1. THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR
RESCUE OPERATION

2. VIETNAM OVERVIEW GEOGRAPHY 8º - 23º North; 103º - 109º East
Area: Approximately 128,065 Square Miles
Three Coastal Landscapes
Mostly Mountainous
Tropical Zone with Rainy and Dry Seasons

3. VIETNAM OVERVIEW HISTORY & CULTURE
A series of Vietnamese national and Chinese imperial dynasties ruled the country until 1858, when France colonized Indochina.
French colonial rule lasted until 1945, when Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence from France.
The First Indochinese War with France, which was fought between 1947 and 1954, resulted in the partitioning of Vietnam. The Viet Cong - the national front for the liberation of South Vietnam, was founded in 1960.
By 1963, the Viet Cong had assumed control over much of the country. Intervention by the U.S. and North Vietnam in the South Vietnamese situation escalated into open warfare.
The Vietnam War raged from 1964 to 1973.

4. BACKGROUND ( Vietnam POWs )
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
BACKGROUND ( Vietnam POWs )
927 U.S. Aircraft Shot Down By 1968
356 Confirmed POWs (450 Suspected)
50% Plus Held Greater Than 2000 Days
Pentagon / White House Frustrated Over Treatment Of POWs
Increasing Numbers Of POWs Had Died From Beatings, Torture, and Starvation
a. (U) The action by land, air, or sea forces to protect by offense, defense, or threat of either or both.
b. (U) Those measures necessary to give protection to a person, plan, operations, formation or installation from the enemy intelligence effort and leakage of information.
c. (U) The act of maintaining a continuous receiver watch with transmitter calibrated and available, but not necessarily available for immediate use.
d. (U) Shelter or protection, either natural or artificial.
e. (U) Photographs or other recorded images which show a particular area of ground.
f. (U) A code meaning, “Keep fighters between force/base and contact designated at a distance stated from force/base (e.g., “cover bogey twenty-seven to thirty miles”).
(U) Cover (military) (DOD): Actions to conceal actual friendly intentions, capabilities, operations, and other activities by providing a plausible, yet erroneous, explanation of the observable.

5. BACKGROUND ( Son Tay Raid )
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
BACKGROUND ( Son Tay Raid )
April 1970
1127th Field Activities Group (FAG)
2 POW Camps Discovered West of Hanoi
Intensive Recon of Son Tay
Photos Showing New Construction
POWs Working Outside Camp
5 Jun 70
SACSA Chiefs Col Blackburn and Col Mayer Met With Joint Chiefs
IN APRIL 1970 A PHOTO INTERPRETER FROM A LITTLE KNOWN UNIT AT FT. MEADE, THE 1127TH FAG, DISCOVERED ACTIVITY IN TWO PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS. ONE WAS 31 MILES WEST OF HANOI, NAMED AP LO. THE OTHER WAS 23 MILES WEST OF HANOI, SON TAY. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD ACTIVITY AT AP LO TAPERED OFF WHILE THAT OF SON TAY INCREASED. INTENSIVE RECON OF SON TAY WAS BEGUN AFTER SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF AMERICAN ACTIVITY WERE DISCOVERED. OVERHEAD IMAGERY AND BUFFALO HUNTER SHOTS FOUND DIRT & ROCKS PILED RESEMBLING THE LETTER “K” AND CLOTHES HUNG IN UNUSUAL WAYS. THESE INDICATIONS SPAWNED INTENSIVE RECON OF THE SON TAY PRISONER OF WAR CAMP. IMINT SHOWED NEW CONSTRUCTION, POW’S WORKING OUTSIDE OF THE CAMP, AND POW’S SIGNALING FOR RESCUE-6 WERE IN CRITICAL CONDITION. ON 5 JUN 1970 SACSA CHIEF COL DON BLACKBURN AND COL ED MAYER MET WITH JOINT CHIEFS TO DISCUSS SITUATION. THEY GOT THE GO AHEAD FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. A FEASIBILITY AND STUDY GROUP WAS THEN ESTABLISHED WHERE 61 PRISIONERS WERE ID’D BY NAME AND SERVICE, AP LO WAS DETERMINED TO BE NOW ABANDONED. AND SEVERAL NVA MILITARY INSTALLATIONS WERE WITHIN A FEW MILES OF SON TAY.

