Air Force Operations in Vietnam

In 1950, what initially was a military assistance effort by the United States to support the French in containing communist rebels in what was, at the time, French Indochina had, by 1965, evolved into a full-scale war between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. American forces were, by that year, heavily involved in backing the South. At that point, the United States Air Force was a significant factor in their deployment to the South. Their primary targets were North and South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. August 1950 saw the first United States Air Force personnel in South Vietnam with the establishment of the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Vietnam; MAAG-V.

Initially, it was a French Air Base, but later, it became a Republic of Vietnam Air Force facility in the city of Da Nang. During the French Indochina period, it was known as Tourane. The United States utilized it as a major base during the war. From 1961 to 1972, it was the northernmost Air Force base in the Republic of Vietnam. It was located 85 miles south of the Demilitarized Zone, the DMZ, where the 17th parallel divided North and South Vietnam. On August 19, 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the implementation of a long-range radar site close to Da Nang. It tracked and reported Soviet military flights that had crossed the Laotian border. On June 15, 1962, Project Mule Train personnel arrived in Da Nang. They operated a pair of Fairchild C-123 Provider aircraft. The Mule Train Unit ultimately became the 311th Troop Carrier Squadron at Ton Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon. It remained in Da Nang as an inactive unit until its deactivation on October 5, 1971. 

On February 8, 1965, the Vietnam Air Force launched its first strike into North Vietnam with a squadron of Douglas A-1 Skyraiders. The terrain was ideally suited for constructing an airfield with flat ground on the south of the port city of Da Nang. Ultimately, the base was increased to 2,350 acres with two 10,000-foot-long asphalt runways that featured concrete touchdown pads. The airfield served as a loading port for the massive C-141s and C-5s and commercial Military Airlift Command flights. By the mid-1960s, Da Nang was the busiest single-runway airport in the world, with approximately 1,500 takeoffs and landings during its peak traffic days.

Additionally, helicopters utilized two traffic patterns near the airstrip's edge. From 1966 to 1972, the primary USAF unit was the 366th Fighting Wing. In May 1972, United States Air Force personnel were drawn down. The Paris Peace Accords were signed on January 27, 1973, and the United States flag was lowered at Da Nang Air Base on March 20, 1973. Of the approximately 2,590,000 U.S. military members who served in Vietnam, about 293,000 were United States Air Force personnel. 

The Pleiku Air Base, established in 1962 145 miles south of Da Nang, was a former South Vietnamese Air Force (SVNAF) Base. The 633rd Combat Support Group, which arrived on March 14, 1966, was the initial United States Air Force unit on site. The base's primary mission was forward air control operations coordinated with the South Vietnamese. From 1968 to 1970, the 633rd Special Operations Wing was Pleiku's largest Air Force unit.

Additionally, it served as a base for U.S. Special Operations forces in the South Vietnamese Highlands. Units from the Navy, Army, and Marines were simultaneously stationed with the Air Force at Pleiku, creating a multiservice base. Given that, a variety of propeller-driven aircraft and a significant number of helicopters were on site. On January 1, 1966, the 1st Air Command Squadron was relocated to Pleiku from Bien Hoa Air Base, approximately 20 miles west of Saigon. Operating A-1 Skyraiders, they were among the initial USAF units in South Vietnam to serve in an advisory capacity.

Along with interdiction missions and support operations over the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the Skyraiders were involved in pilot rescue missions and support operations for U.S. and South Vietnam in counterinsurgency warfare and civic actions. In early 1967, the squadron was relocated to Nakhon Phan Thai Air Base. Their focus was on special operations at that location, primarily in Laos. 

The 6th Air Command Squadron was assigned to Pleiku on February 29, 1968, and arrived in March. August 1, 1968, saw their designation listed as the 6th Special Operations Squadron. It was active in various assignments until November 15, 1969, with the aircraft transferred to the South Vietnamese Air Force. The wing received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V Device and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Award with Palm. The 9th Air Command Squadron utilized modified C-47 D aircraft and was activated at Pleiku on January 25, 1967. They flew combat missions that included ground forces support, transport cover, combat search and rescue, and forward air control. They also had five O-2 B aircraft that were deployed for dropping psychological leaflets and playing Vietnamese recordings that encouraged the enemy to surrender. From 1968 to 1972, the 362nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron was assigned to Pleiku and flew modified EC-47s that featured various electronic warfare components.

