50 years ago, in the last 12 days and nights of 1972, the army and people of the capital bravely fought and smashed the strategic air raid by the US Empire to destroy North Vietnam, establishing victory “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air” heroic and resounding, forcing the US Government to sign the Paris Agreement, ending the war in Vietnam, contributing to the complete liberation of the South and reunification of the Fatherland.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Victory “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air” (12/1972 – 12/2022), Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre in collaboration with Victory Museum B.52, the Political Department – Hanoi Capital Command and the 923 Air Force Regiment Veterans Liaison Board organized a series of activities, including the exhibition “From the ground to the sky” and the application of information technology to interpret the historical story at the T1 Operational Command Tunnel.
The exhibition “From the ground to the sky” for the first time presents the story of 108 Vietnamese pilots, witnesses who participated in the fight to protect national independence and united the country. In particular, there are the stories of the pilots directly involved in the battle to defeat the B.52 strategic air raid of the American at the end of 1972.
The memories shared through the authentic stories of the insiders themselves will help the public and the young generation once again review the heroic revolutionary tradition of their predecessor’s class, and at the same time honoring the heroic memory of “a time of bombs, a time of peace”.
Along with the exhibition space held at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, an exhibition called “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air” also took place at Victory B Museum B.52. This is the result of the cooperation and exchange of information, materials and artifacts between the two units to introduce and widely promote valuable materials and images of important victories in the military history of Vietnam, the victory of “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air”.
T1 T1 Operational Command Tunnel
During the event to celebrate 50 years of winning “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air”, the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre for the first time applied 3D mapping technology to recreate the scene of “Tunnel T1 in the night of fire storm”, interpreting the story and working atmosphere under Tunnel T1 on the first day the US sent B.52 to Hanoi and the Northern provinces, especially the moment the first B.52 plane was shot down falling in the Hanoi sky on the opening night of the campaign, creating a special impression and emotions for visitors.
The T1 Operation Command Tunnel belonged to the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Headquarters during the period of resistance to the United States, saving the country. The bunker, built in 1964, was the place to receive reports as well as give direct instructions to all battlefields across the country. In particular, during the last 12 days and nights of 1972, the Operations Command Tunnel simultaneously performed three major tasks: Commanding to shoot down many American aircrafts; ensuring traffic support for the South; organizing the people’s air defense alarm. It was in this bunker that the first whistles sounded to alarm the air defenses throughout Hanoi when American aircraft bombarded the capital. All people were informed to enter the bunker 35 minutes in advance. Armed units were also ready to fight.
The exhibition is open for visitors from 14/12/2022 at Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, No. 19 Hoang Dieu Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi.
H.T.