Author Topic: Son Tay raider recalls the hunt for POWs in North Vietnam 50 years ago today  (Read 483 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

rangerrebew

  • Guest
Son Tay raider recalls the hunt for POWs in North Vietnam 50 years ago today
Jared Morgan
 

It was 50 years ago today that a special operations group raided the Son Tay prison compound in North Vietnam in an attempt to rescue some 61 prisoners of war.

About 15 years had passed since the Vietnam War began. Along with the raid on the prison camp, located just outside of Hanoi, the U.S. concurrently sent three Navy carriers as a distraction and to help suppress potential enemy air support on Nov. 21, 1970. The support mission is heralded as the largest night carrier operation of the almost 20-year conflict.

It turned out the prisoners had been moved to other camps prior to the raid, but the mission, known as Operation Kingpin, has stood as a stellar example of planning and coordinated execution for similar covert attacks since.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/11/21/son-tay-raider-recalls-the-hunt-for-pows-in-north-vietnam-50-years-ago-today/