Air Defense In Vietnam War

The Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 80th AAA Battalion adapted to their constant environment and altered their specialty. Once they arrived in Ardennes, the unit’s mission changed from Anti-Aircraft, to supporting ground units with 57mm anti-tank gun. These Soldiers were Anti-Aircraft by trade, but adapted their skills to make an impact where they were the most needed. Modern day Air Defense Artillery adapts much in the same way. The ever changing world calls for new systems, different training, and a higher operational tempo. The Air Defense Artillery branch is always changing and adapting to modern military operations. The 21st of December proved how vital Anti-Aircraft Soldiers were to large combat operations. Their training allowed them to operate the 57mm anti-tank guns which turned out to be vital to stopping the German advance and eventually securing victory in Europe. In today’s military operations the Air Defense Artillery protects vital areas from aerial attack allowing Operation Commanders a location to land troops and supplies. Every battle and war is dependent on a supply route and without a secured supply route, no combat element can secure a victory. The 80th AAA Battalion proved how their adaptability and their support of large combat

“Air defense artillery units have a proud heritage dating back to the dawn of this country 's history when the colonists erected fortifications and emplaced artillery pieces to defend against attack from the sea. Seacoast defense continued to be the primary mission of "foot" artillery units (as opposed to mounted field artillery units) until World War I, when a new dimension in warfare emerged-attack from the air. Through World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam, air defense artillery units served as an indispensable part of the armed forces of the United States.”

(INTRODUCTION) In August 1964, Vietnamese DRV torpedo boats attacked two U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. President London B. Johnson ordered the retaliatory bombing of military targets in North Vietnam. Shortly after the incident, U.S. congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving President Johnson war-making powers, and U.S. planes began regular bombing raids (Reference http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history ). In Vietnam, the US enjoyed virtual air supremacy. Nevertheless, Air Defense Artillery (ADA) units were able to distinguish themselves and prove their versatility by providing fire support to ground forces. ADA earned more than 450 medals for valor, receiving more than 1000 Purple Hearts, and one Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to SGT Mitchell Stout (Reference http://www.usc.edu/dept-00/dept/armyrotc/branches/air_defense.html ). Despite there being no confirmed aerial engagements, Air Defense Artillery played a vital role in the Vietnam War, and were at times crucial to battle success, proving their versatility, adaptability, flexibility.

During the Vietnam War the M42 (Duster) tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) vehicle influenced the future versatility and capabilities of the Air Defense Artillery systems of today’s United States Army. This system put a lasting impression on the minds and confidence of the American Army Soldiers. These Soldiers actively participated in defending the South Vietnamese from the North Vietnamese and its southern allies, known as the Viet Cong (or Vietnamese Communist). Not only did the M42 Duster (SPAAG) raise the moral and boost confidence with the American Soldiers, it instilled fear and discouraged the enemy from attacking positions that were fortified with versatile air defense systems. This

In Saigon as the situation unfolded, the general of the ARVN asked the US for help. First the US and Vietnamese Air Force were able to airlift in supplies, fresh bodies, and remove the wounded. The AH-1 Cobra were able to stop most of the tank advancement and infantry men allowing the ARVN troops on the ground to continue to defend their positions10. The VNAF, along with the US Air force and US Navy brought in planes to engage and thwart the ability of the VNA/VC advancement. Though this was successful it was found that there was not any form of battle space de-confliction. In this the pilots found themselves not only dodging the Anti-Aircraft Artillery from the VNA/VC, but as well as other aircraft in the fight. Aircraft were seen flying into direct fire from other aircraft and no one was talking to each other. Ground troops were not on the same frequency so they would stumble into the engagement area as well.

Regarded as one of the most controversial and polarizing military conflicts in U.S. history, the Vietnam War has left a deep and lasting impact on American culture, politics, and foreign policy. From 1964 to the present day, the Vietnam War redefined the scope of U.S. influence both at home and abroad, and caused a fundamental shift in American society that dramatically changed the way in which Americans viewed their government and the role of the United States as a world power. For an entire generation of Americans, who watched as the horrors of the war in Vietnam unfold before the spotlight of the national media, the Vietnam War directly challenged the superiority of the American way and the infallibility of U.S military dominance. In truth, the U.S government, U.S. military, and the American people as a whole struggled to accept the lessons of America’s greatest military failure and the sobering reality of the war’s consequences. To this day, the legacy of this so-called “American War” continues to resonate throughout the fabric of American society as a cautionary tale of U.S foreign intervention and blind acceptance of open-ended conflict.