6. BACKGROUND ( Son Tay Raid )
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
BACKGROUND ( Son Tay Raid )
August 1970
Joint Contingency Task Force
BGen Manor, USAF
COL Simons, USA
Training Location - Fort Bragg or Eglin AFB
Force Selection
100 Men
IN APRIL OF 1970 IT WAS DECIDED THERE WAS ENOUGH INFORMATION ON PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER A RESCUE ATTEMPT. A MORE DETAILED LOOK AT THE AVAILABLE INTELLIGENCE WAS CONDUCTED AND IN AUGUST A JOINT CONTINGENCY TASK FORCE WAS ESTABLISHED TO DO THE DETAILED PLANNING, FORCE SELECTION, TRAINING, AND EXECUTION OF A RESCUE OP. AIR FORCE BGEN MANOR WAS SELECTED AS THE COMMANDER AND ARMY COL “BULL” SIMONS WAS SELECTED AS THE VICE. SEVERAL CAMPS WERE LOOKED AT DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF PLANNING, AP LO BEING ONE OF THESE, BUT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS SON TAY WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING THE BEST CHOICE. ///// BOTH FORT BRAGG AND EGLIN AFB WERE CONSIDERED AS TRAINING LOCATIONS. EGLIN WAS SELECTED BECAUSE OF ALL THE JOINT TRAINING THAT IS ALREADY CONDUCTED THERE, IT IS AN ENORMOUS INSTALLATION (EASY TO GET LOST IN THE CROWD), AND WAS CONSIDERED THE BEST PLACE TO TRAIN AND NOT RAISE A RED FLAG. ///// COL SIMONS WENT TO FT BRAGG AND PUT A BULLETIN UP THAT SAID HE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS IN THE BASE THEATER AT A CERTAIN TIME PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND WERE TOLD THAT VOLUNTEERS WERE NEEDED FOR A DANGEROUS MISSION, HUMANITARIAN IN NATURE, AND SECRET. ALL 500 VOLUNTEERED, 100 WERE SELECTED. 96 HAD PRIOR TOURS IN S.E. ASIA--A SEASONED, PROFESSIONAL FORCE. THE FOUR OTHERS HAD NEEDED UNIQUE SKILLS.

7. BACKGROUND ( Intelligence )
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
BACKGROUND ( Intelligence )
No Reliable HUMINT
No SIGINT From NSA On POWs Available
Total Reliance On IMINT
Overhead
SR-71
Buffalo Hunter
6 Jun 70
Decreased Activity Levels at Son Tay Noted
US INTELLIGENCE HAD NOT GAINED ANY INFORMATION RELATING TO AMERICAN POW’S FROM SIGINT SOURCES. THE NVA WERE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO DISCUSS INFORMATION CONCERNING US POW’S IN THE OPEN. THERE WAS NEARLY A TOTAL RELIANCE ON IMAGERY FOR ALL THEIR INFORMATION. PHOTOS CAME FROM 3 SOURCES: SATELLITES, SR-71, AND BUFFALO HUNTER RPV’S. SATELLITE AND SR-71 IMAGERY WAS USEFUL BUT EXCESSIVE CLOUD COVER PREVENTED SUFFICIENT NUMBERS OF PHOTOS FROM BEING OBTAINED. SEVEN BUFFALO HUNTER MISSIONS WERE FLOWN-SIX EITHER MALFUNCTIONED OR WERE SHOT DOWN AND ONE BANKED TOO SOON, TAKING A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF THE SON TAY SKYLINE. AROUND 6 JUN 70 ANALYSTS NOTED DECREASED ACTIVITY LEVELS AT SON TAY. THIS WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT LATER ON.

