VNAF Major Lý Bửng's Flight to Freedom

Major Lý Bửng landing on the USS Midway, April 30, 1975.

 

       Perhaps the most famous landing of a VNAF Cessna O-1 "Bird Dog" took place on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Midway on April 30, 1975, as Saigon fell. On that day, Major Lý Bửng placed his family into the cabin of a Cessna O-1 and headed for the US fleet off the coast of Vietnam. There were many risks as he wasn't sure if there were any carriers in the direction he headed, and fuel was in short supply. He finally came across the USS Midway, but the carrier's decks were filled with helicopters that were continually landing.

A Huey Bell UH-1 is pushed over the side of the USS Midway in order to make space for

Major Lý Bửng's landing, April 30, 1975.

 

      After attempts to communicate by radio failed, the major was finally able to fly low enough to drop a note on the deck, requesting to land and stating that he was with his family and critically short on fuel. The alternative would have been to try to ditch in the sea. The captain of the USS Midway, Lawrence Chambers, did not hesitate to help. A call for volunteers was made onboard the ship to clear the deck of helicopters and other equipment. All the available crew volunteered. It is estimated what was then the equivalent of $10 million worth of military equipment was tossed into the sea. Captain Chambers had only been in command of the Midway for a few weeks, and he fully expected he would later be court-martialed for his order.

USS Midway Captain Lawrence Chambers during Operation Frequent Wind, April 1975.

 

     The deck cleared, Major Lý Bửng showed great skillsmanship as he completed the risky landing safely on the deck of the carrier. The major and the captain were both regarded as heroes.

Major Lý Bửng completes his safe landing on the USS Midway, April 30, 1975.

 

 

Another image of the landing, this one appearing on the front page of the Chân Trời Mới

refugee camp newspaper on Guam, May 13th 1975 issue, RVNHS Archive.

 

 

      Today, the VNAF Cessna O-1 Bird Dog that Major Lý Bửng flew onto the deck of the carrier is on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida. Major Lý Bửng resides in the United States with his family, and is regularly involved in memorial events, including those held on the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California.

Major Lý Bửng's VNAF Cessna O-1 Bird Dog on display at

the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida.

 

Left - Major Lý Bửng being interviewed by a reporter after landing on the USS Midway, 1975.

Right - Major Lý Bửng in present day.

 

A life-like display of Major Lý Bửng, his wife, and one of his children onboard the USS Midway Museum as part of the Operation Frequent Wind commemoration exhibition in 2010.

 

 

 

 

Veteran Airborne NCO Grouping - Nhay du

Document grouping to Phạm Tân Chánh, 1952-1970, RVNHS Archive.

 

              This document grouping from the RVNHS Archive is to a long serving airborne non-commissioned officer in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. The grouping consists of four documents to Phạm Tân Chánh. The earliest document is a French military good conduct certificate from 1952, where Phạm has the rank of corporal. The last document is from 1970, with him as a warrant officer (Thượng Sĩ).

Phạm Tân Chánh, 1955, RVNHS Archive.

      Phạm Tân Chánh's military career is not dissimilar to that of many soldiers in the Republic of Vietnam who entered service prior to 1955 under the State of Vietnam, and continued to serve through the entirety of the republic's history. It was soldiers like Phạm Tân Chánh who formed the early foundation of the Republic of Vietnam military and continued to remain the central backbone in the nation's military throughout its history. In this posting we would like to reflect on the legacy of these soldiers who served at the republic's beginning to the final years.

Phạm Tân Chánh, 1952 dated certificate, RVNHS Archive.

 

Phạm Tân Chánh, 1955 dated certificate, RVNHS Archive.

 

Phạm Tân Chánh, 1954 dated certificate, RVNHS Archive.

 

Phạm Tân Chánh, 1970 dated certificate, RVNHS Archive.

 

 

 

 

QLVNCH Officer Beret ARVN

QLVNCH Tan Officer Beret with Metal Badge, 1960s-70s, RVNHS Archive.

 

            Army of the Republic of Vietnam officer berets came in either black or tan colors. Badges could be either bullion or metal. Officer badges were gold, while enlisted ranks were silver. The beret shown here is tan with a metal officer badge in gold. The pattern of the badge (eagle with Republic of Vietnam flag crest) was used from the mid-1960s through 1975. Such a beret was worn by any officer from the rank of second lieutenant through general. Officers from all branches of the regular army wore these berets, which included infantry regiments, logistical groups, artillery units, and regional and popular forces to name a few. The metal beret badge was of the same pattern, but smaller scale than the badge used on visor caps.

 

An army first lieutenant with bullion badge version of this beret (second from right) being decorated with the Police Merit Medal along with National Police personnel, 1960s-70s.

 

Thiết giáp: Republic of Vietnam Armor

A Republic of Vietnam tank crossing a river in Svay Rieng, Cambodia, May 27, 1970.

       When the Republic of Vietnam came into being in 1955, the armor branch was modest, consisting of only a small mixture of vehicles and equipment still in serviceable condition after the French departure. However, by the late 1960s, the armor units of the Republic of Vietnam had grown substantially, and played a vital role in nearly every operation conducted by the armed forces. Armor units served in support of operations against guerillas, main force enemy units, and tank-to-tank engagements.

An armor unit presenting for review, 1960-70s.

An armor unit aligned for equipment inspection, 1960s-70s.

 

       Personnel in the armor branch were trained at the armor school in Thu Duc. Many volunteered specifically for service in the armor, or were otherwise selected due to proficiencies with mechanics. From 1955 to 1975, tens of thousands would serve in Republic of Vietnam armor units.

