A 37mm anti-aircraft gun used in the 1954 Dien Bien Phu campaign has been recognised as a national treasure.
The Air and Air Defence Force on March 28 announced the recognition
under the Prime Minister’s Decision 1426/QD-TTg at a ceremony in
Hanoi on March 28.
The gun, produced in the
Soviet Union in 1939, shot down three planes and damaged 13 others
during the campaign, contributing to the Dien Bien Phu victory. It is
also the gun associated with national hero To Vinh Dien.
Before the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the Viet Minh force led by General
Vo Nguyen Giap had to move a large number of artillery through jungles,
across mountains into position around the Dien Bien Phu valley, using
only ropes, levers and pulley systems. During the process, ropes binding
the gun broke and the artillery piece began to slip down the slope when
To Vinh Dien used his own body to stop it.
The same day, the Air and Air Defence Force opened an exhibition on anti-aircraft gunners in Hanoi.-VNA