Phu Cat Air Base was approximately 70 nautical miles east of Pleiku near the coastline and 14 miles inland. On February 16, 1966, USAF Civil Engineering Officer Lt. Colonel William Bordner, while evaluating the site for a base, stepped on a phosphorus mine and was killed. That location was established in March 1966 with a Base X designation. December 20, 1966, saw concrete pouring commence for the primary runway. It was opened for use in May 1967. All military personnel were housed in permanent structures by October of that year. On March 1, 1967, the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing was in place at Phu Cat. They served as the host unit and received the required equipment and personnel, primarily from the United States. Tactical Operations were initiated in mid-April 1967 as headquarters equipment was activated. In 1968, 2 additional squadrons were deployed: the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the Iowa Air National Guard and the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron. The Air National Guard pilots earned 23 Silver Stars, 47 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 46 Bronze Stars for valor while serving in Phu Cat.

Phu Cat Air Base was a test site for Project Safe Side, an Air Force program designed to defend its bases by reconfiguring their defense forces. The 14th Special Operations Wing, headquartered at Nha Trang Air Base, had three detachments of gunship squadrons at Phu Cat, the 14th, 17th, and 18th Special Operations Squadrons. From May 1967 to December 1970, Phan Trang Air Base's 315th TactBase'sir Wing had a detachment of UC-123 aircraft at Phu Cat Air Base. They conducted herbicide spraying. In 1969, approximately 90 aircraft were assigned to Phu Cat Air Base. Among them were AC-47 Spooky gunships and EC-47 N/P electronic warfare planes. RF-101 C photo reconnaissance planes, C-7 Caribou airlifts, and 2 HH- 43 B Pedro rescue helicopters. With the ongoing decrease of U.S. forces in Vietnam, March 31, 1971 saw the inactivation of the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing at Phu Cat Air Base, It was transferred to the Vietnamese Air Force on January 31, 1972.

Tuy Hoa Air Base was 139 miles south of Phu Cat. The plans for a United States Air Force base at that location were drawn up in 1965 after the 1964 Tonkin Gulf Resolution and the subsequent decision to station United States forces in South Vietnam. The United States Air Force RED HORSE Civil Engineer Squadrons were responsible for the construction beginning in June 1966, with the 820th Civil Engineering Squadron leading the way. The base became operational in 6 months. Initially, Tuy Hoa had been planned to be utilized as a Strategic Air Command B-52 facility. The security concerns associated with having B-52s in South Vietnam brought about their assignment to U-Tapo Air Base in Thailand. On December 16, 1966, the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing of Homestead, Florida Air Force Base, was reassigned to Tuy Hoa Air Base. The Tactical Fighting Squadrons of the 31st T.F.S. were the 308th T.F.S. and the 306th T.F.S., both on the base on November 15, 1966, and the 309th added on December 6, 1966. In June 1967, Air National Guard squadrons, the 136th T.F.S. of New York and the 188th from New Mexico, were deployed to Tuy Hoa. Following a one-year assignment, they returned to the United States and were replaced by F-100 squadrons from the 37th T.F.S. at Phu Cat. From Tuy Hoa, combat operations were conducted from December 16, 1966, to September 1970. They involved air strikes, eliminating enemy aircraft artillery, visual and photographic reconnaissance, and rescue air flights. The 31st became inactive at Tuy Hoa Air Base on October 15, 1970, during the U.S. withdrawal from South Vietnam. The 308th TFW was deactivated on October 5, 1970. The facility was transferred to the South Vietnamese government on January 15, 1971. 

