A visitor learns about the Dien Bien Phu in the Air campaign in 1972. (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Photos and objects on the Dien Bien Phu in the Air victory are on displayed at an exhibitioncalled “Battle of Dien Bien Phu in the Air and the Trench of the Command Postof Operations,” which opened in Hanoi on December 15 to mark the 45thanniversary of the victory.
Hanoi, Hai Phong and their vicinities were heavily bombardedin an aerial raids in December 1972, known in Vietnam as "Dien Bien Phu inthe Air” and in the West as the 1972 Christmas bombing.
It was the last US military campaign during the war andlasted for 12 days from December 18 to 29.
Over 12 days and nights, the Hanoi air defence grids and allacross the north of Vietnam shot down 4,181 airplanes, including 34 expensiveB52s, referred to as flying fortresses, which had their own radar bombnavigation systems with well-trained crews.
Linebacker II was to be a "maximum effort" bombingcampaign to "destroy major target complexes in the Hanoi and Hai Phongareas, which could only be accomplished by B-52s”, according to militaryexperts.
It saw the largest heavy bomber strikes launched by the USAir Force since the end of World War II.
But the people of Hanoi triumphed over the heavybombardment, although more than 1,600 civilians were killed and three Mic 21were shot down. The Hanoians had named the 12 day and night campaign their DienBien Phu in the Air, recalling their decisive victory over the French in 1954.
The victory underHanoi skies prompted the US to return to the negotiating table in Paris andfinally sign the peace accords that they had previously refused to.
The exhibition is divided into two parts, the ‘Battle ofDien Bien Phu in the Air’ and the ‘Trench of the Command Post of Operations akaT1 bunker’.
The trench of the Command Post of Operations, built in 1964,was the place where the country’s leaders received reports and gave directions forthe resistance war throughout the country. During the 12 days and nights in1972, operations from bunker T1 helped shoot down several B52 planes.
Today T1 is an important part of the Thang Long ImperialCitadel relic, making it an outstanding heritage site in Hanoi.
The exhibition will run until the end of the year at the ThangLong – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre in Hanoi.
During the exhibition, the organiser will also screendocumentaries and hold talks with witnesses and experts.-VNA
VNA