8. TELEDYNE RYAN “BUFFALO HUNTER”
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
TELEDYNE RYAN “BUFFALO HUNTER” RECONNAISSANCE DRONE. SEVEN WERE LAUNCHED SHORTLY BEFORE THE RAID BUT NO USEFUL PHOTOS WERE OBTAINED.
TELEDYNE RYAN “BUFFALO HUNTER”
RECONNAISSANCE DRONE

9. TELEDYNE RYAN “BUFFALO HUNTER” RECONNAISSANCE DRONE
SON CON
RIVER
BUFFALO HUNTER SHOT OF SON TAY IN 1968 SHOWING THE SON CON RIVER, PERIMETER FENCE, AND BUILDINGS OF THE SON TAY POW CAMP.
TELEDYNE RYAN “BUFFALO HUNTER” RECONNAISSANCE DRONE
PHOTO, SON TAY POW CAMP, 1968

11. “OPERATION KINGPIN”
BACKGROUND ( OPSEC )
Knew Their Signatures and Used Them to Their Advantage
Telephone Monitor
Most Conversations Face-to-Face
Diversionary Bomber Pilots Not In-Briefed
OPSEC Violated by Col Blackburn
Even With All the Security One Intel Analyst Figured it Out

12. BACKGROUND ( SON TAY COMPOUND )
Approximately 23 miles west of Hanoi
Small - Situated amid 40-foot trees to obstruct view
One power and telephone line
POWs kept in four large buildings in main compound
Three observation towers and seven-foot wall
encompassing compound

13. BACKGROUND ( SON TAY COMPOUND )

14. BACKGROUND ( Key Players )
BG DONALD D. BLACKBURN (Special Assistant, SACSA)
COL E.E. MAYER (Chief, Special Operations Division, SACSA)
BG LeROY J. MANOR (Task Force Commander)
COL ARTHUR “BULL” SIMONS (Task Force Deputy Commander)
100 SOLDIERS (Out of approx. 500 Volunteers) from Fort Bragg
Only 56 would ultimately be select for actual mission

15. BACKGROUND ( Key Players - Cont. )
HELICOPTER PILOTS:
APPLE-1 - LTC WARNER A. BRITTON (HH-53)
APPLE-2 - LTC JOHN ALLISON (HH-53)
APPLE-3 - MAJ FREDERICK M. “MARTY” DONOHUE (HH-53)
APPLE-4 - LTC ROYAL C. BROWN (HH-53)
APPLE-5 - MAJ KENNETH D. MURPHY (HH-53)
BANANA-1 - MAJ HERB KALEN (HH-3)

16. BACKGROUND ( Key Players - Cont. )
U.S. AIR FORCE:
LIME-1 - MAJ WILLIAM J. KORNITZER (HC-130P)
CHERRY-1 - MAJ IRL . FRANKLIN (C-130)
CHERRY-2 - LTC ALBERT P. BLOSCH (C-130)
F-4 PHANTOMS (10 EA) - Screening
F-105 WILD WEASLES (5 EA) - Raid Enemy SAMS Sites - SEAD
A-1 SKYRAIDERS (5 EA) - Ground Fire Suppression & Escort
U.S. NAVY: TASK FORCE Diversionary Hai Phong

17. OBJECTIVES ( Military Objectives )
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
OBJECTIVES ( Military Objectives )
Rescue U.S. POWs With Minimum Casualties To POWs and Raiders
Deception Mission to Protect:
Planning
Deployment
Mission Execution
THE DECEPTION OBJECTIVE IS TO SUPPORT THE MILITARY OBJECTIVE--AND THE MILITARY OBJECTIVE WAS TO RESCUE U.S. POWS WITH MINIMUM CASUALTIES TO POWS AND RAIDERS. THERE WAS CONCERN IN WASHINGTON THAT A FAILED ATTEMPT MIGHT LEAVE US WITH EVEN MORE PRISONERS, CASUALTIES, AND A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF “BAD PRESS.”

18. OBJECTIVES ( Deception )
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
OBJECTIVES ( Deception )
Cause NVA AF Officials Not to Detect or Launch Against Special OPS Aircraft
Cause NVA Ground Commander to Send Forces Away From Fight at Son Tay Compound
THE ACTION--DECEPTION OBJECTIVE--WE WANTED THE TARGET TO TAKE WERE:
NVA AIR DEFENSE COMMANDER NOT TO LAUNCH AGAINST THE SPECIAL OPS AIRCRAFT, AND.
NVA GROUND COMMANDER TO SEND FORCES AWAY FROM SON TAY COMPOUND.
IF THESE TWO OBJECTIVE ACTIONS OCCUR, THE DESIRED SITUATION OF THE RAIDERS NOT BEING HINDERED BY AIR AND GROUND FORCES WILL COME ABOUT.
ACHIEVE SURPRISE

19. OBJECTIVES ( Miscellaneous )
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
OBJECTIVES ( Miscellaneous )
Obtain Letter of Authority - Air Force Chief of Staff
Improve Night Firing Accuracy Rate - Not Acceptable
Obtain Specific Knives Required - Not Available in U.S. Military Supply System
--A LETTER OF AUTHORITY IS CRITICAL TO YOUR POSITION AS A DECEIVER. YOU MAY NEED TO BREAK OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL CHANNELS, BREAK DOWN THE PARADIGMS--A LETTER OF AUTHORITY IS THE TICKET. BGEN MANOR’S PERSONAL LETTER OF AUTHORITY WAS FROM ADMIRAL MOORER CJCS!
-- THE RAIDERS HAD ABOUT A 20-25% ACCURACY RATE AT NIGHT. THIS WAS NOT SUFFICIENT. THEY WERE CREATIVE IN THE FIX. AN ARMALITE NIGHT SCOPE ADVERTISED IN A HUNTING MAGAZINE WAS BOUGHT, TESTED, AND 49 MORE BOUGHT. BROUGHT ACCURACY RATE UP TO 90-95%
-- THE SPECIFIC KNIVES NEEDED (FOR KILLING AND OPENING DOORS) WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THEY BOUGHT LONG KNIVES, ALMOST MACHETES AND A GRINDER FROM SEARS AND FASHIONED THEIR OWN KNIVES. I TELL YOU THIS JUST TO SHOW YOU HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE YOU MUST BE CREATIVE AND DO WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE MISSION.

20. PREPARATION ( Planning & Training )
6 AUG INITIAL MEETING BETWEEN KEY PLANNERS
Planning Group Established - Each Service Represented
Total 26 Members
Training Site Selected (Eglin AFB, Hurlburt AFB, Duke AF)
AUG SOLICITED VOLUNTEERS
500 Volunteers from Ft. Bragg - Only 100 Selected
Assembled at Eglin AFB by end of AUG 70
SEP TASK FORCE TRAINING
Construction of Actual Scale Compound
Night Flying with Dissimilar Aircrafts - Total 1,054 Hours
Objective Area Tactics - Air Drop, CAS, Infiltration/Exfiltration
Weapons and Small Unit Tactics
Physical Training & First Aid
6 OCT TRAINING CULMINATED WITH FINAL FULL-TIME , LIVE-FIRE
NIGHT REHEARSAL - JCS OBSERVERS APPROVE

