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The Raid on Son Tay Camp: A Daring Mission into the Heart of Enemy Territory

Geoffrey Blair

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Published in Operation KINGPIN: The Raid On The Son Tay P O W Camp

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On November 21, 1970, a daring raid was launched to rescue American prisoners of war held captive at Son Tay, a heavily fortified camp in North Vietnam. The raid was a success, but it came at a great cost. Six American soldiers were killed and one was captured. The raid on Son Tay remains one of the most controversial and debated military operations in American history.

The raid was planned and executed by a joint task force of Special Forces, Green Berets, Delta Force, SEALs, Rangers, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Army personnel. The mission was to fly into Son Tay by helicopter, overwhelm the guards, and rescue the prisoners. The raid was a success, but it came at a great cost. Six American soldiers were killed and one was captured.

The raid on Son Tay was a bold and daring operation that demonstrated the courage and skill of the American military. However, it also raised questions about the wisdom of such high-risk missions. The raid remains a controversial and debated event in American history.

Operation KINGPIN: The Raid on the Son Tay P.O.W. Camp

by Gerald W.L. Nicholson

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1230 KB
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Print length	:	91 pages

The Planning

The planning for the raid on Son Tay began in early 1970. The Joint Chiefs of Staff tasked the Special Operations Command with developing a plan to rescue the American prisoners of war held at the camp. The Special Operations Command developed a plan that called for a helicopter raid by a joint task force of Special Forces, Green Berets, Delta Force, SEALs, Rangers, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Army personnel.

The plan was approved by President Richard Nixon in October 1970. The task force began training for the raid in November 1970. The training was conducted at a secret base in North Carolina.

The Raid

The raid on Son Tay was launched on November 21, 1970. The task force flew into Son Tay by helicopter at approximately 1:00 AM. The helicopters landed in a clearing near the camp. The task force quickly overwhelmed the guards and entered the camp.

The task force searched the camp for the prisoners. The prisoners were found in a building near the center of the camp. The task force rescued the prisoners and flew them out of Son Tay.

The raid was a success, but it came at a great cost. Six American soldiers were killed and one was captured. The raid also resulted in the death of several North Vietnamese soldiers.

The Aftermath

The raid on Son Tay was a success in that it achieved its objective of rescuing the American prisoners of war. However, the raid also resulted in the death of six American soldiers and one American soldier was captured. The raid also raised questions about the wisdom of such high-risk missions.

The raid on Son Tay remains a controversial and debated event in American history. Some historians believe that the raid was a justified and necessary operation that saved the lives of American prisoners of war. Other historians believe that the raid was a reckless and unnecessary operation that resulted in the deaths of American soldiers.

The raid on Son Tay is a complex and controversial event that defies easy answers. The raid was a success in that it achieved its objective of rescuing the American prisoners of war. However, the raid also resulted in the death of six American soldiers and one American soldier was captured. The raid also raised questions about the wisdom of such high-risk missions.

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