Posted on Nov 21, 2016
U.S. force raids Son Tay prison camp - Nov 21, 1970 - HISTORY.com
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A combined U.S. Air Force and Army team of 40 Americans–led by Army Colonel “Bull” Simons–conducts a raid on the Son Tay prison camp, 23 miles west of Hanoi, in an attempt to free between 70 and 100 Americans suspected of being held there.
Planning for the mission–code-named Operation Ivory Coast–began in June 1970. The plan called for U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) to be flown to Son Tay by helicopter and crash-land inside the compound. The plan was for one group of Green Berets to pour out of the helicopter and neutralize any opposition while Green Berets in other helicopters, landing outside the walls, would break in and complete the rescue operation.
At 11:30 p.m. on November 20, the raiding force departed Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. As the force approached the camp, U.S. Air Force and Navy warplanes struck North Vietnamese troop installations and antiaircraft sites in the area. Part of the force initially landed at the wrong compound, but otherwise the mission came off without a hitch.
Unfortunately, the Green Berets could not locate any prisoners in the huts. After a sharp firefight with the North Vietnamese troops in the area, the order was given to withdraw–27 minutes after the raid began, the force was in the air headed back to Thailand. The raid was accomplished in a superb manner and all Americans returned safely, but it was learned later that the prisoners had been moved elsewhere in July. Despite that disappointment, the raid was a tactical success and sent a message to the North Vietnamese that the United States was capable of inserting a combat force undetected only miles from their capital. Stunned by the raid, high Hanoi officials ordered all U.S. POWs moved to several central prison complexes. This was actually a welcome change–the move afforded the prisoners more contact with each other and boosted their morale.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCPT (Join to see)COL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell PO2 Ed C.
Planning for the mission–code-named Operation Ivory Coast–began in June 1970. The plan called for U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) to be flown to Son Tay by helicopter and crash-land inside the compound. The plan was for one group of Green Berets to pour out of the helicopter and neutralize any opposition while Green Berets in other helicopters, landing outside the walls, would break in and complete the rescue operation.
At 11:30 p.m. on November 20, the raiding force departed Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. As the force approached the camp, U.S. Air Force and Navy warplanes struck North Vietnamese troop installations and antiaircraft sites in the area. Part of the force initially landed at the wrong compound, but otherwise the mission came off without a hitch.
Unfortunately, the Green Berets could not locate any prisoners in the huts. After a sharp firefight with the North Vietnamese troops in the area, the order was given to withdraw–27 minutes after the raid began, the force was in the air headed back to Thailand. The raid was accomplished in a superb manner and all Americans returned safely, but it was learned later that the prisoners had been moved elsewhere in July. Despite that disappointment, the raid was a tactical success and sent a message to the North Vietnamese that the United States was capable of inserting a combat force undetected only miles from their capital. Stunned by the raid, high Hanoi officials ordered all U.S. POWs moved to several central prison complexes. This was actually a welcome change–the move afforded the prisoners more contact with each other and boosted their morale.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCPT (Join to see)COL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell PO2 Ed C.
U.S. force raids Son Tay prison camp - Nov 21, 1970 - HISTORY.com
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Vietnam War
Warfare
Military History
American History
Posted 9 y ago
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It is good that a benefit came to the prisoners of war in Vietnam due to the raid but tragic that their freedom was not realized. Great planning and leadership was demonstrated in the lack of any fatalities for the liberation force sent in behind the enemy lines.
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This was a very well planed and limited scope raid. They were very fortunate that the NVA didn't get there sooner as what was thought to be a secondary school was accually a barracks.
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This article mentions Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, another base used was NKP (Nakhon Panom Royal Thai Air Force Base.) I know this because I was there that day on an ECP at between Base Ops and the Fire Dept. At the beginning we who weren't directly involved didn't know what was happening, but there were more then the normal 2 Jolly Greens used for SAR at the base that day. I remember when they came back and the look of sadness on the crews when they got off the choppers. That same day as I remember a reporter was detained at the Main Gate trying to get on and get pictures of the flight line. It wasn't until later that we heard what was going on. It was a very sad day. But it did go to show the problem in gaining reliable humint. It is hard to believe that was 46 years ago. I was a young A1C approaching my 21st birthday.
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SP5 Mark Kuzinski
Nakhon Panom Royal Thai Air Force Base I remember it well - but I left Thailand in Oct of 67.
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