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THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RESCUE OPERATION

THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RESCUE OPERATION. VIETNAM OVERVIEW. GEOGRAPHY 8º - 23º North; 103º - 109º East Area: Approximately 128,065 Square Miles Three Coastal Landscapes Mostly Mountainous Tropical Zone with Rainy and Dry Seasons. VIETNAM OVERVIEW. HISTORY & CULTURE

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THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RESCUE OPERATION

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  1. THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR RESCUE OPERATION

  2. VIETNAM OVERVIEW • GEOGRAPHY • 8º - 23º North; 103º - 109º East • Area: Approximately 128,065 Square Miles • Three Coastal Landscapes • Mostly Mountainous • Tropical Zone with Rainy and Dry Seasons

  3. VIETNAM OVERVIEW • HISTORY & CULTURE • A series of Vietnamese national and Chinese imperial dynasties ruled the country until 1858, when France colonized Indochina. • French colonial rule lasted until 1945, when Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence from France. • The First Indochinese War with France, which was fought between 1947 and 1954, resulted in the partitioning of Vietnam. The Viet Cong - the national front for the liberation of South Vietnam, was founded in 1960. • By 1963, the Viet Cong had assumed control over much of the country. Intervention by the U.S. and North Vietnam in the South Vietnamese situation escalated into open warfare. • The Vietnam War raged from 1964 to 1973.

  4. “OPERATION KINGPIN” BACKGROUND( Vietnam POWs ) • 927 U.S. Aircraft Shot Down By 1968 • 356 Confirmed POWs (450 Suspected) • 50% Plus Held Greater Than 2000 Days • Pentagon / White House Frustrated Over Treatment Of POWs • Increasing Numbers Of POWs Had Died From Beatings, Torture, and Starvation

  5. “OPERATION KINGPIN” BACKGROUND( Son Tay Raid ) • April 1970 • 1127th Field Activities Group (FAG) • 2 POW Camps Discovered West of Hanoi • Intensive Recon of Son Tay • Photos Showing New Construction • POWs Working Outside Camp 5 Jun 70 • SACSA Chiefs Col Blackburn and Col Mayer Met With Joint Chiefs

  6. “OPERATION KINGPIN” BACKGROUND( Son Tay Raid ) • August 1970 • Joint Contingency Task Force • BGen Manor, USAF • COL Simons, USA • Training Location - Fort Bragg or Eglin AFB • Force Selection • 100 Men

  7. “OPERATION KINGPIN” BACKGROUND( Intelligence ) • No Reliable HUMINT • No SIGINT From NSA On POWs Available • Total Reliance On IMINT • Overhead • SR-71 • Buffalo Hunter • 6 Jun 70 • Decreased Activity Levels at Son Tay Noted

  8. “OPERATION KINGPIN” TELEDYNE RYAN “BUFFALO HUNTER” RECONNAISSANCE DRONE

  9. SON CON RIVER TELEDYNE RYAN “BUFFALO HUNTER” RECONNAISSANCE DRONE PHOTO, SON TAY POW CAMP, 1968

  10. “OPERATION KINGPIN” BACKGROUND( OPSEC ) • Knew Their Signatures and Used Them to Their Advantage • Telephone Monitor • Most Conversations Face-to-Face • Diversionary Bomber Pilots Not In-Briefed • OPSEC Violated by Col Blackburn • Even With All the Security One Intel Analyst Figured it Out

  11. BACKGROUND( SON TAY COMPOUND ) • Approximately 23 miles west of Hanoi • Small - Situated amid 40-foot trees to obstruct view • One power and telephone line • POWs kept in four large buildings in main compound • Three observation towers and seven-foot wall • encompassing compound

  12. BACKGROUND( SON TAY COMPOUND )

  13. BACKGROUND( Key Players ) • BG DONALD D. BLACKBURN (Special Assistant, SACSA) • COL E.E. MAYER (Chief, Special Operations Division, SACSA) • BG LeROY J. MANOR (Task Force Commander) • COL ARTHUR “BULL” SIMONS (Task Force Deputy Commander) • 100 SOLDIERS (Out of approx. 500 Volunteers) from Fort Bragg • Only 56 would ultimately be select for actual mission