The Vietnam War started in 1954. It was between North Vietnam and the Vietcong (South Vietnamese communists) VS South Vietnam and America. More than 3 million people were killed including 58,000 Americans. The Vietnam War is one of the longest wars America has been a part of. It is also

The American involvement in Vietnam War began in 1950 with the first shipment of military supplies to the French. (Graham, 2016) The conflict involved over 2.5 million soldiers while 58,183 US personnel were killed and over a span of twenty-four years. Air Defense systems such as the HAWK, Vulcan, Quad 50, and Duster deployed to Vietnam for the protection of assets as well as providing forward area air defense and fire support to ground forces. These systems provided a strategic advantage and deterred the North Vietnamese while maintaining US air superiority. Air defense Soldiers during the war earned more 450 medals for valor and received over 1000 Purple Hearts for their service during the war. (USC ROTC, n.d.)

The Vietnam War was a civil war that divided the country that began in 1954 and ended in 1975. From 1945 to 1964, the United States fought in a proxy war, which is a conflict where neither country of both side are directly involved each other, by sending supplies and aids to South Vietnam rebels. The government of Southern Vietnam wants to follow a democratic type of government like the United States while the North follows a communist regime. The North wanted to reunify the whole country under the ideology of a communist government. In 1965, the United States began to become directly involved in the war. I think that January 31st, 1968 was an important event in this period because it was the time of the Tet Offensive. The Tet Offensive was

Prior to the Sarah Bonnifield Vietnam Scholarship opportunity, I had never researched or been educated on the unique importance of the Air Force in the Vietnam War. However, as I looked into it, I became increasingly interested in and aware of the incredible significance the USAF played throughout the duration of the war. The Air Force used novel strategies and adopted several new roles in during Vietnam that had never been used in previous wars or conflicts. In addition to these tactics, new technology and weapons emerged during this time period that changed the way that the Air Force would be utilized in conflicts and wars from that point on.

In late 1961, America took physical force in the Vietnam War. War is a complex series of political events that leads to physical involvement in the form of armed combat. Technology is a major deciding factor in war, along with the battle tactics used, terrain, experience and professionalism of the opposing forces. By 1961 both the United States and Vietnam had developed a broad array of guns and weapons to fight off one another. Coupled with battle tactics this provides a deadly and extremely hostile environment.

The Vietnam War began on November 1st, 1955.Vietnam decided to have this war because since a very long time ago, Vietnam wished to have a government that was independent, since it has been for a long period of time, colonized first by China, then France and Japan. The United States started this war as a result of the Cold War. This war is caused by the belief that communism was going to expand through south-east Asia, which is not of great content for the United States, since they hold a capitalist and democratic government. The belief of the spread of communism is called the domino theory or the domino effect. The United States wanted to prevent this spread so badly, that from 1950, the US started to support South Korea, and sent military aids to France, all to help their common worry of the dispersion and escalation of communism.

The Vietnam War began in 1959. Five years earlier the country had split in two, the northern half ruled by the communist Ho Chi Minh and the southern half ruled by Ngo Ding Diem under a democratic

Vietnam was a long bloody stalemate that lasted from 1955 to 1975. In 1954 Vietnamese Nationalist gained independence from French colonial rule. Communist formed in the north while a non-communist regime supported by America started in the south. The Vietcong from the north would fight the south’s regime and U.S soldiers for years.

Airpower had a decisive effect on the way victory in war is declared. Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. Army’s retaliation on Hiroshima and Nagasaki are testament to the effectiveness of the utilization of airpower assets. In this example, it was clear that airpower was to become the frontier of the future despite the difficulties in introducing this culture shift to the U.S. Army.2 During the run up to the Second World War and during the period of its occurrence till its end, there existed strong sentiments with regards to how effective airpower would be in the war. There were arguments regarding its effectiveness with detractors pointing out instances such as Combined Bomber Offensive in Europe and its failure to win the war. Another point of detraction was that war cannot be won without ground offensives that lead the way for the airpower assets to strike. In fact, airpower advantage was not as decisive as praised.3