The story of two female militiamen in Nghe An who shot down an American plane

Victory at the sea gate

Nearly 65 years have passed, but Ms. Tran Thi Binh (born in 1947) in Thanh Vinh 2 hamlet, Nghi Quang commune (Nghi Loc district) still keeps the Third Class Military Exploit Medal, the medal certificate and the Certificate of Merit from the Head of the Department of Education awarded to her when she was a 6th grade student at Nghi Quang Secondary School, Nghi Loc for her bravery in fighting against the Americans to save the country in the battles of March and April 1965.

Ms. Tran Thi Binh recounts her exploits in shooting down American planes. Photo: Cong Kien

For Mrs. Binh, the souvenirs associated with her passionate youth, ready to face hardships and sacrifices to fight the American invaders, contributing to protecting her homeland are priceless souvenirs.

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At that time, American bombs and artillery bombed Nghi Quang day and night, causing the village to be devastated, many people were buried, and people had to evacuate everywhere. The commune established a militia platoon to "share the fire" with the main force. At that time, although I was still a student, I still registered to join the militia, fighting with my brothers and sisters in the team."

Mrs. Tran Thi Binh, Thanh Vinh 2 hamlet, Nghi Quang commune (Nghi Loc district)

The Third Class Military Exploit Medal signed by President Ho Chi Minh, awarded to female militia Tran Thi Binh. Photo: Cong Kien

The Nghi Quang Commune Militia Platoon had 25 members, of whom 6 were women, and was equipped with 3 12.7mm guns and machine guns. The Platoon's mission was to coordinate with anti-aircraft artillery and anti-aircraft artillery troops to set up positions on Hill 200 and Hill 170 to shoot down American aircraft and prevent ships of the 7th Fleet from approaching the shore to attack.

The enemy attacked Hill 200 and Hill 170 day and night. They continuously bombed and fired artillery at the top and sides of the hill. The militia force steadfastly held on, transporting ammunition and food supplies to the main force. Mrs. Binh could never forget the battle on March 31, 1965, the day Nghi Quang's army and people wrote a major event in the confrontation with the American invaders.

Hill 170, where the Nghi Quang Commune (Nghi Loc) militia platoon used to operate. Photo: Cong Kien

That day, just as ammunition was being transferred to the battlefield, dozens of enemy planes swarmed in to drop bombs. Immediately, female militiawoman Tran Thi Binh approached the 12.7mm gun position and fired into the sky. At this time, artillery shells from the battlefields were also fired simultaneously, creating a “net of fire”. An F-4 suddenly tilted its wings and turned toward the sea for a while, then caught fire and fell to the sea.

Nghi Quang militia immediately coordinated with the militia of Nghi Tien and Nghi Thiet communes to capture two enemy paratroopers. That day, Nghi Quang commune militia platoon coordinated with artillery troops to achieve victory, and the platoon was commended.

Nearly three weeks later, on April 19, 1965, Tran Thi Binh's combat squad continued to participate in shooting down an A-4 aircraft, completing the mission of protecting the transport fleet receiving food and was awarded the Second Class Military Exploit Medal. Afterwards, Tran Thi Binh was awarded the Third Class Military Exploit Medal and joined the Party when she turned 20 years old.

Ms. Tran Thi Binh with the medals. Photo: Cong Kien

While participating in the Commune Militia Platoon, Tran Thi Binh was promoted to become a policy officer of Nghi Loc District Military Command. With her enthusiastic and proactive nature, not afraid of difficulties, hardships and dangers, this soldier continued to be present at the "hot spots" of war to deal with the consequences of bombs and bullets and treat the wounded and casualties.

Returning to normal life, Mrs. Binh worked hard in the rice fields, corn fields, riverbanks, and estuaries to earn a living and take care of her children, waiting for her husband who was on the battlefield. Her husband had not returned for long when he passed away due to a serious illness, leaving Mrs. Binh with 3 children who had not yet grown up, and she had to struggle to be both mother and father...

Now, nearly 80 years old, nearly 60 years in the Party, whenever all her children and grandchildren are present, she proudly tells about her past exploits with her teammates in shooting down American planes.

