North Vietnamese Aces And Pilots

[michaelharadon]

Why haven't any North Vietnamese pilots come over here to participate in air shows (especially since Migs now fly here), panel discussions, conferences, etc. in the same manner that German and Japanese fliers have? There are certainly enough translators so language wouldn't be an insurmountable problem. I'm thinking that the interest factor would be huge.

[mrhenniger]

Likely for the same reason there isn't much free travel between the US and Cuba.

It would be very interesting to hear some stories though.

Mike

[Mike Banks]

I was recently at Pratt & Whitney and they had a few guest speakers in the museum giving a talk to employees about a book they all were involved in. The book was "My Enemy, My Friend" by Ret. Brig. Gen. Dan Cherry about his experience in Vietnam.

Heres a link to the overview.

http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-f ... riend.html

Interesting part was, I got to meet the North Vietnamese pilot who was shot down by Cherry. His name is Hong My and he tours the lecture scene with Cherry talking about the book.

Never EVER thought I would have a copy of a book signed by a North Vietnamese fighter pilot!

But, the point is these guys do come over here, just not to much publicity around it I guess.

[jet1]

many if not most of the NORTH VIETNAM aces were RUSSIAN....

[John Dupre]

many if not most of the NORTH VIETNAM aces were RUSSIAN....

It wouldn't surprise me but I would like to see some confirmation of that claim.

[John Dupre]

How much interest would there really be? I think most Americans still just want to put the whole Vietnam experience behind us.

[michaelharadon]

How much interest would there really be? I think most Americans still just want to put the whole Vietnam experience behind us.

Amongst the general public, that might very well be the case. But for pilots, historians, and Wixers, I would think that there would be a line around the block to get a ticket. We're forty years (!) past 1971, as far removed from the battles as we were from the Second War in 1985, and I remember that there were a number of friend and foe symposiums with fighter pilots from both sides back in the eighties.

It would be as great to hear from a combat pilot of either nationality (and were there any Warsaw Pact drivers who logged combat time?) who flew against us over Vietnam as it is/was to listen to German and Japanese pilots who fought us over Europe and the Pacific.