On March 3rd, 1955, the Minister of Defense - Commander in Chief of the Vietnamese People's Army, General Vo Nguyen Giap, signed Decision No. 15/QĐA on establishing the Airport Research Board (Ref. No. C47) to lay the first brick for the construction of the Vietnamese People's Air Force. Since then, March 3rd, 1955 has become the traditional day of the Force. Under the leadership of the Party, Central Military Commission, and Ministry of Defense, after an elaborate preparation time, on April 3rd, 1965, the MiG-17 Squadron launched to shot down two F-8U aircrafts of the US Navy in Ham Rong airspace (Thanh Hoa). This was the first feat in the air in the country’s armed struggle history. Our young Air Force “successfully opened the aerial front” to defeat the US air force. It also delighted the people and soldiers throughout the country and encouraged the determination to defeat the American enemy of the armed forces and people. April 3rd, 1965 became the traditional day of the first glorious win of the Vietnam People's Air Force.

With the spirit of “Daring to fight, determined to fight, and determined to win”, the units within the Air Force have always overcome difficulties and applied multiple unique and smart ways of combat to contribute to enriching the art of combat of the country and winning two sabotage wars against the North of the US Air Force. The “Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air” victory after 12 days and nights in December 1972 smashed the airstrike strategic assault mainly by the US B-52 aircrafts -“the super flying fortress” - and the so-called “the US air supremacy” and defeated Nixon’s idea of ​​“power-based negotiation”, forcing the US to sign the Paris Agreement (on January 27th, 1973), creating a new position and power for the Vietnamese revolution, speeding up the struggle against the US, and leading the national salvation to a complete victory.

During 65 years of building, fighting, winning, and maturing, generations of Vietnamese People's Air Force cadres and soldiers have always upheld and promoted the beautiful quality of “Uncle Ho's Soldiers” to be willing to sacrifice, brave, cunning, and creative to overcome all difficulties and challenges, dedicate talents and intellect for the cause of defending the of the Fatherland’s airspace, and build up the tradition of “Being infinite loyal - Attacking uncompromisingly - Uniting and Coordinating - Making collective merits”. With such exceptionally outstanding achievements, the Vietnam People's Air Force has been conferred with the title “Hero of the People's Armed Forces” by the State (on June 3rd, 1976) and other noble awards.

At present, the task of managing and protecting the Fatherland’s airspace assigned to the Air Defense - Air Force in general and the Air Force in particular are raising increasingly high requirements, and the diversification, complexity, and urgency are also requiring guidelines and solutions to promptly and accurately handle aerial combat situations so as not to be passive and unexpected to miss opportunities, especially in the directions of the sea and islands. For the Air Force to promote the tradition of fulfilling the assigned tasks, the Air Defense - Air Force Party Committee and High Command have focused on leading and directing the building of the “Revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern” Air Force with high combat power and combat readiness by synchronized solutions.

Sr. Lt. Lam Quang Dai launching an exhibition of the Air Force

To strengthen the political and ideological education and thoroughly grasp the task to build the Air Force, especially the contingent of pilots, with good moral qualities and lifestyles, strong political stuff, and absolute loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland, and the People. The educational contents should be focused on raising the awareness of Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh thoughts, the Party’s policies and views, tasks of the Army, the Air Defense and Air Force, and the Air Force, especially new, complicated and unexpected ones. In particular, attention should be paid to educating the patriotism, arousing national and military pride, and upholding the tradition of “Being infinite loyal - Attacking uncompromisingly - Uniting and Coordinating - Making collective merits” of the Air Force. It needs to be closely linked with the implementation of the Politburo's Directive No.05-CT/TW (the 12th Tenure) on promoting learning and following Ho Chi Minh thoughts, ethics, and lifestyle and the Drive entitled. “Promoting tradition, and dedicating talents, deserving to be Uncle Ho's Soldiers - Excellent Air Defense - Air Force Soldiers”, etc.

To focus on improving the quality of organizations within the units and to associate the construction of the Party organizations with the construction of commanding and mass organizations. Focus on building strong party committees and organizations in terms of politics, thoughts, organization, and ethics; to continuously improve the leadership capacity and combat power of grassroots Party organizations and promote the role of the contingent of cadres and the Party members. To actively implement Directive No.05 and Directive No.87 of the Central Military Commission Standing Committee on “Promoting the learning and following of Ho Chi Minh thoughts, ethics, and style” in association with the effective implementation of the 4th Central Resolution (the Tenure 12th) on Party building and rectification. At the same time, to promote the vigorous and widespread Determination to Win Emulation movement to create the synergy in building comprehensively strong units. For the time being, the Air Defense - Air Force Party Commission Standing Committee should focus on leading the successful organization of the Party Congresses at all levels in the run up for the 13th National Party for the entire Party Committee in general and the Party committees and organizations of the Air Force units in particular under the spirit of direction and guidance of superiors.

To focus on improving the quality of training to master new and innovative weapons with importance attached to flight training, flight safety assurance, and safety in all activities. To strictly implement the superiors’ resolutions, directives, and orders, especially Resolution No.227 of the Air Defense - Air Force Party Committee on “Strengthening the leadership in training and flight safety assurance and preventing flight accidents and flight safety risks” and the provisions of the Flight Regulations, process of flight operations, and assurance of flight safety at Air Force units. To pay attention to training to raise the technical skills to be close to the combat tactics, combat targets, and fighting methods of the Air Force; proficiently using the existing equipment and weapons, master the weapons with new and innovative equipment. To focus on training to enhance the combat readiness and combat in all weather conditions during the day and night and at sea; to improve the work of flight management, flight monitoring, and airspace management to promptly detect and prevent violations of flight regulations and aerial intrusions. To actively cooperate with strategic coordination forces, including the Air Defense, Navy, Coast Guard, Special Force, Border Guard, Civil Aviation, etc. in developing training and drill plans to be strict, scientific, and close combat practices. At the same time, to strictly maintain the rules and regime of combat readiness attendance according to the plans to ensure immediate fights upon orders not to be unexpected and to miss opportunities; to continuously improve the combat capacity and fulfillment of all tasks assigned to manage and firmly protect the airspace and sovereignty over sea and islands of the country.

To well assure logistics and technical work to contribute to creating favorable conditions for the pilots to fulfill their tasks. Regarding the technical work, the units should continue to promote the Drive entitled “managing and exploiting weapons and technical equipment effectively, sustainably, safely, and economically and traffic safety”; focus on regular construction of the Technical branch to strictly observe the regime of examination, preservation, and maintenance of aircrafts and equipment; construction of model warehouses, stations and workshops; and enhancement of the quality of the “Technical Day” at all levels. Regarding the logistics work, to regularly do well the work of management and supply of electricity, gas, oil, airports,... to serve the tasks assigned. To well implement the emulation movement entitled “The Military Logistics Branch follows the teachings of Uncle Ho” and improve the service quality and promote saving and waste prevention to ensure properness, sufficiency, and quantitativeness in accordance with the standards and taking care of the soldiers’ health.

Inheriting and promoting the 65-year tradition of building, fighting, and maturing, the Air Force will make more efforts to overcome difficulties and be determined to complete all assigned tasks as the core in all air-to-air fronts and the people's war posture to defend the Fatherland and deserve the trust of the Party, the State, and the People.

Lieutenant General Lam Quang Dai, Political Commissar of the Air Defense - Air Force