  14. BACKGROUND( Key Players - Cont. ) • HELICOPTER PILOTS: • APPLE-1 - LTC WARNER A. BRITTON (HH-53) • APPLE-2 - LTC JOHN ALLISON (HH-53) • APPLE-3 - MAJ FREDERICK M. “MARTY” DONOHUE (HH-53) • APPLE-4 - LTC ROYAL C. BROWN (HH-53) • APPLE-5 - MAJ KENNETH D. MURPHY (HH-53) • BANANA-1 - MAJ HERB KALEN (HH-3)

  15. BACKGROUND( Key Players - Cont. ) • U.S. AIR FORCE: • LIME-1 - MAJ WILLIAM J. KORNITZER (HC-130P) • CHERRY-1 - MAJ IRL . FRANKLIN (C-130) • CHERRY-2 - LTC ALBERT P. BLOSCH (C-130) • F-4 PHANTOMS (10 EA) - Screening • F-105 WILD WEASLES (5 EA) - Raid Enemy SAMS Sites - SEAD • A-1 SKYRAIDERS (5 EA) - Ground Fire Suppression & Escort • U.S. NAVY: TASK FORCE-77 - 59 Diversionary Sorties @ Hai Phong

  16. “OPERATION KINGPIN” OBJECTIVES( Military Objectives ) • Rescue U.S. POWs With Minimum Casualties To POWs and Raiders • Deception Mission to Protect: • Planning • Deployment • Mission Execution

  17. “OPERATION KINGPIN” OBJECTIVES( Deception ) • Cause NVA AF Officials Not to Detect or Launch Against Special OPS Aircraft • Cause NVA Ground Commander to Send Forces Away From Fight at Son Tay Compound ACHIEVE SURPRISE

  18. “OPERATION KINGPIN” OBJECTIVES( Miscellaneous ) • Obtain Letter of Authority - Air Force Chief of Staff • Improve Night Firing Accuracy Rate - Not Acceptable • Obtain Specific Knives Required - Not Available in U.S. Military Supply System

  19. PREPARATION ( Planning & Training ) • 6 AUG 70 - INITIAL MEETING BETWEEN KEY PLANNERS • Planning Group Established - Each Service Represented • Total 26 Members • Training Site Selected (Eglin AFB, Hurlburt AFB, Duke AF) • AUG 70 - SOLICITED VOLUNTEERS • 500 Volunteers from Ft. Bragg - Only 100 Selected • Assembled at Eglin AFB by end of AUG 70 • SEP 70 - TASK FORCE TRAINING • Construction of Actual Scale Compound • Night Flying with Dissimilar Aircrafts - Total 1,054 Hours • Objective Area Tactics - Air Drop, CAS, Infiltration/Exfiltration • Weapons and Small Unit Tactics • Physical Training & First Aid • 6 OCT 70 - TRAINING CULMINATED WITH FINAL FULL-TIME , LIVE-FIRE • NIGHT REHEARSAL - JCS OBSERVERS APPROVE

  20. (SGT BLACKARD, SFC MCGUIRE, SFC DOSS) COL ARTHUR “BULL” SIMONS

  21. PREPARATION (CONT.) ( PLANNING & TRAINING ) • 8 OCT 70 - SIMONS AND MANOR BRIEF PLAN TO KISSINGER AND HAIG • Needed Final Approval within 24 Hours to Meet OCT 70 Window • Kissinger and Haig Liked Plan, But Nixon Unavailable • MISSION POSTPONED - FLIR and Night Vision Sights Obtained • 10-13 NOV 70 - TASK FORCE DEPLOYS TO THAILAND • 17 NOV 70 - TASK FORCE CLOSE AT TAKHLI, THAILAND • F-105s Added to Mission • F-4s Added to Mission • Final Raiders Selected (56 of 100) • 18 NOV 70 - NIXON APPROVES 21-24 NOV LAUNCH WINDOW • 21 NOV 70 Selected as Launch Date • Typhoon Approaching - Mission Moved Up 24 Hours • 20 NOV 70 - AT 2318 HRS FIRST AIRCRAFT DEPARTS TAKHLI, THAILAND