Nha Trang Air Base was 72 driving miles south of Tuy Hoa. It was activated in 1949 by the Colonial French government of Indochina and designated Base Aerienne 194. In 1951, it was the training center for South Vietnamese Air Force military pilots. The USAF established a training center at Nha Trang in September 1963. The center was used for R.VRVNAFr a month of preflight training followed by 3 months of flight training for a total of 80 hours. On September 23, 1963, 3 Viet Cong entered the base and used satchel charges to destroy 2 C-47s. June 1964 saw the 116th Liaison Squadron with O-1s activated at the base. By the late 1960s, the United States Air Force was on site and used the base for special operations. Simultaneously, it was utilized by the South Vietnamese Air Force as a tactical base. On March 8, 1966, the USAF activated the 14th Air Command Wing at Nha Trang. Their operations included combat airlift, air support, aerial resupply, counterinsurgency, forward air control ops, and search and rescue missions. The 14th displayed heroism, gallantry, and outstanding performance in earning the Presidential Unit Citation. While flying C-47s, one squadron used miniguns and flare drops to help eliminate a significant number of enemy operations that had targeted friendly hamlets. Against frequently sustained and accurate hostile fire, the search and rescue missions recovered 91 airmen. The Operation Squadrons at Nha Trang were the 1st Air Command Squadron and the 3rd and 4th Special Operations Squadrons. They flew Douglas AC-47B-30-DK 'Spooky' gunships' As part of the Vietnamization process, by the middle of 1969, USAF units at Nha Trang began inactivation and relocation. In October of that year, all USAF units were off the base. 800 personnel remained for support operations until the transfer to the R.V.N. A.F. in 1970. With the drawdown of U.S. forces, some of the South Vietnamese Air Force planes at Nha Trang were flown to Bien Hoa. The abandoned base was left to the North Vietnamese. Given the close proximity of Cam Rahn Bay Air Base, a civilian airport was developed at that location, and in 2004, Nha Trang was closed. 

Cam Rahn Bay Air Base was approximately 31 driving miles south of Nha Trang. It is located in an inlet in the South China Sea and is situated on the Southeastern coast between Nha Trang and Phan Rang. That places it about 186 miles Northeast of Saigon. The Cam Rahn Bay airstrip was constructed in 1965 by the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps in cooperation with civilian contractors. On November 8 of that year, it was transferred to the USAF Pacific Air Forces. The base was also a major seaport utilized by the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. The Navy base served as the center for Operation Market Time. Underway in 1965, to disrupt the flow of troops and material from North Vietnam to sections of South Vietnam, swift boats patrolled the coast and canals, successfully impacting the transfers from the North to the South. Those military branches had forces stationed there from the opening in 1965 until the drawdown of U.S. forces brought about the 1972 closing. Cam Rahn Bay served as a USAF tactical fighter facility. It was the first to have F-4C Phantom II fighter-bombers. The initial USAF unit stationed at Cam Rahn Bay was the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, deployed from Florida's MacDillFlorida'se Base. That established them as the first F-4C Phantom II Wing to be assigned to Southeast Asia. The 557th, 558th, and 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadrons served as the Cam Rahn Bay operational squadrons. Personnel and cargo From the United States arrived at the logistical facilities, which had been delivered by ship, Military Air Transport, and Military Airlift Command.

A combination of heavy rain and strong winds in December of 1965 and March 1966 created maintenance challenges for the aluminum mat runway and taxiway. By December of 1966, Cam Rahn Bay had reached 27,000 aircraft movements per month. The personnel on site endured cramped living quarters, water shortages, and sporadic electrical service. On October 26, 1966, President Lyndon Johnson landed at the base and did so again with General William Westmoreland on December 23, 1967. The first Lockheed C-141 Starlifter landed at the base in November 1966. April 1967 saw medical evacuation flights from Cam Rahn Bay to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. As a part of the Vietnamization process, on March 31, 1970, the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing was reassigned to Phu Cat Air Base. Given its peninsula location, the base was among the most secure and was not attacked during the January – February 1968 Tet Offensive. With that security, coupled with attacks on other bases, many of the transport planes from other bases operated from Cam Rahn in early February. Active flying was terminated on March 31, 1972. The Cam Rahn Air Base was transferred to the South Vietnamese government on May 15, 1972. After major reconstruction, on May 19, 2004, Cam Rahn International Airport saw its first commercial flight.

Phan Rang Air Base was 30 miles south-southwest of Cam Rahn Bay. It was constructed by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, then rebuilt by the USAF in 1965, and used by the Vietnamese Air Force. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Army had support units on site. It was used by the French Air Force during the first Indochina War and abandoned in 1954. In April 1965, the United States Indo-Pacific Command implemented a plan to build a new airfield. Three months later, three fighter squadrons would be deployed at Phan Rang upon the October completion of the airfield. In August 1965, the U.S. Army 62nd Engineering Battalion built a jet-capable runway. After several weather and supply-related delays, the completion date was April 1966. By the end of the year, the base construction was finalized with water and sewage systems, a power plant, and an assortment of accommodations and facilities. The U.S. personnel assigned to the base significantly increased from 118 in March 1966 to more than 4,500 six months later. On October 10 that year, the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing became the base's host unit. base's20th, 352nd, 612th, 614th, and 615th Tactical Fighter Squadrons were assigned to the 35th TFW. Their multifaceted missions included air support of ground forces, close and direct air support strike assessment photography, interdiction, and rapid reaction alerts. From April to May 1970, they struck enemy bases just inside the Cambodian border.

