Trần Văn Minh (aviator)

In 1956 Minh was promoted to captain. In 1958 he received jet-training on the Cessna T-37 and was promoted to major. In 1960 he attended the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama, United States. On his return to South Vietnam he served as deputy base commander of Nha Trang Air Base, then deputy commander Bien Hoa Air Base, then Command Assistant Deputy at Danang Air Base. In 1964 he was appointed commander of the 62nd Tactical Wing at Pleiku Air Base.

In November 1967 Minh was promoted to brigadier-general and commander of the RVNAF, succeeding Nguyễn Cao Kỳ who was elected as Vice-President of the Republic of Vietnam. Minh would be the longest-serving commander of the RVNAF holding command from 1967 until the Fall of Saigon in April 1975. In 1968 he was promoted to major-general (Thiếu Tướng).

At 08:00 on 29 April 1975, Minh and 30 of his staff arrived at the Defense Attaché Office (DAO) compound demanding evacuation, signifying the complete loss of RVNAF command and control.^[1]

• South Vietnam:
  • Grand Cross of the National Order of Vietnam
  • Military Merit Medal
  • Air Force Distinguished Service Order, First Class
  • Gallantry Cross
  • Air Gallantry Cross, Bronze Wing ribbon
  • Wound Medal
  • Armed Forces Honor Medal, First Class
  • Staff Service Medal, First Class
  • Technical Service Medal, First Class
  • Training Service Medal, First Class
  • Good Conduct Medal, First Class
  • Vietnam Campaign Medal
  • Military Service Medal
  • Air Service Medal, First Class
  • Navy Service Medal, First Class
  • Chuong My Medal, First Class
  • Social Service Medal, Second Class
  • Labor Medal, Third Class
  • Rural Revolutionary Development Medal
  • Veterans Medal, First Class

• Gallantry Cross Unit Award
• Police Honor Unit Award

• Thailand :
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand