VNAF Military ID Card - 01 Air Force Passport Card 1st Air Division, 239th Squadron, Da Nang Card Number: 002288 Name: Nguyen Van Hoang Location and Year of Birth: Gia Dinh, 1952 Rank: Private (Binh I) Military Unit: 1st Air Division, 239th Squadron (SD1KQ/KDIO/LDBT CDV/PD 239) Position: Employee ("NHAN VIEN") Gate of Access: 1st Air Division (SDI KQ) KBC: 3198 Date: February 8, 1975 The two rectangular boxes on the sides of the pictures mean first and second semi-annual ("DE I/ LUC CA NGUYET" means first six months, and "DE II/LUC CA NGUYET" means second six months). The soldier did not receive the 2nd seal because of the collapse of the Republic of Viet-Nam on 30 April 1975. Reverse: NOTICE -When leaving the Air base the card has to be returned to the authority that issued it. -When the card is missing, a report must be filed with Military Police unit. -This card is only valid during the validated semi-annual period, and IS NOT valid to enter PROHIBITED AREA. -Anyone who found this card please send to KBC... -Absolutely no one can borrow (the card), and it has to be returned when transferred to another unit. -Unauthorized possession of this card will be prosecuted according to the laws. Vertical handstamp: "Card must be worn when entering the base until exiting it". The large "75" likely represents the year, 1975. The diagonal "Phan Ku II" marking means "Area II". Notes: The 239th Squadron was activated in 1972 to fly American UH-1H Hueys (helicopters). The following information was gleaned from writings by Gioang Nguyen on the VNAF.net web site: After the fall of Da Nang, pilots stationed there attempted to fly their Hueys further south. It is estimated that 25% of the pilots made it to Phu Cat air base for refuelling and 50% of the planes did not have the opportunity to leave the ground. The other 25% were not so lucky, either running out of fuel or crashing due to very bad weather that night. The next refuelling stop for those who were lucky enough to make it to Phu Cat was Nha Trang. Their final destination was Tan Son Nhut Airbase near Saigon. After three days, the pilots received an order to regroup at Can Tho. Due to the small number of helicopter pilots that made it to Saigon from Da Nang, the 239th Helicopter Squadron was officially disbanded. The remainimg 239th pilots were placed with the 213th Helicopter Squadron, which was also from Danang, under command of the Lt Colonel Luan. The 213th did not log any flights when it moved to Can Tho. After Duong Van Minh declared defeat, the pilots flew to Con Son, where they refueled before being escorted by US Cobra gunships to a small airfield near the Thailand border. From there the pilots were taken by US C130 to Guam. < Previous    |    Next > Introduction & Training | Recruiting Slogans | Identification | Related Military Documents | Conclusion < Imnaha Stamps Home Original content ©2008 Andrew Crenshaw - All Rights Reserved.