Also on this day, the Geneva Conference (Geneva) to discuss a political solution in North Korea opened in the city of Geneva (Switzerland). At this time, the place of Dien Bien Phu with fierce smoke and fire is the focus of attention of the whole world.
Cut off air bridges, block enemy supply and reinforcement routes
“From March 25, 1954, enemy planes could no longer go up and down at Muong Thanh airport, and the enemy garrison at Dien Bien Phu had more than ten thousand people. Every day they need 120 tons of supplies, including guns, ammunition, food and medicine. The enemy’s only supply line is parachute drop. General Navarre (Nava) had to mobilize two-thirds of France’s fighter and transport aircraft in Indochina, with supplies of up to 10,000 tons/month and ask for aid from the US imperialists.
The US Empire helped France by organizing an airlift using medium-sized transport aircraft Packet (C119), including 29 aircraft commanded by US General Clair Senno. This fleet of US imperialist transport planes only flew 540 flights, carrying 3,200 tons of goods to Dien Bien Phu. Even though dropped by plane, it cannot be recovered. The American empire helped the French colonialists by sending artificial silk parachutes made by Japan and helping the French colonialists build an umbrella factory. Both the French colonialists and the American imperialists did not expect that supplying supplies to Dien Bien Phu would be so difficult.
Understanding the enemy’s weaknesses, the Campaign Command assigned the task to the air defense troops “in addition to the task of supporting infantry and artillery attacks, the task of besieging the airspace and narrowing the enemy’s airspace is , actively controlling and proceeding to cut off their air bridges to supply and reinforce them. (first)
“Since mid-April 1954, our army’s anti-aircraft guns have spread fire nets across the sky of Dien Bien. Whenever an enemy plane appeared, it was immediately surrounded by a fire net. Panicked, American pilots flying C119 transport planes supplying Dien Bien Phu demanded protection. So every time a transport plane piloted by the Americans arrived, there had to be four or six support destroyers whirling around the sky, risking their lives to dive down on the 37mm anti-aircraft guns of our troops.” (2).
“On April 19, 1954, Company 677, Air Defense Machine Gun Battalion 536 (Battleship 316) shot down on the spot a C119 double-fuselage transport plane piloted by an American pilot. The fire net encirclement in the sky of Dien Bien Phu was increasingly tightened by our troops. Enemy aircraft did not dare to fly low to drop parachutes, they had to fly at an altitude of 3,000 meters. The enemy’s parachutes were dropped incorrectly and many flew towards our battlefield. Our soldiers used firepower to prevent the enemy from picking up parachutes to cut off their supply lines, and at the same time actively competed for their supply sources, taking food and ammunition from the enemy to partially supplement our troops. Our troops alone collected 5,000 105mm artillery shells, equal to a quarter of the ammunition consumed at Dien Bien Phu. On the night of April 22, 1954, Group 308 collected 1,000 American-made 81mm mortar rounds. One night our soldiers also collected more than 100 tons of all kinds of goods dropped by the enemy. A pair of major general cans and 200 bottles of cognac sent by General Navarre (Nava) to congratulate General De Castries (De Cat) on being promoted to major general also fell into the hands of our troops. Letters and gifts from De Castries’ wife (De Cat) to her husband also fell into the hands of soldiers of Company 834, Regiment 367. (3)
“Our siege gradually narrowed, and the enemy’s supply and reinforcement became extremely difficult. The American pilots who do this job are considered brave, but do not meet the requirements, as they have to fly low and drop parachutes in a narrow airspace with anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft guns waiting. (4)
“In the last days of April 1954, the French Air Force had only one relatively safe flight route: from the South along the Nam Rom River, parachute-dropping supplies to the Central region. To cut off this enemy’s flight path, Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company 816 was ordered to mobilize from Muong Thanh to attack the enemy at Hong Cum.
On April 26, 1954, 50 enemy planes were hit and three were shot down by our troops on the spot on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, including one B26 plane and two Hencats of the 11th Fleet, by pilots. American pilot. That same night, Hanoi promised to reinforce the French army in Dien Bien Phu with 80 people, but only parachuted 36 people; promised to release 150 tons of supplies, but only 91 tons were released, with 34 percent falling into the hands of our soldiers.
The first pilot captured alive by our troops in Dien Bien Phu was Lieutenant Robert Daniel, who flew a Biacat plane from the south, following the Nam Rom River to drop supplies to the central area. This plane was shot down by Company 816 on April 26, 1954. Company 816 was awarded the Third Class Military Merit Medal. The movement of shooting down enemy aircraft on the spot and capturing enemy pilots developed in air defense units.
On the same day, April 26, 1954, at the Pa Luong battlefield, Company 829, Battalion 394, shot down a B26 plane. At the Khe Chot battlefield, Company 817 shot down a B26 plane, capturing two pilots. This was one of the most decisive days of victory for the Air Defense troops at the Dien Bien Phu front. The activities of the enemy’s air force not only failed to crush our troops, but also failed to expand the siege of our troops around the group of bases, and were unable to maintain airlifts to supply enemy troops at Dien Bien Phu. . (5)
* On the same day, April 26, 1954, General Candira returned to Saigon. General Candira mentioned using 80 bombers around the Dien Bien Phu valley and the Tuan Giao logistics area, with combined American and French aircrews. The operation was carried out in 62 hours and a senior officer flew from Saigon to Clark Field base (Clác Phin) to prepare. In essence, this is still the “Hawk Plan”, named Vautour (Vôtua), proposed by the US imperialists to support the French army at Dien Bien Phu. The French have hope again”. (6)
Opening of the Geneva Conference discussing a political solution in North Korea
On April 26, 1954, the Geneva Conference (Geneva) to discuss a political solution in Korea opened in the city of Geneva (Switzerland). At this time, the place of Dien Bien Phu with fierce smoke and fire is the focus of attention of the whole world. This is also the time when our army and people prepare to successfully end Phase 2 of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign; while the French army in the stronghold group was in a dangerous situation. However, until now, Western countries have not yet accepted the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s participation in the Conference.
