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South Vietnam Air Force

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This article is about the air force of the former country the Republic of (South) Vietnam. For Vietnam's current air force, see Vietnam People's Air Force.
File:T28-bienhoa1962.jpg
4400th CCTS T-28 wearing South Vietnamese markings flies over Vietnam.

History

File:Kq-logo-dal.gif
VNAF insignia

The VNAF (abbreviation for Viet Nam Air Force, Vietnamese is "Khong Quan Viet Nam") started off as a few hand picked men chosen to fly aloo the world's 6th last air force at the height of its power, in 1974. It is an often neglected chapter of the history of the Vietnam war as they operated in the shadow of the world's largest air war machine. Many members now live in the United States.

Analysis

In contrast with the North Vietnamese Air Force, most allied air operations in the Vietnam War were conducted by the US armed forces. The South Vietnamese forces operated at a fairly basic level compared to the US Forces, which carried the bombing campaigns in the north.

File:Vnf-5c-23tw-522fs--bh-1971.jpg
VNAF F-5C Bien Hoa Air Base, 1971
File:Vno-1-23tw-112ls--bh-1hi my name is joe1.jpg
O-1 observation aircraft of the 112th Liason Squadron / 23rd Tactical Wing - VNAF South Vietnamese Air Force - Bien Hoa Air Base - 1971

The United States in May 1956 had started to train and advise the South Vietnamese Air Force. VNAF was supplied with H-19 helicopters, and later H-34's. Initially they employed simple T-28 Trojan[1] prop powered trainers which could carry a small bombload. The first jets were B-57 Canberra bombers arriving in 1965. In October of the same year the VNAF received its first modern UH-1 Huey turbine powered helicopters. Later, the US released more powerful light attack A-1 Skyraiders and jet light attack A-37 Dragonfly, and the lightweight F-5 Freedom Fighter which was developed by Northrop as an affordable export fighter for foreign air forces. By the end of 1972, the VNAF operated 18 squadrons with 500 new helicopters, organized in eighteen squadrons, one of the largest helicopter fleets in the world.[2] In 1972, President Thieu asked for, but did not receive the F-4 Phantom with its massive bombload and speed that was widely used for all roles by US air services. [3]

The VNAF lacked not just the Phantom, but the sophisticated AC-130 gunships, air tankers, heavy attack fighters such as the A-7 and A-6. They lacked any capability or training for offensive air operations against North Vietnam, and of course, they did not operate the B-52s which held a massive amount of bombs and was used by the US on many occasions in the war.

When the NVA started to install anti-aircraft missiles near Khe Sanh, the VNAF lacked the radar jamming gear, and the navigational aids required to attack the missile sites[4]. The VNAF primarily flew close support as communist forces did not fly aircraft over US-held territory, so they never had the opportunity to fight MiGs or "go downtown" in heavy fighter bombers. Consequently, the ARVN was at a significant disadvantage once the US air force left Vietnam due to the lack of the bombings and air support provided by the US. Many think that this is reason why the Communist offensive succeeded so rapidly when compared to other offensives, such as the ones in 1968 and 1972.

Combat

During the final 1975 offensive, it wasn't just a case of a massive collapse. The ARVN in Long Khanh were fighting to the death. A cooperative effort between the ARVN and the VNAF enabled ARVN troops there to hold on. CH-47 helicopters brought in 193 tons of artillery ammunition over two days. A-1 Skyraider prop fighters flew in and a C-130 Hercules transport drop massive 15,000-pound daisy cutter bombs on enemy positions. Flying against intense antiaircraft fire, they took a heavy toll of the NVA divisions around Xuan Loc. Last combat was held by a AC-119 gunship to protect Tan Son Nhut airbase two days before the surrender of South Vietnam government on April 30, 1975. After two hours, the aircraft was shot down by an SA-7 portable missible, first time use during the Vietnam conflict. [5]

