Dĩ An Base Camp (also known as Dĩ An Army Airfield or Song Than Base Camp) is a former U.S. Army and Republic of Vietnam Marine Division base in Dĩ An northeast of Saigon in southern Vietnam. It remains in use by the People's Army of Vietnam.
| Dĩ An Base Camp | |
|---|---|
 Dĩ An Base Camp, 16 April 1966 | |
| Coordinates | 10°54′00″N 106°44′20″E / 10.9°N 106.739°E |
| Type | Army/Marine Base |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1966 |
| In use | 1966–present |
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | 1st Infantry Division 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Republic of Vietnam Marine Division |
Dĩ An Army Airfield | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 108 ft / 33 m | ||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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History
edit1966–72
edit
Dĩ An Base Camp was established at Dĩ An, 13 km northeast of Tan Son Nhut Air Base and 12 km southwest of Biên Hòa.[1]
The 1st Infantry Division had its headquarters at Dĩ An from February 1966 until September 1967 and from November 1969 until April 1970.[2]
Other units stationed at Dĩ An included:
- 1st Battalion, 7th Artillery (1967-April 1970)[2]: 98
- 12th Aviation Group comprising:
- 7th Squadron, 1st Cavalry (February–June 1968)[2]: 125
- 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry (October 1967-April 1972)[2]: 133
- 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (July 1970-March 1971)[2]: 130
- 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry[3]
- Headquarters Troop
- Alpha Troop
- Charlie Troop
The airfield was capable of accommodating C-7 Caribou and C-123 aircraft.[1]
The Mobile Advisory Teams advisor school operated at the base from 1969 until September 1971.[4]
On 30 July 1969, US President Richard Nixon visited the base on his only Presidential visit to South Vietnam, meeting US military personnel.[5]
On 13 October 1971 Vietcong sappers destroyed two U.S. helicopters at the camp.[6]
On 8 September 1972 the Republic of Vietnam Marine Division established a training center, ranges, hospital, recruit depot and LVT base on part of the former camp and named it Song Than Camp.[7]
Current use
editThe base remains in use by the People's Army of Vietnam.
References
edit- ^ a b Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-1555716257.
- ^ a b c d e Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 74. ISBN 9780811700719.
- ^ Zahn, R (2003). Snake Pilot. Brassey's Inc. p. 249. ISBN 1-57488-565-0.
- ^ Clarke, Jeffrey (1998). The U.S. Army in Vietnam Advice and Support: The Final Years, 1965-1973 (PDF). U.S. Army Center of Military History. p. 452. ISBN 978-1518612619.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Presidential and Secretaries travels abroad Richard M. Nixon". State Department Office of the Historian. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ "Enemy demolition squad destroys two U.S. copters". The New York Times. 14 October 1971. p. 4.
- ^ Dunham, George R (1990). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Bitter End, 1973–1975 (Marine Corps Vietnam Operational Historical Series). History and Museums Division Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-16-026455-9. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
