Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

PLAAF 11th SAM Brigade (Unit Number 95607) Chengdu Airforce, PLAAF

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • PLAAF 11th SAM Brigade (Unit Number 95607) Chengdu Airforce, PLAAF

    Recently, PLA daily featured the PLAAF 11th SAM Brigade in its online photo essay (here)
    This unit is best known for its 23 month and 17 day deployment to Laos from December 21th, 1971 to November 14th 1973 at the height of the “Indochina crisis.”

    The PLAAF 11th Anti-Air Artillery Division was commissioned in Shanghai on April 1st 1967 with elements drawn from the Nanjing Airforce and an army AAA unit. Its three line regiments were: 31st (100mm AAA), 32nd and 33rd (57mm AAA). Li Kong served as its first commander and Wang Qi as the Political Commissar.

    The 11th was transferred to the Beijing Airforce and stationed at Inner Mongolia on January 1968 to guard the capital against possible Soviet invasion. As the crisis in Indochina escalated in the early 1970s with the US bombing of Laos, the 11th headed to “protect” China’s road construction in that region. The task force included the AAA (37mm) regiment from Army’s 30th division, two heavy machine companies from the PLAAF 2nd and 7th AAA divisions, 2 radar companies, one surveillance company and one field hospital. The task force assembled at Kunming on October 1st 1971 and deployed to northern Laos in December.

    The 11th had its first kill against a USAF F-111 bomber on September 29th 1972 (Capt Robert Arthur Brett,Jr), followed by a Royal Lao Air Force T-28 fighter-bomber on December 28th 1972 and an A-7D light-attacker on January 10th 1973.

    On March 7th, 1973, the entire unit was given a demerit for the accidental downing of a Royal Thai Airforce’s UF-2 light transport; killing all crew. Soon after that incident, the on-duty deputy commander of the 31st regiment was demoted when he failed to take action against a B-52 refueling inside its air defense zone as it returned to Thailand after a bombing run.
    In sum, a total 5316 rounds were fired, downing four aircraft during the entire Laotian deployment. There were no casualties.

    With the induction of the SA-2 SAM, the 31st regiment was reformed as the 21st SAM regiment on April 6th 1976. The 32nd regiment was reformed as the 22nd SAM regiment on April 7th and the 33rd regiment reformed as the 23rd SAM regiment on April 8th. The division was downsized to brigade in 1984.

    Currently the 11th SAM brigade is under the command of the Chengdu Airforce and equipped with the HQ-64/LY-60 and the HQ-12/KA-1A SAM.
    Attached Files
    Last edited by xinhui; 20 Nov 09,, 03:21.
    “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

  • #2
    ...............
    Attached Files
    “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

    Comment


    • #3
      .......................................
      Attached Files
      “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by xinhui View Post

        The 11th had its first kill against a USAF F-111 bomber on September 29th 1972 (Capt Robert Arthur Brett,Jr)
        That information is slightly wrong. Brett was not a captain at the time and was the co-pilot and the date is off by one day.

        MAJ William C. "Horse" Coltman later promoted twice to COL
        1LT Robert Arthur "Lefty" Brett JR later promoted twice to CAPT
        F-111A 67-078 Combat Loss - 28th September 1972

        Missing presumed dead. POW/MIA REFNO 1929-0-01 / -02.
        Aircraft wreckage found in Laos. See Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
        COL Coltman's and Capt Brett's remains were positively identified, and interned at Arlington 3 Apr 2002 and 1 Aug 2002 respectively.
        Refer Ranger 23 webpage. More images of Col "Wild Bill Horse" Coltman here.

        William Clare Coltman, Colonel, United States Air Force

        F-111 Aardvark Memorial

        Comment


        • #5
          Thanks Z, it is always good to have an extra pair eyes for fact check.
          “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

          Comment


          • #6
            No problem, I didn't know we had lost an F-111 in Laos, or that US and PRC assets had engaged in combat in Vietnam, let alone after Nixon's visit, so it was informative for me as well.