Shoot down enemy planes in Vinh city

Like Ms. Tran Thi Binh, Ms. Nguyen Thi Dan (born in 1950) in Tan Phuc block, Hung Dung ward (Vinh city) still keeps the photo with her teammates on duty with a 12.7mm gun from her time as a female militia member of the "Red Village". And Ms. Dan cannot forget the memory of July 25, 1968 - the day the small militia member coordinated to shoot down an American F4H when it attacked Vinh city.

Born and raised in the “Red Village” of Hung Dung, continuing the heroic and resilient tradition of her hometown, after finishing secondary school, Nguyen Thi Dan volunteered to join the commune’s air defense platoon. Because at that time, Vinh city was one of the fiercest targets of the US air force, enemy planes day and night attacked constructions, factories and even residential areas.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Dan recounts the feat of shooting down an American plane. Photo: Cong Kien

The militia platoon on duty has 11 members, mostly women, assigned to ambush and coordinate combat with the army and air defense forces of Vinh City against the destructive war of the US Air Force. The weapons equipped are a 12.7mm gun and rifles to carry out the task of protecting key points such as Ben Thuy ferry, power plant, gas depot...

With her indomitable will, Nguyen Thi Dan and her teammates always stuck to the target and the battlefield, many days they did not have time to eat, and did not go home for a whole week to carry out their determination to stop enemy aircraft. Especially in 1967 - 1968, when the destructive war of the American imperialists entered an extremely fierce phase, the task of the militia platoon on duty became even heavier, the soldiers were always in a state of combat readiness.

With their ingenious and brave fighting spirit, the Hung Dung Commune Militia Platoon coordinated with the main force and friendly units to spread a “fire net” many times, causing the enemy pilots to panic. On June 13, 1968, the air defense troops shot down an American plane, and the pilot parachuted into the Lam River area. After that, the US mobilized many planes to fly close to the Lam River bank to rescue the enemy pilot.

Female militiawoman Nguyen Thi Dan (right) and her teammates on duty. Photo: NVCC

Nguyen Thi Dan's platoon participated in supporting the besieging forces, determined to capture the American pilot alive. Encountering the fire of the main force and the Hung Dung air defense militia, the rescue aircraft had to increase altitude and quickly fly away. The pilot was later captured alive by our forces.

On July 25, 1968, the Hung Dung Commune Militia Platoon was ordered to deploy a position to protect Vinh Station, because there was a high possibility that enemy aircraft would attack this area. As predicted, at around 5:30 p.m., a group of two F4Hs flew in to bomb the location. As the number 1 gunner, when the first plane swooped down to drop bombs, Nguyen Thi Dan decided to ignore it, because if she fired at the position, it would expose the location.

Female militiawoman Nguyen Thi Dan holding a Soviet baby. Photo: NVCC

When the second plane swooped down, the female militia of “Red Village” held her breath and pulled the trigger. A series of 15 12.7mm bullets were fired straight at the F4H, the enemy plane burst into flames, swayed in the sky and then crashed in Nghi Phu commune (Vinh city). At that moment, her comrades jumped into the trench, hugged Nguyen Thi Dan and shouted: “Dan! The plane is on fire!”.

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With the achievement of shooting down an American plane, in 1971, I was allowed by the Central Military Commission to join a working delegation of the Ministry of National Defense to visit the Soviet Union. Within 2 months, I traveled all over the country to tell the story of the Red Village Militia Platoon’s fighting, the story of shooting down an American plane with a series of 12.7mm bullets.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Dan, (born in 1950) in Tan Phuc block, Hung Dung ward (Vinh city)

After leaving the militia platoon, Ms. Nguyen Thi Dan continued to participate in social work, serving as Chairwoman of Hung Dung commune (ward) for many years. Now 75 years old, her health has declined significantly, and her bone and joint disease makes it difficult for her to move around, but Ms. Dan is still Secretary of the Tan Phuc block Party Cell. She always believes that "When the Party needs her, she will still have the strength and will continue to serve"./.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/chuyen-hai-nu-dan-quan-nghe-an-ban-roi-may-bay-my-10293888.html