Episode 40 – The Men Who Flew And Fought For the South Vietnam Airforce

Episode 40 of Military Tales features a poignant conversation with three veterans of the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF): Song, Tywin (Ty), and Chow (Children). They share their experiences fighting for South Vietnam, the chaotic final days of the war, their escape, and their lives since arriving in the United States.

Serving in the VNAF Song, Ty, and Chow all joined the VNAF around 1963. They underwent flight training, with Song mentioning training at Lakeland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base, graduating with a T28 rating. Ty also trained at Randolph on the T28 and at Eglin Air Force Base for the A1. Chow received his wings in October 1964 from Randolph Air Force Base and was checked out on the A1.

Throughout their careers, these pilots flew a variety of aircraft. Song flew the T28, A1 Skyraider, and the A37. Ty transitioned from the L19 to the A1 and later flew the U6. Chow flew the A1 for two years before being selected to train on the more advanced F5 fighter. He flew the F5 from 1966 until the last day of the war in 1975, accumulating more than 2200 hours on that aircraft alone. The veterans collectively highlight the intense operational tempo, flying countless missions and accumulating thousands of flight hours. Ty recounted getting shot down near Saigon in 1967 due to ground fire while supporting troops. He managed to crash in the jungle and hide. A US helicopter eventually located him after its gunner, described as a “black guy,” brilliantly dropped red smoke, a known target marker, causing the Viet Cong to run away and allowing Ty to reveal himself.

The Fall of South Vietnam and Evacuation The final days leading up to the fall of Saigon in April 1975 were marked by chaos and a severe lack of clear orders or leadership. Song, serving as a squadron commander, described telling his men to go home to their families because he had no guidance or place to control operations from. Ty noted that nobody told the pilots what to do or where to go; they had to take care of themselves. Chow described the base being showered with rockets on the last day and the sudden realization that people were leaving without official coordination.

Prioritizing family safety was paramount. Song managed to send his wife and two sons out by helicopter with a friend who was a squadron commander. Ty prepared for weeks, hiding his wife and children in the squadron office. On the night of April 28th, women and children were evacuated from Tan Son Nhut Air Base. Ty flew a C7 Caribou to Con Son island, where he met his family. The next morning, April 30th, the South Vietnamese president surrendered. At Con Son, the pilot refugees were ordered to open the prison holding communist prisoners. Facing this threat, they armed themselves with M16s. Deciding there weren’t enough planes for everyone, they prioritized families with husbands present to fly out. They landed at U-Tapao in Thailand. Although they wanted to use a VNAF C-130 (which had already been flagged with a US flag) to return for more women and children left behind, a US colonel arranged for a US C-130 instead. Ty’s family was then flown from U-Tapao to Guam and eventually to California.

Chow’s family was fortunate to be evacuated a week before the final collapse by an American dentist friend stationed at U-Tapao. On the last day, facing incoming rockets and seeing others leave, Chow found an F5 ready to fly. Despite it being a single-seater, he convinced a security guard to join him, with the guard sitting on his lap. They took off without helmets, parachutes, survival kits, or clearance from a control tower, using afterburner and navigating by landmarks to reach U-Tapao. Upon landing, they were initially surrounded by Thai security, but American MPs intervened. Chow recounts seeing another F5 land with three people packed inside, a testament to the desperate measures taken to escape.

Reflections and Life in the US Sharing these stories brings up painful memories. Chow expresses not being proud of having “run away,” but acknowledges they had to do what was necessary to survive. Both Chow and Ty express deep resentment towards the American military leadership, specifically the Air Force leaders, for how they felt treated, particularly concerning the lack of evacuation planning and perceived abandonment. Ty states he “hated Americans that way” at the time and wanted to forget about the VNAF. They feel their efforts were undermined by politics and a lack of resources like ammunition and gas towards the end. The veterans draw comparisons between the collapse in 1975 and recent events in Afghanistan.

Despite their criticisms of military leadership and politics, they express immense gratitude for the help they received from individual Americans and communities upon arriving in the US. Ty recalls receiving food, blankets, help finding a job, and even a $200 car from people at a church. He feels Americans threw him a “life jacket” and appreciates the many good people in the country.

The veterans also share a sense of concern about the current state of the US, noting similarities to the situation in Vietnam in 1975, which causes them fear. They remain grateful for the bond they share as veterans and the opportunity to tell their stories, emphasizing the importance of learning from history.