Additionally, they provided interdiction and close air support of South Vietnamese operations in Laos and Cambodia from January to June 1971. Reactivated in 1970 as the 8th Special Operations Squadron, previously the 8th Bomb Squadron at Phan Rang, their Cessna 37-B Dragonfly was used in counterinsurgency. January 15, 1972, the 8th Special Operations Squadron was sent to Bien Hoa as part of the drawdown at Phan Rang. For their combat duty in Vietnam, the 35 Tactical Fighter Wing was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, the Vietnam Air Offensive, the Vietnam Air Offensive Phase II, the Vietnam Air Offensive Phase III, the Vietnam Air/Ground, the Vietnam Air Offensive Phase IV, TET 1968 Counteroffensive, Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969, Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970, Sanctuary Counteroffensive, Southwest Monsoon, Commando Hunt V and Commando Hunt VI streamers. On September 30, 1971, the base's jurisdiction was converted to the South Vietnamese government.

Bien Hoa Air Base was 153 miles southwest of Phan Rang and approximately 15 miles north of Saigon. The Republic of Vietnam Air Force used the base from 1955 to 1975. The United States had Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine units on site from 1961 to 1973. Given the close proximity to Saigon, Bien Hoa was the subject of a significant level of American media coverage. In 1960, the Military Assistance Advisory Group of Vietnam requested the United States Navy to plan and build jet-capable airfields in Vietnam. Bien Hoa was one of the designated locations. One year later, an American construction company, RMK-BRJ, initiated the construction of a concrete runway. It marked the first of many projects built at the base during the following 10 years. Bien Hoa had a Tactical Air Navigation System to provide users with distance and bearings to a ship or ground-based station. In September 1962, the 33rd Transportation Company with Plasecki CH-21C Workhorse/Shawnee helicopters was established at the base. With their physical shape, the nickname 'The Flying Banan" was appropriate' In December 1963, a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft operating out of Bien Hoa conducted missions over North Vietnam and Laos. On November 1, 1964, a Vietcong mortar team launched a half-hour attack and destroyed 5 B-57s, 3 A-Hs, and 1 HH-43. 13 B-57s, 3 HH-43s, and 2 C-47s were damaged. 4 U.S. and 2 Vietnamese were killed. Along with the 33rd, The U.S. Army's A Company Army'sAviation, with Bell UH-1 Huey helicopters, arrived in December 1964. Disaster struck the base on May 16, 1965. Four B-57s were ready to go 'wheels up' for admission when a U.S. Navy F-8 Crusader was forced to make an emergency landing. During the subsequent inspection, the lead B-57 suffered an explosion and was quickly engulfed in flames. That initiated a chain reaction that destroyed nearby aircraft, pre-armed ordinance, and fuel. Following an evaluation, an Investigation Board concluded the aircraft and ammunition had been placed too close together. Engineers launched a program for the construction of revetments (a retaining wall or concrete facing) and shelters that protected individual aircraft. The 10 undamaged B-57s were transferred to Tan Sin Nhut, Saigon. On July 8, 1965, the 6251st Tactical Fighter Wing was activated at Bien Hoa. The USAF units stationed there were the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, the 416th TFW, and the 429th TFW. In November of that year, the 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron flew the first camouflaged F-100/Fs in South Vietnam. In February 1973, following the last withdrawal of U.S. forces, Bien Hoa continued to be a major Republic of Vietnam Air Force base.

Tan Son Nhut Air Base was close to Saigon and approximately 18 miles southeast of Bien Hoa. It was a major base for the United States from 1961 to 1973, with Air Force, Navy, Army, and Marine forces on site. The French constructed Tan Son Nhut in the 1930s as a commercial airport. 1960 saw an increasing number of U.S. aircraft, with Douglas A-1 Skyraiders, Sikorsky H-19 Helicopters, North American T-6 Texans, and Cessna L-19 Bird Dogs arriving. Within the next 5 years, Tan Son Nhut was reported to be among the busiest airports in the world. The South Vietnamese Air Force used it as a command base. The majority of operational units utilized the Bien Hoa Airbase.