21. (SGT BLACKARD, SFC MCGUIRE, SFC DOSS) COL ARTHUR “BULL” SIMONS

22. PREPARATION (CONT.) ( PLANNING & TRAINING )
8 OCT SIMONS AND MANOR BRIEF PLAN TO KISSINGER AND HAIG
Needed Final Approval within 24 Hours to Meet OCT 70 Window
Kissinger and Haig Liked Plan, But Nixon Unavailable
MISSION POSTPONED - FLIR and Night Vision Sights Obtained
10-13 NOV TASK FORCE DEPLOYS TO THAILAND
17 NOV TASK FORCE CLOSE AT TAKHLI, THAILAND
F-105s Added to Mission
F-4s Added to Mission
Final Raiders Selected (56 of 100)
18 NOV NIXON APPROVES NOV LAUNCH WINDOW
21 NOV 70 Selected as Launch Date
Typhoon Approaching - Mission Moved Up 24 Hours
20 NOV AT 2318 HRS FIRST AIRCRAFT DEPARTS TAKHLI, THAILAND

23. CAMP BARBARA

24. SITUATION - “METT-T” MISSION ENEMY
“WE ARE GOING TO RESCUE 70 AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR, MAYBE MORE,
FROM A CAMP CALLED SON TAY. THIS IS SOMETHING AMERICAN PRISONERS
HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT FROM THEIR FELLOW SOLDIERS.
THE TARGET IS 23 MILES WEST OF HANOI.”
- COLONEL ARTHUR “BULL” SIMONS -
ENEMY
SON TAY COMPOUND (APPROX. 20 GUARDS)
“SECONDARY SCHOOL” (45 GUARDS)
12TH NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY (NVA) REGIMENT (APPROX. 12,000 TROOPS)
NVA ARTILLERY SCHOOL
NVA SUPPLY DEPOT
NVA AIR DEFENSE INSTALLATION

25. TROOPS & SUPPORT AVAILABLE
SITUATION (CONT.)
TROOPS & SUPPORT AVAILABLE
100 VOLUNTEERS FROM FT. BRAGG, NC (ONLY 56 SELECTED FOR MISSION)
(5 EA) MH-53 HELICOPTERS (APPLE-1, 2, 3, 4, & 5)
(1 EA) HH-3 HELICOPTER (BANNANA-1)
(2 EA) C-130E COMBAT TALONS
(1 EA) HC-130 TANKER
(10 EA)

26. TROOPS & SUPPORT AVAILABLE ( INDIVIDUAL & CREW-SERVED WEAPONS )
SITUATION (CONT.)
TROOPS & SUPPORT AVAILABLE
( INDIVIDUAL & CREW-SERVED WEAPONS )
(2 EA) M-16 AUTOMATIC RIFLES
(48 EA) CAR-15 ASSAULT RIFLES
(51 EA) .45 CALIBER PISTOLS
(4 EA) M-79 40MM GRENADE LAUNCHERS
(4 EA) M-60 MACHINEGUNS
(2 EA) 12-GUAGE SHOTGUNS

27. TROOPS & SUPPORT AVAILABLE
SITUATION (CONT.)
TROOPS & SUPPORT AVAILABLE
( EQUIPMENT )
(15 EA) CLAYMORE MINES
SPECIAL DEMOLITION CHARGES
(213 EA) HAND GRENADES
6-INCH KNIFE
(11 EA) AXES
(12 EA) WIRE CUTTERS
(11 EA) BOLT CUTTERS
(7 COILS) ROPE
(2 EA) OXYACETYLENE CUTTING TORCHES
GOGGLES / EAR PLUGS
AN/PRC-90 SURVIVAL RADIOS
AVIATOR GLOVES
(2 EA) CHAIN SAWS
(5 EA) CROWBARS
(17 EA) MACHETES
(34 EA) MINERS LAMPS
(6 EA) STROBE LIGHTS
(6 EA) NIGHT VISION DEVICES
(6 EA) BATON LIGHTS
(14 EA) BEANBAG LIGHTS
(2 EA) CAMERAS
PEN LIGHT / PEN FLARE
SURVIVAL KIT
COMPASS

