Cần Thơ Base Camp
Airport From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Airport From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cần Thơ Base Camp (also known as Cần Thơ Army Airfield) is a former U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force (USAF), Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) and current People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) base west of Cần Thơ in the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam.
| Cần Thơ Base Camp | |
|---|---|
An aerial view of Can Tho in March 1968 | |
 Cần Thơ Base Camp | |
| Coordinates | 10.052°N 105.762°E |
| Type | Army |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | People's Army of Vietnam |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1930s |
| In use | 1930s-present |
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | 9th Infantry Division Mobile Riverine Force ARVN 9th Division |
Cần Thơ airfield was originally established during the French colonial period and was later used by the Japanese during World War II.[1]: 86
In June 1962 Detachment 3, 6220th Air Base Squadron was established at Cần Thơ.[2] On 8 July 1963 a Detachment of the 33rd Tactical Group was established at Cần Thơ.[2]: 272
In May 1963 Detachment 7, 8th Aerial Port Squadron was established at Cần Thơ.[2]: 167 On 8 July 1963 a Detachment of the 33rd Tactical Group was established at Cần Thơ replacing Detachment 3, 6220th Air Base Squadron.[2]
The RVNAF maintained a detachment from its 122nd Liaison Squadron equipped with 5 O-1 Bird Dogs.[2]: 215
In mid-1963 Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) proposed the construction of a 6,000-foot (1,800 m) runway near Cần Thơ to replace the existing 3,000-foot (910 m) runway at Sóc Trăng Airfield which was unsuitable for night and wet weather operations with a projected US$4.5 million construction cost and a 2-year construction period.[2]: 177
On the night of 16 July 1963 a Viet Cong (VC) mortar attack on Cần Thơ Airfield wounded 17 ARVN and US Special Forces troops.[2]: 179
In July 1963 the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron was activated at Bien Hoa Air Base, becoming operational on 15 September, it maintained a detachment of 6 O-1s at Cần Thơ.[2]: 182
In January 1964 given the need for heavier aircraft to be available for quick reaction air support in the Mekong Delta, CINCPAC approved the construction of a new airfield at Cần Thơ for a cost of US$2.5 million to be ready within one year.[2]: 184
Construction of the new Binh Thuy Air Base, 7 km northwest of Cần Thơ Airfield began in February 1964.[1]: 57 [3]
In April 1964, Detachment 3, 619th Tactical Control Squadron was organized at the base. In the same month the RVNAF 74th Tactical Wing was established.[2]
The base was originally established by the 9th Infantry Division.[1]: 86
Other units stationed here included:
The US Air Force 619th Tactical Control Squadron Detachment 3 provided air traffic control until June 1972.
Cần Thơ was a base for the ARVN 9th Division until April 1975.
The base remains in use by the PAVN as the headquarters of the 9th Military Region. The airfield is no longer used but still clearly visible on satellite images.
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