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Marcel Bigeard leads an attack on the AA guns west of the main position at Dien Bien Phu.  Due the the shape and layout of the camp, the pilots making the drops must fly the same course, same altitude on every run.  It goes without saying that if those guns are not neutralized the camp will die a very quick death.

That the French lasted as long as they did is a testimony to the ability and grit of the soldiers involved.  The high command had put them into a death trap because of their inexcusable ignorance of the terrain.  It is hard to believe but General Navarre did not seem to know or care that DBP was surrounded by hills.

The Viet Minh fought like tigers and suffered extremely heavy losses.  But they won, and they won their country back into the bargain.

This was Folly on parade!