            Comment


            • #7
              According to the Chinese, the downing of the Royal Thai Airforce’s UF-2 caused a major international incident. It took the Chinese search party two weeks to locate and return the two bodies back to Thailand.

              US and PRC assets had engaged in combat in Vietnam
              There were air-to-air battles off Hainan between the PLAN-AF and the USN.

              Here is a list
              PRC/Chinese Air-to-Air Victories since 1950


              2Jan65 1R/1D PLANAF ? Huailian Zhang ?mm AQM-34 (UAV) 350SRS USAF
              18Mar65 54R/18D J-6 Gao Chang-Ji 30mm RF-101A CNAF
              24Mar65 10R/4D J-6 Xiangyi Wang 30mm AQM-34 (UAV) 350SRS USAF
              31Mar65 10R/4D J-6 Jicheng Su 30mm AQM-34 (UAV) 350SRS USAF
              3Apr65 54R/18D PLANAF ? Xiaohai Dong ?mm AQM-34 (UAV) 350SRS USAF
              9Apr65 ? J-5 ? 23/37mm F-4B NG602 VF-96 USN
              19Apr65 1R/1D PLANAF ? Huailian Zhang ?mm AQM-34 (UAV) 350SRS USAF
              21Aug65 10R/4D J-6 Xiangyi Wang 30mm AQM-34 (UAV) 350SRS USAF
              20Sep65 10R/4D J-6 Xiang Gao 30mm F-104C 479TFW/USAF
              5Oct65 25R/9D PLANAF J-7 Yunbao Zhang (leader) 30mm RA-3B USN
              24Dec65 25R/4D PLANAF J-6 Yilong Zhu 30mm AQM-34 (UAV) 350SRS USAF
              3Jan66 9R/3D PLANAF MiG-21F-13 Xiangxiao Lu 57mm rockets AQM-34 (UAV) 350SRS USAF
              9Jan66 ?R/24D J-5 Hu Ying-Fa 23/37mm HU-16A* CNAF (shared)
              9Jan66 ?R/24D J-5 Li Chun-Guang 23/37mm HU-16A* CNAF (shared)
              7Feb66 9R/3D PLANAF ? Quan Ming Feng ?mm AQM-34 350SRS USAF
              5Mar66 25R/9D PLANAF ? Xiaoqing Sun ?mm AQM-34 350SRS USAF
              23Mar66 25R/9D PLANAF ? Yilong Zhu ?mm AQM-34 350SRS USAF
              12Apr66 76R/26D PLANAF J-6 Laixi Li 30mm KA-3B (142653) USN
              12May66 63R/21D ? Si Heng Zhu 23/37mm RB-66 USAF (damaged)
              9Sep66 54R/18D ? Xiu Ming Gao ?mm F-105 USAF (damaged)
              17Sep66 54R/18D ? Chang Ji Gao ?mm F-105 USAF (damaged)
              14Apr67 79RR/26D PLANAF J-6 Yimin Song 30mm F-4B USN
              29Apr67 54R/18D PLANAF ? Jintang Zhang ?mm AQM-34 350SRS USAF
              12Jun67 9R/3D ? Guangcai Liu ?mm AQM-34 350SRS USAF
              26Jun67 16R/6D J-6 J.Lu 30mm F-4C* USAF (shared)
              26Jun67 16R/6D J-6 Z. Wang 30mm F-4C* USAF (shared)
              21Aug67 52R/18D PLANAF J-6 Fengxia Chen 30mm A-6A USN
              21Aug67 52R/18D PLANAF J-6 Ruijie Han 30mm A-6A USN
              30Jan68 9R/3D PLANAF J-6 H. Yong Bin 30mm AQM-34 (UAV)* 350SRS USAF (shared)
              30Jan68 9R/ 3D PLANAF J-6 Y.Cheng Zhou 30mm AQM-34 (UAV)* 350SRS USAF (shared)
              14Feb68 18R/6D J-5 W. Chen 23/37mm A-1H* USAF (shared)
              14Feb68 18R/6D J-5 S. Wang 23/37mm A-1H* USAF (shared)
              7Mar68 9R/3D PLANAF J-? W.Xin Jiang ?mm AQM-34* 350SRS USAF (shared)
              7Mar68 9R/3D PLANAF J-? Z.Yao Wang ?mm AQM-34* 350SRS USAF (shared)
              15Mar68 9R/3D PLANAF J-? Z. Wang ?mm AQM-34* 350SRS USAF (shared)
              15Mar68 9R/3D PLANAF J-? E. Zhang ?mm AQM-34* 350SRS USAF (shared)
              10Feb70 4R/8D J-? D. Qi ?mm AQM-34* 350SRS USAF (shared)
              10Feb70 4R/8D J-? X. Zhou ?mm AQM-34* 350SRS USAF (shared)
              “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by xinhui View Post
                There were air-to-air battles off Hainan between the PLAN-AF and the USN.

