| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | "01638" |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger |
| Aircraft Version: | Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter |
| C/n (msn): | N.6184 |
| Operator Titles: | South Vietnam - Air Force |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Area: | Ho Chi Minh City / Independence Palace [ Off-Airport ] |
| Country: | Vietnam |
| Photo Date: | 2 March 2025 |
| Photo by: | Richard Vandervord |
| Photo ID: | 789080 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
This is apparently in fact F-5A 65-10523, originally delivered the Republic of China and then to South Vietnam in 1972, painted to represent F-5E 73-01638 which was used by the SVNAF's Lieutenant Trung to attack the Independence Palace in Saigon on 8th April 1975. Trung was secretly acting on behalf of the North Vietnamese and handed the aircraft over to their forces after the attack. The Independence Palace was the home and workplace of the president of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War and the site of the official handover of power during the Fall of Saigon on 30th April 1975 This photo is copyright © Richard Vandervord, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 15 March 2025, and has since been viewed 33 times. |