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Kien An Airport ( Vietnamese language: Sân bay Kiến An) is a military airport, a standby airport for
The base was put into service by the Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF). In July 1966 the National Photographic Interpretation Center reported that Kien An Airfield comprised "a 5900 ft x 150 ft, NE/SW, serviceable runway, resurfaced since October 1965. The airfield has a parallel taxiway with two end-connecting links, and a parking apron. An aircraft dispersal area contains seventeen revetted hardstands and eighteen hardstands recessed into the base of a hill at the southeast section of the airfield. Support facilities include one large probable maintenance building (where Hook helicopters are being assembled) and numerous support buildings. A probable ILS is located off the southwest end of the runway. Defenses in the immediate area include at least three eight-gun AAA sites. Aircraft at the airfield include four Hook helicopters without rotors in the process of being assembled, one probable
Cat Bi Airport
Cat Bi International Airport ( vi, Cảng hàng không quốc tế Cát Bi a.k.a. vi, Sân bay Quốc tế Cát Bi) is an international airport located in Hai Phong, Vietnam.
History First Indochina War
During the war Cat Bi Air Base was used ...
in Haiphong, northern Vietnam. The single runway is 2,400 m, concrete surface. Its ICAO
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international a ...
code is VV03.
Kien An Airport is located in Kiến An District, Hải Phòng
Haiphong ( vi, Hải Phòng, ), or Hải Phòng, is a major industrial city and the third-largest in Vietnam. Hai Phong is also the center of technology, economy, culture, medicine, education, science and trade in the Red River delta.
Haiphong wa ...
, 10 km from Cat Bi Airport
Cat Bi International Airport ( vi, Cảng hàng không quốc tế Cát Bi a.k.a. vi, Sân bay Quốc tế Cát Bi) is an international airport located in Hai Phong, Vietnam.
History First Indochina War
During the war Cat Bi Air Base was used ...
to the west.
History
First Indochina War
The airfield was constructed during the French colonial period. The airfield was reportedly constructed over a 2-year period with large amounts of crushed rock being used to build foundations on the marshy land. The first French aircraft to land at Kien An apparently buckled the runway and the project was abandoned by the French.Vietnam War
The base was put into service by the Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF). In July 1966 the National Photographic Interpretation Center reported that Kien An Airfield comprised "a 5900 ft x 150 ft, NE/SW, serviceable runway, resurfaced since October 1965. The airfield has a parallel taxiway with two end-connecting links, and a parking apron. An aircraft dispersal area contains seventeen revetted hardstands and eighteen hardstands recessed into the base of a hill at the southeast section of the airfield. Support facilities include one large probable maintenance building (where Hook helicopters are being assembled) and numerous support buildings. A probable ILS is located off the southwest end of the runway. Defenses in the immediate area include at least three eight-gun AAA sites. Aircraft at the airfield include four Hook helicopters without rotors in the process of being assembled, one probable Fresco
Fresco (plural ''frescos'' or ''frescoes'') is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaste ...
(this is the first time a jet-type aircraft has been observed at this airfield), three Colt
Colt(s) or COLT may refer to:
*Colt (horse), an intact (uncastrated) male horse under four years of age
People
* Colt (given name)
*Colt (surname)
Places
*Colt, Arkansas, United States
*Colt, Louisiana, an unincorporated community, United States ...
and one Hound."
On 14 April 1966 the VPAF deployed MiG-15/17s and at least 4 MiG-21s to Kien An and on 17 April these aircraft engaged United States' aircraft.
Due to its proximity to Haiphong, the base was in the restricted area that US forces were prohibited from attacking, allowing the VPAF aircraft there to operate without the threat of air attack. The restricted area around Haiphong was reduced in March 1967 and the first US air attack on the base took place on 23 April 1967.
On 19 November 1967 4 MiG-17s deployed from Kép Air Base
Kép Air Base is a Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) ''(Không quân Nhân dân Việt Nam)'' military airfield located near the town of Kép, Bắc Giang Province approximately northeast of Hanoi.
History
Vietnam War
A September 1965 CIA inte ...
to Kien An intercepted a United States Navy strike package near the base, shooting down 2 F-4B Phantom IIs of VF-151
Strike Fighter Squadron One Five One (VFA-151) nicknamed the ''Vigilantes'' are a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The squadron is a part of Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9). A ...
.
On 26 August 1972 during Operation Linebacker U.S. Navy jets bombed the base. During Operation Linebacker II in December 1972 the base was repeatedly struck by U.S. Navy aircraft causing extensive damage. On 21 December 1972 the AAA defenses at the base shot down A-6 Intruder BuNo 152946 of VA-75 as it made a night attack on the base, both crewmen were killed.
References
{{authority control Airports in Vietnam Buildings and structures in Haiphong Vietnam War military installations Installations of the Vietnam People's Air Force