28. SITUATION (CONT.) TERRAIN & WEATHER TIME RAID CONDUCTED AT NIGHT
SMALL LANDING ZONE WITHIN SON TAY COMPOUND
TREES THROUGHOUT COMPOUND PERIMETER
FALL SEASON - NO MONSOON DOWNPOURS
VISIBILITY RELATIVE TO LUNAR CYCLE - QUARTER MOON, 35 DEGREES ABOVE HORIZON
TWO WINDOWS: OCT 70 OR NOV 70
APPROACHING TYPHOON - SMALL WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
TIME
TOTAL 27 MINUTES FROM ARRIVAL TO DEPARTURE FROM SON TAY COMPOUND
NEARLY SIX MONTHS LAPSED BETWEEN INITIAL RECONNAISSANCE AND ACTUAL
EXECUTION OF RESCUE MISSION

29. THE RAID ( Perceptions )
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
THE RAID ( Perceptions )
Son Tay in No Danger of Attack
Greater Threat Requires Their Attention and Assets
THE DESIRED PERCEPTION IS THE PERCEPTION THE TARGET MUST HOLD IN ORDER FOR THEM TO TAKE THE OBJECTIVE ACTION. IN THIS CASE THE AIR DEFENSE COMMANDER MUST BELIEVE THAT SON TAY IS IN NO DANGER OF ATTACK AND THE GROUND COMMANDER MUST PERCEIVE A GREATER THREAT ELSEWHERE.

30. THE RAID ( Deception Story )
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
THE RAID ( Deception Story )
Major Air Attack on Hanoi / Haiphong
Major Offensive Counter Attack Against SAM Sites
Significant Ground Operation Away From Son Tay Compound
Deception Targets:
NVA Air Defense Sector Commander
NVA On-Scene Ground Commander
THE WAY TO GET THE TARGETS TO FORM THE DESIRED PERCEPTIONS IS TO TELL THEM A BELIEVABLE STORY. IT INCLUDED;
--A MAJOR AIR ATTACK ON HANOI/HAIPHONG HARBOR
--MAJOR OFFENSIVE COUNTER ATTACK AGAINST SAM SITES
--SIGNIFICANT GROUND OPERATIONS AWAY FROM THE SON TAY COMPOUND.
IF THE TARGETS WERE CONVINCINGLY FED THIS STORY, THEY WOULD HOPEFULLY FORM THE DESIRED PERCEPTIONS. HOW DID THE SON TAY PLANNERS TELL THIS STORY......

31. “OPERATION KINGPIN”
THE RAID ( Means )
Diversionary Flare Attack on Haiphong (Physical / Technical)
Fire-Fight Simulators Two Miles East of Son Tay (Physical)
F-105 Wild Weasels Used to Decoy SAMs (Physical / Technical)
Night Low-Level Ingress to Avoid Detection (Technical)
THEY DID IT BY USING THE FOLLOWING MEANS:
-- A DIVERSIONARY FLARE ATTACK ON HAIPHONG HARBOR. THE LARGEST NAVAL FLARE ATTACK IN HISTORY. BECAUSE OF MORATORIUM AGAINST BOMBING TARGETS IN HANOI OR HAIPHONG, NO ORDINANCE COULD BE DROPPED BY NAVAL AIRCRAFT IN THIS AREA. PILOTS WERE NOT BRIEFED ON OPERATION DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS. ATTACKED FROM THREE ANGLES--FROM THE NORTH TO ACTIVATE CHINESE/VIETNAMESE IADS--FROM THE SOUTH TO ACTIVATE SOUTHERN AIR DEFENSE RADARS, AND DIRECTLY FROM EAST TO LEAVE NO DOUBT WHAT THE TARGET WAS (PHYSICAL/TECHNICAL MEANS).
--FIREFIGHT SIMULATORS WERE DROPPED TWO MILES EAST OF SON TAY. THE SIMULATORS WERE SMALL BLACK BOXES OBTAINED FROM THE CIA. THEY COULD SIMULATE UP TO 50 CALIBER SMALL ARMS FIRE--HISTORICAL RECORDS INDICATE THIS WAS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL (PHYSICAL MEANS).
-- F-105 WILD WEASELS USED TO DECOY SAMS (PHYSICAL/TECHNICAL MEANS).
IN CONCERT, THESE ACTIONS TOLD THE STORY THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY, AWAY FROM THE SON TAY COMPOUND, CAUSING A LOT OF CONFUSION--INCREASING THE “FOG-OF-WAR”

