Trần Đại Nghĩa

Vietnamese weapons engineer who revolutionized guerrilla warfare technology during the First Indochina War

Trần Đại Nghĩa (1913–1997), a Paris-trained engineer, secretly returned to Vietnam in 1946 to lead Ho Chi Minh's weapons program. With minimal resources, he engineered the SKZ recoilless cannon using bicycle parts and artillery shells from unexploded bombs. This weapon became pivotal in defeating French forces at Điện Biên Phủ (1954).

His portable flamethrowers and submarine-designed missiles exploited jungle terrain advantages. Unlike conventional armies, Trần prioritized mobility and psychological impact. He later established Vietnam's first aerospace research institute, blending Western science with local improvisation ('thế mẹo').

Post-war, Trần advocated for STEM education but opposed nuclear development, stating: 'Our strength is in wisdom, not megatons.' Declassified CIA files called him 'the Viet Minh's Edison.' Despite his contributions, he refused military honors, working anonymously until his death.