  22. CAMP BARBARA

  23. SITUATION - “METT-T” • MISSION • “WE ARE GOING TO RESCUE 70 AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR, MAYBE MORE, • FROM A CAMP CALLED SON TAY. THIS IS SOMETHING AMERICAN PRISONERS • HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT FROM THEIR FELLOW SOLDIERS. • THE TARGET IS 23 MILES WEST OF HANOI.” • - COLONEL ARTHUR “BULL” SIMONS - • ENEMY • SON TAY COMPOUND (APPROX. 20 GUARDS) • “SECONDARY SCHOOL” (45 GUARDS) • 12TH NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY (NVA) REGIMENT (APPROX. 12,000 TROOPS) • NVA ARTILLERY SCHOOL • NVA SUPPLY DEPOT • NVA AIR DEFENSE INSTALLATION

  24. SITUATION (CONT.) • TROOPS & SUPPORT AVAILABLE • 100 VOLUNTEERS FROM FT. BRAGG, NC (ONLY 56 SELECTED FOR MISSION) • (5 EA) MH-53 HELICOPTERS (APPLE-1, 2, 3, 4, & 5) • (1 EA) HH-3 HELICOPTER (BANNANA-1) • (2 EA) C-130E COMBAT TALONS • (1 EA) HC-130 TANKER • (10 EA)

  25. SITUATION (CONT.) • TROOPS & SUPPORT AVAILABLE • ( INDIVIDUAL & CREW-SERVED WEAPONS ) • (2 EA) M-16 AUTOMATIC RIFLES • (48 EA) CAR-15 ASSAULT RIFLES • (51 EA) .45 CALIBER PISTOLS • (4 EA) M-79 40MM GRENADE LAUNCHERS • (4 EA) M-60 MACHINEGUNS • (2 EA) 12-GUAGE SHOTGUNS

  26. SITUATION (CONT.) TROOPS & SUPPORT AVAILABLE ( EQUIPMENT ) • (15 EA) CLAYMORE MINES • SPECIAL DEMOLITION CHARGES • (213 EA) HAND GRENADES • 6-INCH KNIFE • (11 EA) AXES • (12 EA) WIRE CUTTERS • (11 EA) BOLT CUTTERS • (7 COILS) ROPE • (2 EA) OXYACETYLENE CUTTING TORCHES • GOGGLES / EAR PLUGS • AN/PRC-90 SURVIVAL RADIOS • AVIATOR GLOVES • (2 EA) CHAIN SAWS • (5 EA) CROWBARS • (17 EA) MACHETES • (34 EA) MINERS LAMPS • (6 EA) STROBE LIGHTS • (6 EA) NIGHT VISION DEVICES • (6 EA) BATON LIGHTS • (14 EA) BEANBAG LIGHTS • (2 EA) CAMERAS • PEN LIGHT / PEN FLARE • SURVIVAL KIT • COMPASS

  27. SITUATION (CONT.) • TERRAIN & WEATHER • RAID CONDUCTED AT NIGHT • SMALL LANDING ZONE WITHIN SON TAY COMPOUND • TREES THROUGHOUT COMPOUND PERIMETER • FALL SEASON - NO MONSOON DOWNPOURS • VISIBILITY RELATIVE TO LUNAR CYCLE - QUARTER MOON, 35 DEGREES ABOVE HORIZON • TWO WINDOWS: 21-25 OCT 70 OR 21-25 NOV 70 • APPROACHING TYPHOON - SMALL WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY • TIME • TOTAL 27 MINUTES FROM ARRIVAL TO DEPARTURE FROM SON TAY COMPOUND • NEARLY SIX MONTHS LAPSED BETWEEN INITIAL RECONNAISSANCE AND ACTUAL • EXECUTION OF RESCUE MISSION

  28. “OPERATION KINGPIN” THE RAID( Perceptions ) • Son Tay in No Danger of Attack • Greater Threat Requires Their Attention and Assets

  29. “OPERATION KINGPIN” THE RAID( Deception Story ) • Major Air Attack on Hanoi / Haiphong • Major Offensive Counter Attack Against SAM Sites • Significant Ground Operation Away From Son Tay Compound • Deception Targets: • NVA Air Defense Sector Commander • NVA On-Scene Ground Commander

  30. “OPERATION KINGPIN” THE RAID( Means ) • Diversionary Flare Attack on Haiphong (Physical / Technical) • Fire-Fight Simulators Two Miles East of Son Tay (Physical) • F-105 Wild Weasels Used to Decoy SAMs (Physical / Technical) • Night Low-Level Ingress to Avoid Detection (Technical)

  31. “OPERATION KINGPIN” THE RAID( “GO” Decision ) • Presidential Approval • Military Considerations • Political Considerations

  32. “OPERATION KINGPIN” THE RAID( Final “GO” ) • President Nixon Gave Final Go Ahead for a 21-25 Nov Attempt • Weather Major Factor • Typhoon Headed Toward Hanoi • Mission Moved up to 20 Nov • 56-Man Assault Force

  33. Col Arthur D. “Bull” Simons to his men... “We are going to rescue as many as seventy American POWs, something American prisoners have a right to expect from their fellow soldiers.”

