B-57 “Canberra” in the Republic of Vietnam Air Force.
B-57 “Canberra”
in the Republic of Vietnam Air Force
(Tài liệu cung cấp cho Viện Bảo Tàng Chiến Tranh Việt Nam của Quân Lực Hoàng Gia Úc-đại-lợi)
The “Canberras” were the first jet aircrafts and the only bombers of the Vietnam Air Force (VNAF). From the beginning to the end of the Vietnam war, the US government has never wanted to equip the VNAF with such long-range bombers, fearing that they may use these aircrafts to bomb Hanoi (that was the “exclusive job” of the USAF and US Navy!)
But when the war was escalating, in May 1964, to boost the morale of South Vietnam people, the MACV (Military Aid Command in Vietnam) has secretly sent some of the best Vietnamese fighter pilots to Clark Field Air Base in The Philippines, to be trained on the Martin B-57B “Canberra” bombers.
The MACV chose the Canberras because at that time, there were already two USAF’s B-57 bomber squadrons (the 8th and 13th Squadron from Japan) stationed at Danang Air Base, South Vietnam; and the Vietnamese would “borrow” some Canberras while waiting for the official approval from the Pentagon.
USAF 8th Bomber Squardron’s B-57B
As Captain Don Nation, USAF, the head of this training programme, recalls, after the intial problem of converting from the tail-dragging A-1 Skyraider to a twin-engine jet with tricycle landing gear, these Vietnamese officers were excellent pilots.
One year later, on the 9th of August 1965, the first jet aircraft unit of the VNAF was officially christened: the “Biet Doi 615” (615th Special Flight), stationed at Da Nang Air Base; commanding officer: Major Nguyen Ngoc Bien.
On the paper, the 615th Special Flight was affiliated with the 41st Tactical Wing of the VNAF, also at Da Nang Air Base, but in combat, most of its missions were under USAF operational control. Because, as mentioned above, the Americans were always worrying that their Vietnamese “allies” may use the Canberras to attack North Vietnam!
The main combat missions of the 615th Special Flight were joining the USAF Canberras in bombing the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laotian territory, and sometimes, targets inside Vietnam. For their shape, the Canberras were nicknamed by Vietnamese people as “Phan Luc Canh Doi” (Bat-Wings Jets).
Sadly, in January 1966, Major Nguyen Ngoc Bien, commanding officer of the 615th Special Flight, who was well-liked and highly respected by both Vietnamese and Americans, was killed by an accident on the ground at Pleiku Air Base. Major Bien had been the driving force and dynamic leader of the VNAF B-57 programme, after his loss, the 615th Special Flight was disbanded (with the the US' "blessing"), all “Bat-Wings Jets” were returned to their former owner: the 13th Bomber Squadron of the USAF.
The presence of the Canberras in the VNAF's history was quite short – just more than one year – but we never forget our first jets. Never!
HUU THIEN NGUYEN
(Secretary, Republic of Vietnam Air Force Veterans Association in Australia)
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