Behind the Lines: A Look Inside the Son Tay Prison Raid (Operation Ivory Coast)

Military Tales takes us deep into one of the most audacious missions of the Vietnam War in Episode 48 – the Son Tay Prison Raid, also known as Operation Ivory Coast. This episode features a veteran raider who shares his firsthand account of this volunteer mission, a mission where participants were told there was a “50 50 chance of not making it back” and that capture would likely mean “pretty much sudden death”. Yet, the men pressed forward, driven by the motto of their era: “no man left behind”.

The motivation for the raid was grim: 114 American POWs had already died in captivity since the war began, and of the 591 held in North Vietnam, half had been prisoners for over five years. One man had been held for nine years. The planning for this critical mission began in April 1970, led by General Blackburn. Intelligence from SR-71 flights and drones indicated the presence of POWs at Son Tay. While other camps were considered, Son Tay, located 23 miles Northwest of Hanoi on the Song River, was chosen for its ease of access in and out. Initial proposals ranged from the Army’s idea of crashing a C-130 with 200 men to the Seals’ suggestion of just 12. Ultimately, the raiding force comprised 56 men. A key planning detail was the uncertainty about the guards’ orders in case of a rescue – whether to kill the POWs or run. This led to the critical requirement: be in control of the guards inside the compound within 30 to 60 seconds, necessitating a helicopter crash-landing inside the compound to rapidly insert troops. The sheer threat level was immense, with an estimated 20 to 80,000 NVA soldiers in the area, being so close to Hanoi.

The selection process for this all-volunteer mission began at Fort Bragg. Around 1500 individuals initially showed interest, but the number dropped significantly when they learned no TDY (temporary duty) was available. Green Berets, known for valuing TDY, also dropped out. Those who remained were personally interviewed. The speaker, a young E5 (Buck Sergeant) with no combat experience, was asked about scuba diving and, interestingly, welding – a skill he claimed from growing up on a farm. He was selected for the advanced team of 109 men. Before deploying, they had to settle their affairs, including writing wills – a first for the speaker, highlighting the mission’s gravity. He wrote a letter to his parents, emphasizing his volunteer status.

Training for the raid was intense and lasted three months at Eglin Air Force Base, chosen for its diverse aircraft. They built a mock compound based on intelligence photos, using target cloth and 2x4s, surrounded by concertina wire and guarded 24/7 with shoot-to-kill orders. The first month involved refreshing military skills like demolitions and rigorous physical training. The team was divided into elements with call signs: Red Wine, Green Leaf, and Blue Boy, the helicopter designated for the controlled crash landing inside the compound. Training progressed from walkthroughs to incorporating helicopters, with 80% of the training done at night. C-130s dropped flares to illuminate the mock compound. The pilots were described as the “best that the Air Force had”. Facing the danger of being the first or last off the chopper was a personal challenge for the speaker. They used flares and basic night vision (World War II ski goggles) to see. Accuracy was initially low (50%), but the addition of the Armorlite scope (jury-rigged to fit an AR-15) significantly improved it to about 95% for quick kills. A unique training aid was a CIA-made mock-up named “Barbara,” featuring a prism that allowed raiders to view the compound layout from ground level, helping them orient themselves quickly after landing. They trained with live ammunition and practiced alternate plans in case a helicopter went down, with the mission planned to abort if two choppers were lost. Rehearsals were extensive, totaling over 170 – seen as essential for proficiency, like training in a sport. Escape and Evasion (E&E) was deemed impossible due to their distance from friendly forces; instead, their plan in case of compromise was to fall back to the Saga River and “make it as bloody for them as possible”. There were moments of R&R, including Friday Night Fights among the men, a beach party, and a memorable night with ladies who were later revealed to be CIA operatives testing for loose lips.

The mission kicked off suddenly on November 16th with orders to pack bags. The theme song became “Leaving on a Jet Plane”. They flew via Norton AFB, Alaska, and Japan, ending up at Takli, Thailand. They were taken to a compound, believed to be CIA-run, guarded by the Royal Thai Army. Weapons were stored in a hangar, and rumor control was rampant as they waited restlessly. A hint of the impending mission came with a steak dinner. Finally, in an auditorium, Bull Simons used a map to reveal their target: Son Tay, to rescue an estimated 60 to 70 POWs. The announcement was met with intense enthusiasm, but Simons quickly underscored the volunteer nature and the 50/50 chance of survival. Remarkably, none of the men backed out. They later learned they had been waiting for President Nixon’s approval, who took full responsibility for the mission should it go wrong.

