Assistance to RVNAF B-57 Program (1964-1965) "Vietnamization" was the latest catchword in 1964 and its intent was to turning over more of the fighting to the Vietnamese. According to Joe Baugher: RVNAF B-57, "In 1964, the United States secretly agreed to supply a few B-57Bs to the Vietnamese Air Force. The United States had initially been reluctant to equip the Vietnamese Air Force with jet aircraft, since this would be a technical violation of the Geneva Accords and might further escalate the war. However, the US bowed to pressure from Saigon. The first VNAF B-57 crews began training in secret at Clark AFB in the Philippines later in 1964. Later training took place at Tan Son Nhut instead of Clark. One of the students was none other than Nguyen Cao Ky, the commander of the VNAF and later president of the Republic of Vietnam. On August 1, 1965, the blanket of secrecy was removed and an announcement was made that four B-57 bombers would be provided to the Vietnam Air Force. Four B-57Bs, painted in VNAF insignia, flew past during a formal presentation ceremony held on August 9."
The new program began on September 20. Each pilot was to receive 70 hours in the airplane with no less than 40 training sorties. Navigator training began on October 11. As the crews completed their training, they went to Da Nang and flew combat missions with the USAF 8th or 13th Bomb Squadrons, whichever happened to be on station at the time.
On October 29, 1965, five B-57s from the 8th Bomb Squadron, then based at Da Nang, were repainted with VNAF insignia and carried out an air strike against a suspected VC stronghold and landed Tan Son Nhut. After landing, the planes took off again and joined other VNAF aircraft in a formation flyover of Saigon. Although manned solely by American crews, this attack was heralded as the introduction of VNAF B-57s into combat.
The new program began on September 20. Each pilot was to receive 70 hours in the airplane with no less than 40 training sorties. Navigator training began on October 11. As the crews completed their training, they went to Da Nang and flew combat missions with the USAF 8th or 13th Bomb Squadrons, whichever happened to be on station at the time.
On October 29, 1965, five B-57s from the 8th Bomb Squadron, then based at Da Nang, were repainted with VNAF insignia and carried out an air strike against a suspected VC stronghold and landed Tan Son Nhut. After landing, the planes took off again and joined other VNAF aircraft in a formation flyover of Saigon. Although manned solely by American crews, this attack was heralded as the introduction of VNAF B-57s into combat.
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