anytime, at all stages of the campaign, it has ensured that soldiers were always on task, had high determination, and belief in victory. They were also united with close synergy, be clever and brave in fighting to defeat the enemy right from the first fight.

Promoting that spirit in the new situation, the Party Committee and Command of the Air Defence - Air Force requests all Party committees, political commissars, politicians, political agencies and commanders at all levels to uphold their roles and responsibilities in directing ideological work.  Regularly renewing contents, forms and measures to strengthen political and legal education and ideological orientation for soldiers. At the same time, promote the building of a strong and comprehensive unit "exemplary and typical", a rich and healthy cultural environment, improving the material and spiritual life of the soldiers. During the implementation, it is necessary to closely combine ideological work with organisational work and policy work, contributing to motivating cadres and soldiers to feel secure in their work, have high determination, and are not afraid of hardships and sacrifices, with the spirit to overcome all difficulties and challenges, ready to take and accomplish all assigned tasks.

In order to be worthy of being the core force on the air-to-air front in the current people's war to safeguard the Fatherland, the efficient implementation of ideological work is a very important content that determines the quality of building a politically solid Air Defence - Air Force.  This is the responsibility of committees, party organisations, political commissars, politicians, political agencies, and commanders at all levels with the participation of multiple forces in all fields. Based on the valuable lessons of ideological work in the "Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air" Victory, it is necessary at all levels to be deeply aware of the role and importance of this work in order to effectively implement into building the "revolutionary, regular, elite, modern" Air Defence - Air Force to firmly safeguard the sky of the Fatherland in all situations.

Lieutenant General TRAN NGOC QUYEN, Political Commissar of Air Defence - Air Force Service (translated by DOAN NGOC LUONG)