Tuy Hoa Air Base
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Tuy Hoa Air Base is a former air force base in Vietnam, being closed in 1970. It was built by the United States in 1966 and was used by the United States Air Force (USAF) during the Vietnam War in the II Corps Tactical Zone of South Vietnam. It was captured by the People's Army of Vietnam in April 1975 and was abandoned for several decades. Today, the site has been redeveloped as Cảng Hàng Không Tuy Hòa
USAF use
In September 1965 Tuy Hoa was identified as a potential site for an air base and in October, following feasibility and soil studies,
Walter Kidde began construction in June and on 15 November 1966, 45 days ahead of schedule, interim capability was achieved when the
In November 1966 McNamara instructed the Joint Chiefs of Staff to investigate the possibility of basing 15 B-52s at Tuy Hoa. This proposal was opposed by the Joint Chiefs, USAF Secretary Brown and CINCPAC on cost and security grounds.[1]: 153
On 7 June 1968 the Federalized New Mexico Air National Guard 188th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed to Tuy Hoa and would remain there until 18 May 1969.[2]: 55
On 14 June 1968 the Federalized
On 29 July 1968 a Viet Cong sapper attack on the base destroyed 2 C-130s and damaged a further 5 C-130s, 1 F-100 and 1 C-47.[3]
In early 1969 Flight A of the 71st Special Operations Squadron equipped with AC-119G Shadow gunships moved to Tuy Hoa from Nha Trang Air Base, it was later replaced by Flight A of the 17th Special Operations Squadron equipped with 4 AC-119G gunships.[4] On 12 April 1970 Flight A moved from Tuy Hoa to Phù Cát Air Base.[4]: 213
On 15 May 1969 the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed to Tuy Hoa.[2]: 55
On 28 May 1969 the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron moved to Tuy Hoa from Bien Hoa Air Base.[2]: 55
On 13 July 1970 the last "Wonderarch" concrete and steel aircraft protection shelters were completed at the base.[3]: 70–1
On 15 October 1970 the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing left Tuy Hoa and moved without personnel or equipment to
US Army use
In late 1970, the base was renamed Tuy Hoa Army Airfield and various U.S. Army units, including all army aviation units based at Phú Hiệp Airfield were relocated here.[5] The facility was turned over to South Vietnamese government control on 15 January 1972.
Accidents and incidents
- On 22 April 1970, Douglas C-47A B-308 of Winner Airways overran the runway on landing and was damaged beyond repair.[6]
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- ^ ISBN 9780912799513.
- ^ ISBN 0912799129.
- ^ ISBN 9781410222565. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ ISBN 9781428993648.
- ^ "Citation Nr: 0840013". U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ "B-308 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
Further reading
- Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-513-4.
- Mesco, Jim (1987) VNAF Republic of Vietnam Air Force 1945-1975 Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN 0-89747-193-8
- Mikesh, Robert C. (2005) Flying Dragons: The Republic of Vietnam Air Force. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 0-7643-2158-7
- USAF Historical Research Division/Organizational History Branch - 35th Fighter Wing, 366th Wing
- VNAF - The Republic of Vietnam Air Force 1951-1975 Archived 2 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present