A solemn ceremony was just held in the morning of December 29 in Hanoi to celebrate Vietnam’s victory over the 12-day aerial bombing campaign by the US Air Force against North Vietnam 40 years ago.
In December 1972, the US launched a large-scale strategic operation “Linebacker II” to destroy major economic and military targets of North Vietnam by B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers in order to “force North Vietnamese acceptance of terms they had already agreed to.”
For 12 consecutive days and nights from December 18 to 29, 1972, a total of 741 B-52 sorties had been dispatched to bomb North Vietnam and 15,237 tons of ordnance were dropped on 18 industrial and 14 military targets while fighter-bombers added another 5,000 tons of bombs to the tally.
The US had carpet-bombed hospitals, schools, and residential areas, committing barbarous crimes against our people. In total, 1,624 civilians were killed and over 2,000 homes destroyed by the bombing.
In turn, North Vietnamese air defense forces shot down 81 airplanes of all kinds, including 34 B-52s and four F-111s. The event was called by Vietnamese people “Aerial Dien Bien Phu Victory.”
Right after the operation, the US declared to fully stop bombing North Vietnam and the Paris Peace Accords was signed on 27 January 1973.
At the 40th celebration of the Aerial Dien Bien Phu Victory, State President Truong Tan Sang highlighted it “a milestone of historical significance in the 20th century,” creating a turning point for the national reunification in 1975.
The victory helped to foster strength of the world’s revolutionary campaign as well as fuel the confidence in final victory of progressive forces struggling for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress, said President Sang.
He underlined that the spirit of the victory also “encourages us to move forwards” in the present-day cause of national industrialization, modernization and international integration.
“The courage, intelligence and creativity in defeating B.52s and other good virtues of our soldiers and people in the resistance war should be preserved and transmitted to generations today and tomorrow,” said the State President.
President Sang confirmed that, the Vietnamese people, after experiencing heavy damages and sacrifices, always treasure peace for national construction and development. They are willing to “close the past, look to the future” and desire to build up friendship and cooperation with all countries in the world, including the US.
Vietnam is “a friend, a trustworthy partner and a responsible member of the international community,” striving for its development and prosperity as well as peace and stability in the region and the world, stressed Mr. Sang.