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Vietnamese Air ForceVietnamese Air Force - Khong Quan Nhan Dan Viet Nam History The first Vietnamese aircraft were one De Havilland Tiger Moth and another Morane-Saulnier trainer, that were initially owned privately by the emperor Bao Dai. In 1945, Bao Dai gave the aircraft to the Vietnamese governement. On March 9, 1949, Ho Chi Minh ordered to organize the Air Force Research Committee (Ban Nghien Cuu Khong Quan). The first task was to send pilots and mechanics to the USSR and China for training. The first aircraft flight in the Vietnamese service was made by the Tiger Moth on August 15, 1949. In 1956 there were organized first air shools in North Vietnam. The first unit of the Air Force (Khong Quan Nhan Dan Viet Nam) was no. 919 transport regiment (Trung Doan Khong Quan Van Tai 919), organized on May 1, 1959, followed by no. 910 training regiment (Trung Doan Khong Quan 910) with Yak-18 trainers. In 1963 the Air Force and Air Defense Force were merged into Air and Air Defence Force (Phong Khong - Khong Quan Nhan Dan Viet Nam). 1964-1974 (North Vietnam) The first combat plane became trainer T-28 Trojan, captured from Laotan Air Force by its pilot, and utilized from early 1964 by the Vietnamese as a night fighter (shooting down the first US aircraft C-123 on February 15, 1964). North Vietnam received its first fighter aircraft, the MiG-17 in February 1964, but they first arrived to air bases in China, where pilots were trained. On February 3, 1964, the first fighter regiment no. 921 "Sao Do" was formed (Trung Doan Khong Quan Tiem Kich 921), and on August 6 it arrived from China to Vietnam with its MiG-17s. On September 7 another, no. 923 fighter regiment "Yen The" was formed. In May 1965, no. 929 bomber squadron (Dai Doi Khong Quan Nem Bom 929) was formed. The first air combat of the North Vietnamese fighters was on April 3, 1965. The Vietnamese claimed to shoot down the US F-8 Crusader (not confirmed by the US sources). Therefore, April 3 became the Vietnamese Air Force Day. On April 4 they scored the first confirmed victories. From 1965, the Vietnamese were given MiG-21s. On March 24, 1967 regiments nos. 921, 923 and 919 were incorporated into the 371st Air Division "Thang Long" (Su Doan Khong Quan 371). In 1969, no. 925 fighter regiment was formed, flying the Shenyang J-6 (the Chinese-built MiG-19). In 1972 the fourth fighter regiment, no. 927 "Lam Son", was formed. In November 1973 there was formed no. 919 transport corps (Lu Doan Khong Quan 371), with aircraft and helicopters. At the time of the Vietnam War, North Vietnam used fighters: MiG-17F, PF (J-5); MiG-19 (J-6), MiG-21F-13, PF, PFM and MF. 1975-1977 After the Vietnam War, in May 1975, there were formed: no. 935 fighter regiment "Dong Nai" and no. 937 fighter-bomber regiment "Hau Giang" (Trung Doan Khong Quan Cuong Kich 937), followed by no. 918 transport regiment "Hong Ha" (Trung Doan Khong Quan Van Tai 918) and no. 917 mixed transport regiment "Dong Thap" in July 1975. In September 1975, the newly created four regiments were formed into the 372nd Air Division (Su Doan Khong Quan 372). In December 1975, the 370th Air Division "Hai Van" was formed, including among others the 925th fighter regiment. On May 31, 1977, the Vietnam Air Force (Khong Quan Nhan Dan Viet Nam) was separated from the Air Defense Force (Phong Khong Viet Nam). Vietnam Air Force
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