The Vietnamese Air Force/Tan Son Nhut received support from the USAF with the development of the Tactical Air Control Systems (TACS). It enabled the control of combat operations and the effective deployment of personnel. Among all of its other functions, Tan Son Nhut was used as a recruitment center for the South Vietnamese Air Force. On January 30 at about 2:00 AM during the 1968 Tet Offensive, Tan Son Nhut was the site of a large-scale communist attack. During the initial phase, many of the VNAF were on leave for the Lunar New Year. A recall was issued, and within 3 days, 90 percent of the VNAF had returned. The actions taken by the USAF Security Police Squadron and members of the Army 3/4 Cavalry kept the entire from being attacked. Four USAF Security Policemen lost their lives.

Along with two other members of the Combat Security Police, they earned the Silver Star for the valor they had shown. The base was secured at noon the following day. On May 10, 1969, I arrived at Tan Son Nhut after completing a year as a USS Krishna crew member. I was in An Thoi, the southern tip of Phuc Quoc Island, south of the Cambodian coastline, from September 24, 1968, to May 10, 1969, maintaining and repairing swift boats. I had been scheduled to fly out of Saigon on May 10, but mechanical issues with the plane I was assigned to take kept me in Saigon unexpectedly for a week. I was OK with that. My 3rd-floor corner room at the Hotel Continental was at least several notches above the Krishna accommodations.  

The size of the VNAF transportation unit at Tan Son Nhut was increased in 1970 in response to the American units departing the country. As 1971 was coming to a close, the VNAF had assumed control of command and control units at eight major bases. September 1971 saw the transfer of two Fairchild C-119 squadrons to the VNAF at Tan Son Nhut. The expansion of the VNAF at the base near the end of 1971 was increased when two C-130 Hercules squadrons were established there. The U.S. advisory capacity ended with the 1973 Paris Peace Accords. The U.S. kept A Defense Attaché Office in place at Tan Son Nhut. By the end of 1973, frequent violations of the Accords were being committed by the communists quickly after America had withdrawn its last personnel in March 1973. During the final days of South Vietnam, Pan Am schedules from 1973 showed service was in place four times a week to San Francisco via Guam and Manila. It was from Tan Son Nhut that the last U.S. Airman left South Vietnam in March 1973.

The Binh Thuy Air Base was approximately 16 miles southwest of Saigon. It was the most southern location for an air base and had USAF and VNAF personnel. In June 1962, USAF forces assisted at Can Tho/Binh Thuy Airfield. One year later, Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) initiated a plan to build a 6,000-foot runway that replaced the inadequate 3,000-foot runway at Soc Trang Airway. Inclement weather and night operations made it below usable standards. Construction of a new airfield was underway in February 1964 with Navy Seabees on site. The selected location was swampland adjacent to the Bassac River. The Seabees used a dredge 22 hours a day to produce the needed landfill.

Ultimately, 680,000 cubic yards of sand were added to produce a usable mix to build the 6,000-foot runway, headquarters building, and taxi ramps. The 22nd Tactical Air Support Squadron with 30 0-1 Bird Dog aircraft was established at Bien Thuy on May 8, 1965. The following month, Bien Thuy became the forward operational location for the AC-47 Spooky gunships. For flight operations support, 2 HH-43F 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron helicopters arrived on September 15, 1965. Fire from a base AC-47 on February 20, 1966, ended a Viet Cong mortar attack. A second attack occurred on July 8 with the same results. During the 1968 Tet Offensive, the base was under assault by Viet Cong forces using mortars and rocket fire. February 13 saw the VC initiate a ground attack that the USAF Security Police ended. There were no American or South Vietnamese lives lost. In February 1970, as a part of Vietnamization, the USAF began the early stages of transferring control of Bien Thuy to the RVNAF. TRVNAFrocess concluded at the end of the year. On April 30, 1975, 2 Bien Thuy jets carried out the last known air strike of the war. Two People's Army of Vietnam tanks were destroyed during an attack on Tan Son Nhut.  

Of the 10 Air Force Bases in Vietnam, I only spent time in Tan Son Nhut. That was an unexpected seven-day stay waiting for a flight back to 'The World.' The plane I was scheduled to be on had mechanical problems, so I spent time at the Continental Hotel in Saigon. I saw a recent photo of it and noticed it had been nicely upgraded.