32. THE RAID ( “GO” Decision )
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
THE RAID ( “GO” Decision )
Presidential Approval
Military Considerations
Political Considerations

33. “OPERATION KINGPIN”
THE RAID ( Final “GO” )
President Nixon Gave Final Go Ahead for a Nov Attempt
Weather Major Factor
Typhoon Headed Toward Hanoi
Mission Moved up to 20 Nov
56-Man Assault Force
BLACKBURN AND MAYER BRIEFED THE PRESIDENT ONCE AGAIN, AND FINALLY, ON 18 NOV, PERMISSION WAS GIVEN FOR A NOV RESCUE ATTEMPT. WEATHER PROVED TO BE A MAJOR FACTOR, CAUSING THE MISSION TO BE BUMPED UP ONE DAY. ON THE NIGHT OF 20 NOV 1970 COL “BULL “ SIMONS AND HIS BAND OF RAIDERS LEFT THEIR LAUNCH BASE OF UDORN, THAILAND TO RESCUE APPROXIMATELY 70 AMERICAN POWS FROM SON TAY.

34. Col Arthur D. “Bull” Simons to his men...
“We are going to rescue as many as seventy American POWs, something American prisoners have a right to expect from their fellow soldiers.”
COL SIMONS JUST BEFORE LAUNCHING FROM THAILAND.

35. THE RAID ( Aircraft Selection )
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
THE RAID ( Aircraft Selection )
105 ACFT in Total Operation
(5 ea) HH-53s
(1 ea) HH-3
(2 ea) MC-130 Combat Talons
(1 ea) HC-130 (Refueling)
(5 ea) A-1s
105 AIRCRAFT PARTICIPATED IN THE SON TAY POW RESCUE OPERATION-THE MOST OF ANY SINGLE OP IN THE WAR.

36. SPECIALLY EQUIPPED C-130 “COMBAT TALON”
LEADS ASSAULT FORCE FROM THAILAND INTO
NORTH VIETNAM

37. SON TAY
H-1:00 AR
A-1s
H-2:40
C-130s
C-130s
TAKHLI
H-3:20

39. VIDEO - SON TAY RAID

40. THE RAID ( CONT. ) 2 MC-130s Led 6 Helicopters
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
THE RAID ( CONT. )
2 MC-130s Led 6 Helicopters
3.5 NM OUT, 1st MC-130 & 2 HH-53s Climbed To 1500 FT (Drop Flares & Fire-Fight Simulators)
3rd HH-53 Takes Out 2 Guard Towers
2nd MC-130 Drops Napalm Marker
HH-3 ‘Crash Lands’ in Compound
14 Raiders Exit

41. THE RAID ( CONT. ) Meanwhile; Back at the ‘Secondary School’
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
THE RAID ( CONT. )
Meanwhile; Back at the ‘Secondary School’
Bull Lands at the Wrong Place
“Thinks” it is the Compound
Fire Fight Begins

42. THE RAID ( CONT. ) Meanwhile; Back at the ‘Secondary School’
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
THE RAID ( CONT. )
Meanwhile; Back at the ‘Secondary School’
Casualties
12 Plus NVAs Killed at Son Tay Compound
HH-3 Destroyed
Departure

