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On November 20th, 1970, I was on duty in the Control Tower at NKP when our portion of the Son Tay POW Camp Raid launched. The evening went like this:
We had been aware of something going on since just after sunset that night. C-130's had been landing sporadically throughout the evening. I don't recall how many there were, but there were more than one or two.
The Tower was located close to TUOC (Tactical Unit Operations Center - it acted as Command Post for NKP). The only thing between the two buildings was the Fire Department's Crash Station. I watched through the binoculars as the C-130s taxied to TUOC and a bunch of guys deplaned on the double directly into TUOC. Later some vehicles, I can't remember if they were busses or Metro Vans, picked them up and they dispersed.
At around 1030 PM the Wing Commander called the Tower and asked if we were aware of a special mission departure. I said "No, Sir, what type of mission." I had meant to ask what type of aircraft, so I'd know what part of the airfield I'd have activity on. I got a brusque "You don't need to know that." Then the line went dead.
The Vice Wing Commander arrived at the Tower around 1045 PM. His first words were "No matter what happens, DO NOT touch that crash phone." The crash phone is a hotline from the Tower to the Fire Department, Hospital, Basops, and the TOUC. It was used to pass along information about aircraft in distress to those who would respond to the emergency. The Colonel's order meant that security was paramount. More important than a single pilot's life. Shortly after that he ordered the airfield lighting turned off, and informed us that we would not have radio contact with any of the participating aircraft. To me it seemed that turning off the airfield lights was a blatant signal that something out of the ordinary was going on. Normally, the lights were on continually from sunset to sunrise.
The A-1s taxied out and made normal take offs. I never saw them due to the darkness. The only reason I knew that they were A-1s was the distinct sound of their engines. They joined up over the field, and went on their way.
Shortly thereafter the Colonel left. But before he did, he told us that we would read about the night's events in the Stars and Stripes (the military newspaper published worldwide for military personnel overseas.) And of course we did. I remember being ticked off because NKP got no credit in the story. The departure point had been listed as Da Nang AFB, Viet Nam.
On arrival at Son Tay, they found no prisoners in the camp, but the combat story that came out of the raid is an excellent account of American fighting men at their best.
The activities that night are recorded in many places. There are numerous books and web pages devoted to the subject. The raiders showed that night what America is all about. A few hundred men put it all on the line to rescue their comrades, all of whom were total strangers. This was the SAR of a lifetime.
You can read the account of John Waresh, one of the A-1 pilots who flew out of NKP that night at the link below. John's account says that the Control Tower was empty. I've written to him about that, and he said that's what they were briefed. He had no way of knowing we were there, since there was radio silence imposed on all players.
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Visit John Sweet's "NKP During The Secret War" Site |
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Read John Waresh's Account Of The Raid |