Attack Aircraft

Bomber Aircraft

Fighter Aircraft

Reconnaissance and Observation

Rotary Aircraft

Training Aircraft

Transport and Utility Aircraft

VNAF Units

Squadron Wing Division Base Aircraft Operated
110th Observation Squadron 41st Tactical Wing 1st Air Division Da Nang MS 500 Criquet, O-1 Bird Dog
112th Observation Squadron 23rd Tactical Wing 3rd Air Division Nha Trang MS 500 Criquet, O-1 Bird Dog
114th Observation Squadron 62nd Tactical Wing 2nd Air Division Nha Trang O-1A Bird Dog
116th Observation Squadron 74th Tactical Wing 4th Air Division Binh Thuy O-1A Bird Dog
118th Observation Squadron 72nd Tactical Wing 6th Air Division Pleiku O-1A Bird Dog, U-17A/B Skywagon, O-2A Skymaster
120th Observation Squadron 41st Tactical Wing 1st Air Division Binh Thuy O-1A Bird Dog, U-17A/B Skywagon
122nd Observation Squadron 74th Tactical Wing 4th Air Division Binh Thuy O-1 Bird Dog, U-17A/B Skywagon
124th Observation Squadron 23rd Tactical Wing 3rd Air Division Binh Thuy O-1A Bird Dog, U-17A/B Skywagon, O-2A Skymaster
211th Helicopter Squadron 84th Tactical Wing 4th Air Division Binh Thuy
213th Helicopter Squadron 51st Tactical Wing Air Division Da Nang
215th Helicopter Squadron Air Division Nha Trang
217th Helicopter Squadron 64th Tactical Wing 4th Air Division Can Tho
219th Helicopter Squadron Wing Air Division Nha Trang
229th Helicopter Squadron 72nd Tactical Wing 6th Air Division Pleiku UH-1H
235th Helicopter Squadron 72nd Tactical Wing 6th Air Division Pleiku UH-1H
241st Helicopter Squadron 82nd Tactical Wing 6th Air Division Phu Cat CH-47A Chinook
243rd Helicopter Squadron 82nd Tactical Wing 6th Air Division Phu Cat UH-1H
259th Helicopter Squadron (Det. A) 82nd Tactical Wing 6th Air Division Phu Cat UH-1H
259th Helicopter Squadron (Det. G) 72nd Tactical Wing 6th Air Division Pleiku UH-1H
312th Special Mission Squadron Wing Air Division Nha Trang
314th Special Mission Squadron Wing Air Division Tan Son Nhut
413th Transport Squadron Wing Air Division Tan Son Nhut C-47D Dakota, C-119G Flying Boxcar
435th Transport Squadron 53rd Tactical Wing 5th Air Division Tan Son Nhut C-130A
437th Transport Squadron 53rd Tactical Wing 5th Air Division Tan Son Nhut C-130A
514th Fighter Squadron 23rd Tactical Wing 3rd Air Division Bien Hoa F8F Bearcat, A-1H Skyraider
516th Fighter Squadron 61st Tactical Wing 1st Air Division Nha Trang T-28 Trojan, A-1 Skyraider, A-37B Dragonfly
518th Fighter Squadron 23rd Tactical Wing 3rd Air Division Bien Hoa A-1 Skyraider
520th Fighter Squadron 74th Tactical Wing 4th Air Division Bien Hoa A-1 Skyraider, A-37B Dragonfly
522nd Fighter Squadron 63rd Tactical Wing 3rd Air Division Bien Hoa A-1 Skyraider, F-5A/B, RF-5A Freedom Fighter
524th Fighter Squadron 92nd Tactical Wing 2nd Air Division Phan Rang A-1 Skyraider, A-37B Dragonfly
526th Fighter Squadron 74th Tactical Wing 4th Air Division Binh Thuy A-37B Dragonfly
528th Fighter Squadron 61st Tactical Wing 1st Air Division Da Nang A-37B Dragonfly
530th Fighter Squadron 72nd Tactical Wing 6th Air Division Pleiku A-1 Skyraider
532nd Fighter Squadron Wing Air Division Pleiku A-37B Dragonfly
534th Fighter Squadron 92nd Tactical Wing 2nd Air Division Phan Rang A-37B Dragonfly
536th Fighter Squadron 63rd Tactical Wing 3rd Air Division Bien Hoa F-5A/B Freedom Fighter, F-5E Tiger II
538th Fighter Squadron 61st Tactical Wing 1st Air Division Da Nang F-5A/B Freedom Fighter
540th Fighter Squadron 63rd Tactical Wing 3rd Air Division Bien Hoa F-5A Freedom Fighter, F-5E Tiger II
542nd Fighter Squadron Wing Air Division Bien Hoa F-5A Freedom Fighter
544th Fighter Squadron 63rd Tactical Wing 3rd Air Division Bien Hoa F-5A Freedom Fighter
546th Fighter Squadron 74th Tactical Wing 4th Air Division Binh Thuy A-37B Dragonfly
548th Fighter Squadron 92nd Tactical Wing 2nd Air Division Phan Rang A-37B Dragonfly
550th Fighter Squadron 61st Tactical Wing 1st Air Division Da Nang A-37B Dragonfly
716th Reconnaissance Squadron 33rd Tactical Wing 5th Air Division Tan Son Nhut T-28A Trojan, EC-47D Dakota, U-6A Beaver and [[Northrop F-5|RF-5A Freedom Fighters]
718th Reconnaissance Squadron 41st Tactical Wing 1st Air Division Tan Son Nhut EC-47D Dakota
720th Reconnaissance Squadron Tactical Wing Air Division Tan Son Nhut C-119 Flying Boxcar
Squadron Wing Air Division
817th Attack Squadron 62nd Tactical Wing 2nd Air Division Nha Trang AC-47D Spooky, AC-119G/K
819th Attack Squadron 53rd Tactical Wing 5th Air Division Tan Son Nhut AC-119G Shadow
821st Attack Squadron 53rd Tactical Wing 5th Air Division Tan Son Nhut AC-119K Stinger
Squadron Wing Air Division
Squadron Wing Air Division
Squadron Wing Air Division
Squadron Wing Air Division
Squadron Wing Air Division
Squadron Wing Air Division
912th Training Squadron Wing Air Training Center Nha Trang T-6G Texan
918th Training Squadron Wing Air Training Center Nha Trang T-41 Mescalero
920th Training Squadron Wing Air Training Center Nha Trang T-37, UH-1 Huey

Notes

  1. ^ 1962 Aviation Week
  2. ^ http://www.laudpolicesupply.com/Chuck_web/History%20of%20Dust%20Off/HistoryCHAPTER%20V.htm VNAF Dust Off
  3. ^ NBC Evening News for Friday, Nov 10, 1972
  4. ^ http://www.riciok.com/
  5. ^ Last Act in the South

See also

Vietnam Air Force: http://www.xairforces.com/airforces.asp?id=41

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