                Here is a list
                PRC/Chinese Air-to-Air Victories since 1950 edited to remove drones

                18Mar65 54R/18D J-6 Gao Chang-Ji 30mm RF-101A CNAF

                9Apr65 ? J-5 ? 23/37mm F-4B NG602 VF-96 USN

                20Sep65 10R/4D J-6 Xiang Gao 30mm F-104C

                5Oct65 25R/9D PLANAF J-7 Yunbao Zhang (leader) 30mm RA-3B USN

                12Apr66 76R/26D PLANAF J-6 Laixi Li 30mm KA-3B (142653) USN

                14Apr67 79RR/26D PLANAF J-6 Yimin Song 30mm F-4B USN

                26Jun67 16R/6D J-6 J.Lu 30mm F-4C* USAF (shared)
                26Jun67 16R/6D J-6 Z. Wang 30mm F-4C* USAF (shared)

                21Aug67 52R/18D PLANAF J-6 Fengxia Chen 30mm A-6A USN

                21Aug67 52R/18D PLANAF J-6 Ruijie Han 30mm A-6A USN

                14Feb68 18R/6D J-5 W. Chen 23/37mm A-1H* USAF (shared)
                14Feb68 18R/6D J-5 S. Wang 23/37mm A-1H* USAF (shared)
                Assuming the double A-6 kill is a double kill and not a shared then the score is 4 fighters, 1 prop attack, 2 jet attack, 1 mach + jet recon, 1 mach - jet recon and 1 tanker verses manned US aircraft.

                Of the kills the RF-101 is probably the most impressive. Vietnam showed the vulnerability of the US fighter force to gun armed but slower Mig-17/19's. The Vodoo however would not have tried to fight but run and its speed advantage should have let it get away. That it got bounced says a lot about Chinese efforts to catch it. I wonder how many got away?

                Comment


                • #9
                  Burial ground near Vietnam’s highway 10 for PLA personnel from the Logistic 31st, squadron (company), 33rd dadui, (battalion) , 6th chidu (regiment), General Logistic Department.

                  They were killed during bombing raids in 1969

                  Three of them were local Muong vietnamese minorities serving as translators.
                  Attached Files
                  Last edited by xinhui; 21 Nov 09,, 04:52.
                  “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Z:

                    If you examine most of the kills in detail, the PLAN-AF's performance was not that impressive. Most of the time, the US side already bingo in fuel or having equipment problems.



                    The 436th TFS had a bad day on September 20, 1965. F-104C pilot Major Philip E. Smith managed to get lost while flying an EC-121 escort mission over the Gulf of Tonkin. After several equipment failures and incorrect steering commands, he managed to wander over Hainan Island and was shot down by a pair of Chinese MiG-19s (J-6s). He ejected and was taken prisoner. While the rest of the squadron was out looking for Major Smith, two other F-104s had a midair collision while returning to their base. Both pilots ejected and were recovered unharmed.
                    Attached Files
                    “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

                    Comment

                    Working...
                    X