  34. “OPERATION KINGPIN” THE RAID( Aircraft Selection ) • 105 ACFT in Total Operation • (5 ea) HH-53s • (1 ea) HH-3 • (2 ea) MC-130 Combat Talons • (1 ea) HC-130 (Refueling) • (5 ea) A-1s

  35. SPECIALLY EQUIPPED C-130 “COMBAT TALON” LEADS ASSAULT FORCE FROM THAILAND INTO NORTH VIETNAM

  36. SON TAY H-1:00 AR A-1s H-2:40 C-130s C-130s TAKHLI H-3:20

  37. VIDEO - SON TAY RAID

  38. “OPERATION KINGPIN” THE RAID( CONT. ) • 2 MC-130s Led 6 Helicopters • 3.5 NM OUT, 1st MC-130 & 2 HH-53s Climbed To 1500 FT (Drop Flares & Fire-Fight Simulators) • 3rd HH-53 Takes Out 2 Guard Towers • 2nd MC-130 Drops Napalm Marker • HH-3 ‘Crash Lands’ in Compound • 14 Raiders Exit

  39. “OPERATION KINGPIN” THE RAID( CONT. ) • Meanwhile; Back at the ‘Secondary School’ • Bull Lands at the Wrong Place • “Thinks” it is the Compound • Fire Fight Begins

  40. “OPERATION KINGPIN” THE RAID( CONT. ) • Meanwhile; Back at the ‘Secondary School’ • 100 - 200 Casualties • 12 Plus NVAs Killed at Son Tay Compound • HH-3 Destroyed • Departure

  41. “OPERATION KINGPIN” Feedback • Ground Personnel Taken by Surprise • Monitor NVA Air Sector Radio Nets • Negative Air Intercept “IT DOESN’T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, THEY'RE ALL OVER!” “I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU DO. GO TO CHINA IF YOU WANT TO!” NVA CONTROLLER

  42. Political cartoon by R.B. Crockett published in the Washington Star the day after news of the Son Tay Raid broke

  43. “OPERATION KINGPIN” COMPLETE SURPRISE ACHIEVED “THE ENEMY DEFENSE SYSTEM HAD NO IDEAWE WERE OVER THE AREA UNTIL THE FORCE HAD BEEN THERE SOME TIME.” MAJOR GENERAL LEROY J. MANOR COMMANDER, SON TAY OPERATION

  44. “OPERATION KINGPIN” RESULTS • No NVA Air Defense Kills Against Raiders • One F-105 Wild Weasel Shot Down • 2 Survivors Picked up by Assault Force • No Special Forces KIA By NVA Ground Forces • No POWs Found at Son Tay - Moved in Mid-July

  45. “OPERATION KINGPIN” RESULTS • Deception Objective Achieved • Complete Surprise • Integrated From the Inception of the Planning Process (Although Not Called Deception) • Deception Enhanced OPSEC • Covered Indicators • Plausible Deniability

  46. CONSEQUENCES • NVA Consolidated POW Camps (Hanoi) - POWs No Longer Isolated • POWs Under Closer Security - However, No Longer in Isolation • POW Morale Improved • POW Families’ Morale Improved • MESSAGE: “Our Country Cared” • Demonstrated Capability to Execute Rescue Missions • Media Depicted Intelligence Failure - Intelligence Community Restructured • Soviet Union Threatened to Cut-Off Support for Hydroelectric Power Plant • in North Vietnam • Chinese Threatened to Cut-Off Military Support to North Vietnam • Unwitting Participants

  47. AIR FORCE AWARDS • DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL - 1 • AIR FORCE CROSS - 5 • SILVER STAR - 31 • ARMY AWARDS • DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS - 6 • SILVER STAR - 50 • DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS - 4

  48. DISCUSSION ( LEFT TO RIGHT: LAIRD, SIMONS, MOORE, MANOR )

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