Date of Award
Spring 5-2020
Degree Type
Thesis-Restricted
Degree Name
M.A.
Degree Program
History
Department
History
Major Professor
Millett, Allan
Second Advisor
Fitzmorris, John
Third Advisor
Landry, Marc
Abstract
From 1962 until 1973 the United States Air Force (USAF) built a small but effective South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF). VNAF grew from approximately 4,000 personnel in 1963, flying ninety-six aircraft in six squadrons, to 60,000 personnel and sixty-five squadrons with over 2,000 aircraft by 1973. There was continuous change in the type of aircraft provided to the VNAF as the USAF upgraded VNAF’s capabilities. Training VNAF personnel was a continuing problem for both pilots and support personnel because of the almost constant aircraft upgrades and increase of size of the VNAF. VNAF was growing, developing doctrine, establishing its mission requirements, training, and acquiring new aircraft types while conducting major combat operations against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army. After the USAF withdrew in 1973, the VNAF was unable to maintain its aircraft readiness levels, nor coordinate with the South Vietnamese Army to stop the North Vietnamese invasion, 1974-1975.
Recommended Citation
Jumper, James C. Jr., "The U.S. Creation of the South Vietnamese Air Force, 1955-1975" (2020). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 2765.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2765
Included in
Asian American Studies Commons, International Relations Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Military History Commons
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.