“On April 26, 1954, delegations were present in Geneva city. The Geneva Conference discussed the war in Korea and Indochina. There has been a ceasefire on the Korean peninsula, but a peace agreement has not yet been reached. This problem will not be easy to solve. The attention of the powers focused on the hot war situation in Indochina.
Comrade Pham Van Dong, Head of the negotiating delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam at the Fontainebleau Conference (Fontenneblo) 9 years ago, as Deputy Prime Minister, is preparing to leave for Geneva city.
At the end of April 1954, at a small house in the middle of the mountains and forests of Viet Bac, Uncle Ho met with Australian journalist Burchett (Berket). Journalist Burchett asked about Dien Bien Phu. He turned his hat upside down and placed it on the bamboo table, wrapped his fingers around the rim of the hat, and said: “This is the forest and mountains, where our forces are.” Then Uncle clenched his fist and punched the inside of his hat and continued: “And these are the French army. They can’t escape from here!”. (7)
The Dien Bien Phu victory was of immense value to the revolutions of the three countries of Vietnam – Laos – Cambodia
During the long and arduous resistance war against colonialism, the Vietnamese people always received strong support from Laos and Cambodia. Therefore, the Dien Bien Phu Victory was not simply a victory for the Vietnamese army and people, but also had an enormous influence and value on the common resistance of the three countries of Vietnam – Laos – Cambodia. That is the opinion of Lao Prime Minister Souphanouvong published in the People’s Army Newspaper, published on April 26, 1954 and the content quoted in the telegram of the Khmer National United Front sent to Vietnamese officers and soldiers in Vietnam. Dien Bien Phu front, April 1954.
In a speech published in the People’s Army Newspaper, Prime Minister Souphanouvong, on behalf of the entire army and people of Laos, would like to send greetings and warmly welcome the victory of the Vietnamese army and people at the Dien Bien front. Phu. The Lao army is extremely excited and confident in your victory, considering it their own victory.
Prime Minister Souphanouvong emphasized, “The Dien Bien Phu victory has enormous influence and value for the common resistance war of the three countries Vietnam – Laos – Cambodia and for the movement to protect world peace. Currently”. According to comrade Souphanouvong, the Dien Bien Phu Victory created more advantages for the Lao army and people to develop their victories, consolidate the liberated areas, promote guerrilla warfare, and move forward as a whole. Not only that, the liberation of Dien Bien Phu will completely open the border between Upper Laos and Northern Vietnam, making the solidarity between Vietnam and Laos increasingly closer.
Prime Minister Souphanouvong believes that, under the wise leadership of the Vietnam Labor Party and President Ho Chi Minh, along with an unparalleled courageous fighting spirit, the Vietnamese army and people will definitely win, and will achieve complete victory. mission to destroy all enemy troops at Dien Bien Phu.
Prime Minister Souphanouvong affirmed that the people and country of Laos watch every day and every hour your heroic battles, and are willing to strive to learn from you. I promise you that I will coordinate closely with you in this fight by making efforts to increase activities in all aspects, developing strong guerrilla warfare, actively building the armed forces, and making efforts to train create staff.
Meanwhile, for the Cambodian people, the Khmer National United Front sent a telegram to Vietnamese officers and soldiers at the Dien Bien Phu front, April 1954. The telegram emphasized: “The Khmer people were very excited when they learned of the consecutive victories of our brothers at the Dien Bien Phu front. The Khmer people always watch every hour and minute with firm confidence in the final victory of our brothers.”
The telegram affirmed: “The victory of our brothers at the Dien Bien Phu front not only destroyed enemy forces but also had a great impact on our Khmer battlefield…”. Faced with the spirit of courage, sacrifice, and striving of our brothers, under the wise leadership of President Ho Chi Minh, the Khmer people firmly believe that the Vietnamese army and people will win even greater victories in the war. Dien Bien Phu front.
[Nguồn: TTXVN;
(1); (3) Điện Biên Phủ: Bản hùng ca còn mãi, Nxb Quân đội nhân dân, Hà Nội, 2024, tr. 82, 83; 83, 84;
(2) Chiến thắng Điện Biên Phủ năm 1954: Dưới góc nhìn của người nước ngoài, Nxb Quân đội nhân dân, Hà Nội, 2024, tr. 140;
(4); (6); (7) Đại tướng Võ Nguyên Giáp: Tổng tập Hồi ký, Nxb Quân đội Nhân dân, Hà Nội, 2018, tr. 1076; 1074; 1077;
(5) Chuyện kể Chiến thắng Điện Biên Phủ, Nxb Quân đội nhân dân, Hà Nội, 2024, tập 1, tr. 175, 176].
