Phạm Phú Quốc (1935–1965) was a French-trained South Vietnamese fighter pilot and lieutenant in the Republic of Vietnam Air Force,[1] best known for being one of two mutinous pilots involved in the 1962 South Vietnamese Presidential Palace bombing on February 27, 1962, which aimed to assassinate President Ngô Đình Diệm and his immediate family, who were his political advisers.

Returning to South Vietnam, he served in the Vietnamese National Army and was stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base.

On October 26, 1961, he was promoted to lieutenant and was appointed Chief of Operations of the 514th Fighter Squadron of the South Vietnamese Air Force in Bien Hoa.

He was arrested and imprisoned at Chi Hoa Prison, while Nguyễn Văn Cử escaped to Cambodia and took refuge there.

[4] At the beginning of February 1964, he was promoted to major, holding the position of Deputy Commander of 514th Fighter Squadron under the 23rd Air Wing.

In early 1965, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was appointed commander of the 23rd Tactical Squadron and Bien Hoa Air Base.

[4] On April 19, 1965, he and his wingmen carried out a mission to coordinate with the U.S. Air Force to destroy the traffic axis 10 kilometers south of Vinh.

[citation needed] After his death, the popular songwriter Phạm Duy wrote a song to eulogise him named "Huyền Sử Ca Một Người Mang Tên Quốc" ("Epic of a Man Named Quốc") in which he was portrayed as a heroic, selfless, fearless and honourable figure.

The primary example of this were the lines "Thần phong hiên ngang mà chẳng sợ gì" (A godly wind that knows nothing to fear!).