Tho Quoc Khong Quân / Republic of Viet Nam Air Force

   Credit:  Roundels of the world
         Roundel

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Order of Battle - end 1974, beginning 1975

There is much uncertainity regarding the Order of Battle of the Republic of Vietnam/Air force Northrop F-5 units, particularly the Wings/Squadons as Wings/Squadrons. Number
of aircrafts assigned to each unit was very fluid. An enourmous leap forwad in size took place with the Enhance and  Enhance Plus programs.  

Herewith details regarding one version of the Order of Battle as well as information about different versions.

Shown on the map are the four Military Regions, only two of them hosting Northrop F-5 fighter-bombers.

Air Division = Su doàn / Wing  = Không doàn / Squadron = Phi doàn

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Bao Quoc Tran Khong - Air Divisions
Only the 1st and the 3rd Military Regions had Northrop F-5s bases; the former hosted the 1st Air Division at Danang AFB and the next the 3rd Air Division at Bien Hoa AFB (main Northrop F-5 center).
Each Air Division initially operated in its Military Region. Later this was changed, enabling them to operate more flexibly in other regions.

 The 1st Air Division consisted  of the 41st Fighter Wing when the Northrop fighters were delivered together with three Fighter Squadrons operating Cessna A-37Bs.

  It is not clear which Wing was attached to 3rd Air Division: the 23rd Fighter Wing/or the 63rd Fighter Wing, the 82nd Fighter Wing as well as some Tactical  Squadrons
  equipped with Cessna A-37B and the 112th Liason Wing.
  A second version states that the 82nd Fighter Wing was based at Phu Cat AFB.

Tactical Wings / Tactical Squadrons

Starting beginning 1970 all Squadrons used a similar badge, inclusive the 522nd Squadron. The only difference was the number of the unit shown on it.

AIR FORCE TILL EARLY 1969
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 23rd Tactical Wing  -  1st Air Division - 3rd Air Division from 01-05-70
 The Wing was activated in June 1964 at Bien Hoa AFB with two fighter- and two observation Squadrons the 112nd and 124th Squadrons.
 By June 1967 it consisted of the 522nd Fighter Squadron with Freedom Fighters, the 514th Tactical Fighter Squadron flying 24 Douglas A-1, the 518 TFS  with  24 Douglas A-1s
 and the  reconnaissance unit with Douglas RC-47. Command was transferred to the 3rd Air Division in May 1970, inclusive the  522nd Tactical  Squadron.

  Aircrafts belonging to the Wing were recognised by their large yellow and black checkerboard stripe on their fuselage band.

                                                             
                                                              In flight view of 2 bombs laden Northrop F-5A.                    Photo: collection Gerrit Kok

           522nd Fighter Squadron
Original badge             new badge

The only Squadron initially operating Northrop F-5s was formed by May 1965. By June 1965 had its own badge till the end of 1969, painted as well on pilots' helmet. Conversion on the Freedom fighter was completed by June 1967. been

The Squadron was originally activated at Tan Son Nhut AFB (Saigon) on 01-04-65 equipped with Douglas A-1H Skyraiders butdisbanded in 1966;  it was officially re-estalblished on 01-06-67 moving to Bien Hoa AFB while re-equipping with Northrop F-5A left over by the USAF in 1971 and later obtaining Northrop F-5B / Northrop RF-5A.

By 31-01-71 the unit possesed 19  Northrop F-5s (according   to a CIA report, was equipped with 20 Northrop F-5A/B and 6 RF-5A, by July and November 1971, before Air Force reorganisation (1970).
This was an elite unit belonging to the 23rd Fighter Wing, remaining for about five years the only Squadron boasting jet fighters. It flew 388 missions in the first month with 20 Northrop F-5s, in July 1967 there were 436 missions and in December 1967 increased to 527.

                                                                                                Photo: USAF
                                                                                       Overview Bien Hoa AFB, ca 1967, 522 Squadron Northrop F-5A and Northrop F-5B

                                                                                   
                                                                                                                Northrop F-5B 10586 of the 522nd Squadron on the tarmac at Danang AFB

The 522nd Squadron was at Bien Hoa AFB at least until 31-12-69, information state that it was transferred to Danang by May 1970. Another source states that it operated Northrop RF-5A from
Bien Hoa AFB early 1975

      716th Reconnaissance Squadron
Activated in July 1966 at Tan Son Nhut AFB with North American RT-28C (total received 18), EC-47D, U-6A Beavers for reconnaissance.

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Almost all Northrop F-5 unit were attached to the 3rd Air Division, 23rd Tactical  Wing at Bien Hoa AFB; exceptions were the 538th Squadron/41 Wing, 1st Air Division at Danang AFB and possibly 540th Squadron/82nd Air Wing, 3rd Air Division at Phuc Cat.

   522nd Fighter Squadron (see above), had possibly  been disbanded

1st Air Divion / 41st Tactical Wing  Wing badge not available

 Wing badge not available  532ndth Fighter Squadron

It is both reported that it operated Cessna A-37 from Pleiku AFB and also it originally operated Northrop F-5A, F-5B and RF-5A based at Danang AFB; shortly before North Vietnamese attack in 1975 operating Northrop F-5Es,

   538th Fighter Squadron

  This unit was an exception being responsible for the area of the 1st Air Division; it was activated late 1972 at Da Nang AFB (the most Northerly  base) operating  Northrop F-5A as  strike-fighter.
  In  June 1974 was under the command of the 61st Tactical Wing together with 516, 528, 550 Squadrons equipped with Cessna  A-37B.

  This is the second former Freedom Tiger reported to have conterted to Northrop F-5E Tigers, always based at Danang AFB.

3rd Air Divion / 23rd Tactical Wing A source names this as 63rd Tactical Wing,

  
  
  536th Fighter Squadron
  The second fighter-bomber unit at Bien Hoa AFB flying Northrop F-5As was activated in December 1972; Northrop F-5Es replaced the Freedom Fighter starting June 10th, 1974. It
  was part of the 23rd Tactical Wing (see above).

   540th Fighter Squadron
   Was also activated late 1972 at Bien Hoa AFB using Northrop F-5A under the 3rd Air Division; 3 Squadrons of the Wing were equipped with Cessna  A-37Bs. Later the Freedom          Fighter was supplanted by Northrop F-5E Tigers.

   Some information give this Unit with the 82nd Tactical Wing at Phu Cat AFB

   542nd Fighter Squadron
   Activation of the unit was also end of 1972 at Bien Hoa AB Sqn, equipped with Northrop F-5A under the 3rd Air Division. At least one Northrop  F-5B operated from Tan Son Nhut    during the  last days before capitulation.

     544th Fighter Squadron
    Little is known about this Squadron equipped with Northrop F-5As by the end of 1972; was also based at Bien Hoa AB.

    A source state that it was equipped with Northrop F-5E when the pilot bombed the presidential palace on 08-04-75.
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