The infiltration involved loading onto C-130s and flying to Udorn for refueling. The flight into Son Tay was conducted at treetop level, flying at 105 knots (just above the C-130’s stall speed) so the accompanying HH-3 helicopters could keep pace in the C-130’s draft. They flew in formation, described as a “flock of geese,” relying on a quarter moon for illumination. The three-and-a-half hour flight was a time for reflection. They knew the area was well-protected, with a SAM site eight miles away and anti-aircraft guns; about 20 SAMs were fired at them that night. A crucial element was a massive diversion, Operation Concave Ray, involving over 116 Navy and Air Force aircraft dropping flares over Hanoi. This created such confusion that the North Vietnamese MIGs stayed on the ground, to the raiders’ advantage. The speaker specifically thanked NKP for its role in supporting these aircraft.

The raid commenced with the element of surprise. Blue Boy crashed inside the compound as planned, although the trees were taller than expected, which resulted in one raider being unexpectedly thrown from the deck, becoming the literal first man on the ground. Other helicopters cleared two of the three towers, but the third had to be dealt with quickly. Just as they were about to land, the speaker, acting as RTO, heard the message “alternate planned green,” meaning Green Leaf was down or missing, leaving them 22 men short, including Bull Simons. Despite the shock, their extensive training allowed them to immediately switch to the alternate plan. The “pucker factor” intensified with the sound of a minigun firing and seeing the garden building on fire. Exiting the aircraft under fire, the speaker had his first moment of taking out an enemy without hesitation. His team had three buildings to clear to reach the communications (Como) shed and prevent reinforcements from being called. Their orders were clear: take no prisoners, only rescue the POWs. Upon reaching the Como building, the devastating news came: “negative items” – code for no POWs. Meanwhile, Green Leaf, which had drifted and landed elsewhere, stumbled upon and cleared a secondary school, killing about 100 individuals who were likely Chinese or Russians training the NVA on SAMs and missiles just 500 meters away – an accidental action that potentially “saved our bacon”. Reunited with Green Leaf, the raiders blew a hole in the wall expecting to bring out POWs, while Dick Meadows used a bullhorn telling potential prisoners that Americans were there. They meticulously searched every cell, and Bull Simons personally double-checked, determined not to leave anyone behind.

The extraction involved regrouping and calling back the helicopters, which had landed in a field a few miles away with engines running. After reloading and a brief head count mix-up, their chopper lifted off. Looking out, they saw the bright lights of Hanoi. Suddenly, their chopper “dropped to the right,” having been hit by a SAM, described as a “big orange pole”. Despite the hit, the pilots performed “a fantastic job” getting them out. While one F-104 was lost to a SAM, its pilot spent the night on a hillside and was rescued the next morning. Tragically, they didn’t find the POWs, and although one raider was wounded, no men were lost on the mission itself. The disappointment was immense after three months of training. The failure to find POWs was attributed to a flaw in the intelligence.

Upon returning, their cover story was a training exercise. However, Hanoi’s reports of being bombed (seeing the flares) led to publicity that forced the US to announce the raid on a POW camp. While some viewed the raid as a failure, from the POW’s perspective, it was a “huge success”. The raid prompted the North Vietnamese to consolidate prisoners from outlying camps, including Camp Faith, to the “Hilton” prison in Hanoi. Previously held in isolation or small groups, hundreds of prisoners were now forced into very large cells. While treatment didn’t necessarily improve, being in large groups significantly improved morale and allowed them to organize using methods like the tap code, forming a military structure within the prison. This psychological boost was invaluable and, for some, made coming home possible. The Son Tay Raid is now taught at military academies like West Point and the Air Force Academy as the standard for POW rescue missions, compared even to the Bin Laden raid. The veteran also spoke of remarkable individuals like Pappy Kittleson, the oldest non-com on the raid but the youngest on the famous Cabanatuan raid in WWII, who led a prayer meeting before they departed. He also described Colonel Bull Simons as the “John Wayne of Special Forces,” a legendary figure known for getting his men in and out safely, a man who was all business but had a dry sense of humor. A movie about the raid titled “27 Minutes” is currently in production, working with Warner Bros or Amazon, with the goal of being authentic and not a “Hollywood movie,” consulting with raiders and POWs for accuracy. The speaker closed by emphasizing the importance of sharing these stories, particularly with grandchildren, so they understand this vital part of history.