The Opération Beaver is an airborne operation of the French Army launched the November 20th 1953 under the orders with the general Gilles, with for objective seizing the plain of Ðiện Biên Phủ. In the morning of the November 20th, two battalions of Parachutist S (6 {{E}} BPC and 2/1er CCP), jump on Ðiện Biên Phủ and after briefs engagements with the detachment of the army Vietnamese soldier-Minh based on the spot, make sure of the control of the position. Other units are parachuted in the afternoon of the November 20th and in the following days. After a infructeuse attempt, a bulldozer is released on the position to allow the restoration of the landing strip, built by the Japanese during the Second world war (time when they occupied the French Indo-China, after the French demolished of 1940). The first plane lands in Ðiện Biên Phủ the November 25th and the withdrawal of the battalions parachutists having taken part in the Operation Beaver begins, progressively of their changing ensured by units air-transported since Hanoï.

See too

• Battle of Ðiện Well Phủ

External bonds

• Operation Beaver detailed in DienBienPhu.org