Trần Văn Minh (aviator)

Trần Văn Minh (21 July 1932 – 27 August 1997) was a general of the South Vietnamese air force (VNAF).

Trần Văn Minh
Tran Van Minh VNAF 1974 Major General Portrait
Born(1932-07-21)21 July 1932
Bạc Liêu, French Indochina
Died27 August 1997(1997-08-27) (aged 65)
Los Gatos, California, U.S.
Allegiance South Vietnam
Service/branch Republic of Vietnam Air Force
Rank Lieutenant general
(Trung Tướng)
Tran Van Minh VNAF 1974 Major General with Air Force One

Career

In 1956 Minh was promoted to Captain. In 1958 he received jet-training on the Cessna T-37 and was promoted to Major. In 1960 he attended the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama, United States. On his return to Vietnam he served as deputy base commander of Nha Trang Air Base, then deputy commander Bien Hoa Air Base, then Command Assistant Deputy at Danang Air Base. In 1964 he was appointed commander of the 62nd Tactical Wing at Pleiku Air Base.

In November 1967 Minh was promoted to Brigadier-General and commander of the VNAF, succeeding Nguyễn Cao Kỳ who was elected as Vice-President of the Republic of Vietnam. Minh would be the longest-serving commander of the VNAF holding command from 1967 until the Fall of Saigon in April 1975. In 1968 he was promoted to Major-General (Thiếu Tướng).

At 08:00 on 29 April 1975, Minh and 30 of his staff arrived at the Defense Attaché Office (DAO) compound demanding evacuation, signifying the complete loss of VNAF command and control.[1]

gollark: No, they passed that stupid "Assistance and Access" law.
gollark: Well, the whole thing of "let's GET RID OF ENCRYPTION we're so smart TERRORISTS" is really a political issue.
gollark: I did say "non-proud UK-dweller", you know.
gollark: Paraphrased: "Who cares what your MATHS says about it not being possible to have encryption only the government can break, we want this impossible thing done by Tuesday!"
gollark: “Well the laws of Australia prevail in Australia, I can assure you of that. The laws of mathematics are very commendable, but the only law that applies in Australia is the law of Australia," - former prime minister.

References

  1. Tobin, Thomas (1978). USAF Southeast Asia Monograph Series Volume IV Monograph 6: Last Flight from Saigon. US Government Printing Office. pp. 85–7. ISBN 978-1-4102-0571-1.
Military offices
Preceded by
Nguyễn Cao Kỳ
Commander Republic of Vietnam Air Force
1965–1975
Succeeded by
Nguyễn Hữu Tần
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