Son Tay Raid Analysis

Around May 1970 intelligence analysts detected the presence of Prisoners of War (POW) at Son Tay. On November 20th 1970 Son Tay POW camp was raided. No POWs were found at Son Tay. In the span of seven months, intelligence failed to detect the transfer of Son Tay POW’s. The Son Tay raid is regarded as a tactical success, and has largely been analyzed from a tactical standpoint. Analysis of the intellectual failure is necessary. Even in the modern era POWs still exist and rescue attempts are still undertaken. It is therefore important that the mistakes in Son Tay are not repeated. What were the successes and failures of the intelligence disciplines involved? Where there any other resources or could intelligence have been used differently? What could it have been done differently? Have any lessons been learned from this failure? These are the critical questions that need to be answered to effectively analyze the issue. The first step to analyzing the Son Tay raid starts with understanding the mission. It was widely reported that the POWs in Vietnam were suffering. Negotiations for their …show more content…
The Son Tay raid planning process failed to fully utilize all the available intelligence disciplines available. Additionally, the intelligence that was provided was mishandled, and not provided proper analytical attention. The various intelligence sources had provided some useful intelligence and had they properly been utilized there may have been a success. Other alternatives to the raid should have been investigated. Facts provided cannot guarantee whether or not another course of action would have been success. These alternate avenues should still have been investigated. Son Tay continues to have an impact in a modern battlefield where POW scenarios still exist. It is therefore important to continue to analyze scenarios such as the Son Tay raid. This may allow United States to be successful in future