Air Defence and Air Force Service announced the Prime Minister’s decision to recognise the 37mm anti-aircraft gun numbered 510681 as a national treasure on March 28th at the Air Defence and Air Force Museum.
 |
| The PM’s decision being handed over to the museum |
The gun was manufactured in 1939 by the former USSR and then given to Vietnam as aid during the war against the French invaders. Battery 3 of Company 827 of Battalion 394 of Regiment 367 had used this gun, shooting down 3 aircraft and damaging 13 others, contributing to the resounding victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign of the Vietnamese army and people.
 |
| The Service’s young officers beside the national treasure, the 37mm anti-aircraft gun numbered 510681 |
Notably, this gun is closely linked to the heroic sacrifice of martyr To Vinh Dien. On the night of February 1st, 1954, while the battery’s commander To Vinh Dien and gunner No. 5 Chi were pulling the artillery off Chuoi slope to the battle field, the pulling rope was broken. Chi was sprung out of the artillery by the shaft. In that critical situation, To Vinh Dien tried to hold onto the gun and pushed it into the mountain slope to keep it from sliding down. Unfortunately, despite all his efforts, To Vinh Dien was run over by its wheel. Before breathing the last breath, To Vinh Dien asked his comrades if the artillery piece was still in good condition. On May 7th, 1956, To Vinh Dien was posthumously bestowed the title “Hero of People’s Armed Forces” and became the first anti-aircraft hero of the Dien Bien Phu Front.
 |
| A showcased piece of US aircraft downed on July 17th 1967 by Vietnamese anti-aircraft troops in Lang Chanh, Thanh Hoa Province |
Later in the day, the Service opened an exhibition “Antiaircraft troops in the fight and their victories” with more than 400 exhibits, photos and documents.
Translated by Mai Huong