April 16, 1954: The trenches of the 312th and 308th Divisions were connected, cutting Muong Thanh airport in half.

Our trenches cut Muong Thanh airport in half, creating favorable conditions for shock troops to destroy the enemy. Photo: VNA

To the north of the airport, on the night of the 16th, the positions of the 165th Regiment of the 312th Division from all four directions developed close to the 105th stronghold, in some places only 15m from the enemy fence. The enemy was tightly trapped, no longer receiving supplies, no drinking water, while sniper teams were ready to destroy those who left the trenches. Our DKZ firepower destroyed 15 enemy gun emplacements at the front line.

In the west, the 36th Regiment built a siege position to attack the 206th stronghold (Huguette 1). The 88th Regiment dug a trench across Muong Thanh airport, connecting with the 141st Regiment that was advancing into the airport from the east.

Our assault units under the command of military hero Nguyen Quoc Tri are attacking Muong Thanh airport. Photo: VNA

In the Hong Cum Sub-sector, the trenches of the 57th Regiment were getting closer and closer to the enemy bunkers. The enemy responded frantically. During the day, they brought out tanks and infantry to fill the trenches and then set mines to trap our troops. At night, they organized small groups to ambush right at the tip of the trenches. We changed our hours of operation and digging positions, sometimes digging from the outside in, sometimes digging from the inside out, arranging forces to attack the ambushers.

At 4:00 a.m. on April 16, two French Foreign Legion companies took advantage of the darkness when our troops were about to return to rest, dividing into two groups to break into the trenches of Company 54, Regiment 57, Division 304. A group of enemy troops approached the company command position. The company promptly ordered the platoons to quickly disperse to both sides, using 60mm mortars and machine guns to fire at the enemy formation, the troops formed into two groups to circle back. A platoon in the rear heard the sound of gunfire and immediately rushed out to reinforce.

Our assault units under the command of military hero Nguyen Quoc Tri are attacking Muong Thanh airport. Photo: VNA

A sniper team also automatically ran to coordinate the attack on the enemy. When the enemy was busy defending the front, they were suddenly attacked from the flank. Fearing that they would fall into a trap, they panicked and retreated back to their base, leaving dozens of corpses behind. Company 54, which was suddenly attacked, but thanks to calm handling, flexible forces and proactive coordination to support each other, turned from passive to active, launching a counterattack, attacking from three sides and winning a resounding victory.

In the direction of Muong Thanh field, the relief and supply operation for Base 105 (Huguette 6) commanded by Lang-ge-le entered the second day. The enemy forces faced a battlefield with layers of trenches and gun emplacements. In addition, the wreckage of an airplane still lying in the middle of the runway became a floating fortification that helped our troops place machine guns to sweep down the most eager legionnaires who were determined to charge forward. The supply operation for Base 105 brought Lang-ge-le greater losses in combat forces than the counterattack to regain Hill C1. At night, after fighting for ten hours, two enemy battalions were able to open a supply route to bring to Base 105 six boxes of ammunition and several barrels of water.

General Vo Nguyen Giap issued an order to the 308th Division Command. The order announced the upcoming combat plan of the General Command, which was: concentrate forces to destroy Base 105, then hold the base to control and destroy the northern part of the enemy airport.

The 308th Division was assigned the following tasks: + Use the entire force of the 88th Regiment to destroy the 105th stronghold (replacing the 165th Regiment). On the evening of April 16, we must march to the assembly point without delay. + The 36th Regiment must attack reinforcements on two lines: 1) the main line between the 105th and 206th strongholds; 2) between the 206th and 208th strongholds from the West to the airport. On the evening of April 16, we must actively build a battle field to attack reinforcements. Timelines: + Preparations must be completed by the evening of April 18 + Cadres must personally conduct a final inspection on April 19 + Combat must begin on April 20. There must be no delay (Only the Division Committee and Regiment cadres will know the time). - At the joint battlefield on April 16, 1954, the 42nd Regiment of the 3rd Inter-Zone and a company of Cam Giang district ambushed on Highway 5, Quy Duong - Phu Xa - Ngu Loc section, destroying and capturing almost an entire Euro-African company (85 soldiers) {1}