Trần Văn Minh (aviator)

Trần Văn Minh (21 July 1932 – 27 August 1997) was a general of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF).

Career
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.

National honours

 * South Vietnam:
 * VPD National Order of Vietnam - Grand Cross BAR.svg Grand Cross of the National Order of Vietnam
 * Vietnam Military Merit Ribbon.svg Military Merit Medal
 * Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-First Class.svg Air Force Distinguished Service Order, First Class
 * Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg Gallantry Cross
 * Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross Bronze Wing ribbon.svg Air Gallantry Cross, Bronze Wing ribbon
 * Vietnam Wound Medal ribbon.svg Wound Medal
 * Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Armed Forces Honor Medal, First Class
 * Vietnam Staff Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Staff Service Medal, First Class
 * Vietnam Technical Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Technical Service Medal, First Class
 * Vietnam Training Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Training Service Medal, First Class
 * Vietnam Good Conduct Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Good Conduct Medal, First Class
 * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon, with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal
 * Vietnam Military Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Military Service Medal
 * Vietnam Air Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Air Service Medal, First Class
 * Vietnam Navy Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Navy Service Medal, First Class
 * Vietnam Chuong My Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Chuong My Medal, First Class

Foreign honours

 * 🇹🇭 Thailand :
 * Order of the Crown of Thailand - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand