AIR ACTIVITY AROUND DIEN BIEN PHU

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02873949
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2022
• Case Number: F-2022-01173
• Publication Date: April 19, 1954

Approved for Release: 2022/08/05 CO2873949
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form Is prohibited.
et
COUNTRY Indochina
SUBJECT
DATE OF INFO.
Air Activity Around Dien Bien Phu :J
March 1954
PLACE ACQUIRED Indochina, Saigon (10 April 1954)
THE
REPORT NO. CS-35925
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. R
REFERENCES
A --6T.
D
SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS -REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
19 April 1954
SOURFE: American observer in an excellent position to report on air activities in
'ut
Indochina (B). Appraisal of Content: 2.-
As (44.41uu
iaiE PREunav
DISSEMNIMISM NUMBERE9
FD-732 40
1. Anti-aircraft fire around Dien Bien Phu comes from Viet Minh mobile units, which
have been seen, firing individually. It appears that the units have been assigned
a specific sector of the sky to cover. These mobile units are placed around the
entire Dien Bien Phu perimeter and are moved nightly. The anti-aircraft fire is
not pattern firing?
2. Pilots are encountering anti-aircraft fire from 37mm guns firing vertically and
accurately from 400 to 8,500 feet. During a night drop, five 37mm guns w9e
observed firing, but it is believed that there is a total of six or eight. A
considerable amount of 50 caliber anti-aircraft fire has been encountered.
Thus far, six of the Civil Air Transport (CAT) C119's have been hit.
3. The effectiveness of the French air force drops from C47's and C119's has been
very poor because the French pilots are not dropping from low altitudes. They
are dropping from 8,000 feet without parachute delay openers, with the result
that only 10 to 20 percent accuracy is achieved. The CAT pilots are the only
crews which are following air-ground orders from Dien Bien Phu to come in low.
They are dropping at 400 feet with a high degree of accuracy. Air-ground control
at Dien Bien Phu has stated that the drop missions of the CAT C1191s are the
only accurate ones and the French will not fly low enough to drop into the small
drop zone.
L. Other French air force activity includes sporadic strafing, napalming and the
use of light artillery observation airplanes during good weather. However, the
strafing is random, uncoordinated and ineffectual, and the napalming is from too
high an altitude for accuracy. The French air force losses include one C47 and
about two F8F's per week.
q1NTET/CONTROL - 17,5. OFFICIALS ONLY
STATE
ARMY
X 14MN 1 X 1 AIR f5/
FBI
AEC
(Note: Washington Distribution indicated By "X"; Field Distribution By
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SECRET/CONTROL � U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY CS-35928
-2 -
5. Haiphong airfield is the best field in North Vietnam and is capable of handling
all heavy air equipment. Hanoi airfield is in fair condition and can handle
medium air equipment. The effects of sabotage are clearly visible on both fields.
However, the security of these fields is better than average. There is one guard
per plane and passes must be shown to walk on the parking strip.
6. The French reaction to CAT participation at Dien Bien Phu has been very friendly
at high levels. The French have also been friendly at middle echelon levels
except where CAT crews have displaced French crews from C119', causing the
French to fly the more dangerous C47 and B26 missions. No reaction at low levels
has been noted.
1. Field Comment. It is the opinion of CAT pilots in the area that the anti-
aircraft firing is possibly radar-controlled, but they are unsure of this
point.
2. Washington Comment. Most reports from Dien Bien Phu agree that there has
been fire from 37mm guns. However, estimates of the number of 37mm guns
available haveranged from 30 to 100. The above report from an observer
considered to be extremely reliable would indicate fewer 37 mm guns than is
generally believed.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved for Release: 2022/08/05 CO2873949