43. Feedback Ground Personnel Taken by Surprise
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
Feedback
Ground Personnel Taken by Surprise
Monitor NVA Air Sector Radio Nets
Negative Air Intercept
“IT DOESN’T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, THEY'RE ALL OVER!”
“I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU DO. GO TO CHINA IF YOU WANT TO!”
NVA CONTROLLER

44. Political cartoon
by R.B. Crockett
published in the
Washington Star
the day after
news of the Son
Tay Raid broke

45. COMPLETE SURPRISE ACHIEVED
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
COMPLETE SURPRISE ACHIEVED
“THE ENEMY DEFENSE SYSTEM HAD NO IDEA WE WERE OVER THE AREA UNTIL THE FORCE HAD BEEN THERE SOME TIME.”
BGEN MANOR WAS CONVINCED THAT THE ENEMY DID NOT KNOW THEY WERE COMING--AND HE ATTRIBUTED THIS TO THE DECEPTION ACTIVITIES THEY HAD EMPLOYED.
MAJOR GENERAL LEROY J. MANOR
COMMANDER, SON TAY OPERATION

46. RESULTS No NVA Air Defense Kills Against Raiders
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
RESULTS
No NVA Air Defense Kills Against Raiders
One F-105 Wild Weasel Shot Down
2 Survivors Picked up by Assault Force
No Special Forces KIA By NVA Ground Forces
No POWs Found at Son Tay - Moved in Mid-July
YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS OPERATION. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO PRISONERS AT THE COMPOUND, THE OPERATION WAS A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS:
--INTERVIEWED PRISONERS--THEY KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING ON (SAMS, GUARDS NERVOUS) AND IT WAS A TREMENDOUS MORALE BOOST
--PRISONERS MASSED IN THE HANOI HILTON FOR EASIER SECURITY--AGAIN, A MORALE BOOST TO BE ALL TOGETHER
-- CHINESE AND RUSSIAN SUPPORTERS OF NORTH VIETNAM NOT PLEASED WITH NVA LACK OF SECURITY--THEY THREATENED TO CUT OFF AID
--ONE F-105 TOOK SOME DAMAGE FROM A SAM BURST. ONCE THEY WERE OUT OF THE AREA CREW EJECTED AND WAS RECOVERED BY ONE OF THE CHOPPERS
--ONE RAIDER TOOK A BULLET GRAZE TO THE INSIDE FLESHY PART OF THIS THIGH

47. RESULTS Deception Objective Achieved Complete Surprise
“OPERATION KINGPIN”
RESULTS
Deception Objective Achieved
Complete Surprise
Integrated From the Inception of the Planning Process (Although Not Called Deception)
Deception Enhanced OPSEC
Covered Indicators
Plausible Deniability
ENOUGH SAID--IT WORKS, ENHANCED THIS MISSION, AND CAN ENHANCE MOST MISSIONS WHEN PROPERLY PLANNED, SECURITY MAINTAINED, AND EXECUTED WELL.

48. CONSEQUENCES
NVA Consolidated POW Camps (Hanoi) - POWs No Longer Isolated
POWs Under Closer Security - However, No Longer in Isolation
POW Morale Improved
POW Families’ Morale Improved
MESSAGE: “Our Country Cared”
Demonstrated Capability to Execute Rescue Missions
Media Depicted Intelligence Failure - Intelligence Community Restructured
Soviet Union Threatened to Cut-Off Support for Hydroelectric Power Plant
in North Vietnam
Chinese Threatened to Cut-Off Military Support to North Vietnam
Unwitting Participants

49. ARMY AWARDS
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS - 6
SILVER STAR - 50
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS - 4
AIR FORCE AWARDS
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL - 1
AIR FORCE CROSS - 5
SILVER STAR - 31

50. ( LEFT TO RIGHT: LAIRD, SIMONS, MOORE, MANOR )
DISCUSSION
( LEFT TO RIGHT: LAIRD, SIMONS, MOORE, MANOR )