An armor 2nd lieutenant with family (note the armor qualification badge above the name tape),

1968, RVNHS Archive.

        Armor crews typically wore Republic of Vietnam issue olive-drab green fatigue uniforms. A unique feature of armor uniforms was the black beret worn with the left side facing (berets in other branches of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces were worn to the right). Level or rank was also more clearly signified on armor berets than any other branch of the military. Different beret badges existed for regular enlisted (recruit to senior corporal), non-commissioned officers (junior sergeant to warrant officer), company level officers (2nd lieutenant to captain), field officers (major to colonel), and generals. For other branches, if there were any distinctions in beret badges, it was usually only between enlisted and officers of any rank.

A sample of different patterns of armor beret badges as worn on berets. Top-left; field officer, Top-right; company officer, Lower-left; company officer (variant), Lower-right; enlisted.

RVNHS Archive.

Armor officers at Tan Son Nhut airport after returning from training in the United States, 1960s, RVNHS Archive.

 

Examples of armor unit insignia variants.

Top; 7th Armor Regiment - left, printed; right, silk woven,

Bottom: 17th Armor Regiment - left silk woven colored ; right, silk woven subdued.

RVNHS Archive.

Armor unit on parade, Saigon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

51st River Patrol Group Patch

51st River Patrol Group patch, handmade, RVNHS Archive.

    The 51^st River Patrol Group was formed in June of 1968, and was the first Vietnamese navy unit to be outfitted with PBR (Patrol Boat River) vessels. The initial complement for the 51st was eight boats. The river patrol units were responsible for protecting the many waterways that run through Vietnam.  The PBR vessels they operated typically had a four-man crew. The PBR vessels were fast, and their small draft allowed them to move through shallow water passages where most other vessels couldn’t go. Units not only engaged in regular patrols in their respective areas, but also were frequently called upon to provide support for land military operations. Causalities for sailors in the river patrol units were among one of the highest branches of the Vietnamese navy. Shown in this post is a patch for the 51^st River Patrol Group from the RVNHS Archive.

A Vietnamese Navy River Patrol Force PBR (Patrol Boat River) vessel 1960s.

Vietnamese Navy River Patrol Force PBR vessels, 1960s.

 

 

State of Texas VNAF Officer ID

Texas state ID for a VNAF officer receiving training at Lackland Air Force Base,

RVNHS Archive.

 

       This identification card was issued by the State of Texas for a Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) officer undergoing training at Lackland Air Force Base. Lackland was home to the Defense Language Institute, and during the 1960s-70s thousands of Vietnamese military personnel were trained at the base. Training at Lackland was often supplemented with additional programs at different bases in the United States.

Reverse of Texas state ID for a VNAF officer receiving training at Lackland Air Force Base,

RVNHS Archive.

VNAF vs ARVN Officer Ranks

        We often come across instances where officer rank is misidentified as belonging to either the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) or the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). In some cases, it is impossible to tell. One example being a metal gold-colored second lieutenant rank, which would be equally appropriate for a member of the air force or army to wear. However, in some cases there are differences, and it was with this in mind that we decided to make a post explaining just three of the tell-tale signs that can be encountered.

VNAF First Lieutenant colored cloth rank with black backing, RVNHS Archive.

 

ARVN First Lieutenant colored cloth rank with olive-drab green backing, RVNHS Archive.

      First, while subdued cloth rank insignia invariably had a black on olive-drab green scheme that for colored cloth officer rank was different. VNAF officer colored rank on cloth had a black backing, while ARVN officer colored on cloth was olive-drab green. Some examples can be found in period photos of VNAF officers with colored cloth rank insignia with olive-drab backing, but this was not standard practice, and photos of ARVN officers with black backing on colored cloth rank insignia are not to be found. Thus, officer colored cloth rank insignia with a black backing can be distinguished as VNAF and not ARVN.

VNAF Captain metal and colored cloth ranks with blossoms arranged in a triangle,

RVNHS Archive.

VNAF Captains with triangular arranged blossoms

(colored cloth insignia - left, subdued cloth insignia - right), 1960s.

VNAF Colonel rank in triangular arrangement worn by Nguyen Huy Anh (center)

with General Tran Van Minh (left) and General Ngo Quang Truong (right).

ARVN Captain metal rank, RVNHS Archive.

ARVN Officers with three blossoms in a single row arrangement,

captain with metal rank (far left) and colonel with subdued cloth rank with blossoms in a vertical row (second from left), 1960s.

 

 

ARVN Colonel with three blossoms in single row arrangement,

 horizontal (on cap) - vertical (on lapels), 1969.

      Second, the arrangement for ranks with three blossoms (captain and colonel) differed between VNAF and ARVN. For VNAF ranks, the three blossoms were arranged into a triangle shape. For ARVN ranks, captain was arranged in a single row of three blossoms, while colonel could either be a single horizontal row or a single vertical row – both mounted atop the bar that appeared on ranks from major to colonel. Some period photographs exist showing VNAF captains with single-row style blossoms, but there were the exception, and similar photos of ARVN captains with triangle-style blossoms do not appear.

VNAF Major metal rank, RVNHS Archive.

ARVN Major metal rank, RVNHS Archive.

 

        Third, the lower bar appearing on officer ranks of major to colonel from the mid-1960s, differed between VNAF and ARVN. The VNAF version of the bar was silver with arrows pointed inward. The ARVN version was gold with a branch with leaves and additional blossom(s) making up the design.

Example of a fake rank currently made in Vietnam for the tourist / collector market.

Aside from the inaccuracies with the manufacturing methods and material quality

that determine it as a forgery,

the triangle arrangement of the three blossoms is VNAF pattern, but the bar is ARVN pattern.