Vung Tau Air Base (also known as Cap St Jacques Airfield and Vung Tau Army Airfield) (1955–1975) was a
Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) facility. It was located near the city of
Vũng Tàu
Vũng Tàu (''Hanoi accent:'' , ''Saigon accent:'' ) is the largest city of Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province in southern Vietnam. The city area is , consists of 13 urban wards and one commune of Long Sơn Islet. Vũng Tàu was the capital of the pr ...
in southern
Vietnam
Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
. The United States used it as a base during the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
(1959–1975), stationing
Army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
,
Air Force
An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an a ...
and
Navy
A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...
units there. It was also the main base supporting Australian operations in the war and
Australian Army
The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...
and
Royal Australian Air Force
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
units were based there. Following the
Fall of Saigon it reverted to a civil airport which remains in use today.
History
French Indochina
The French had originally constructed a small airfield at Cap St Jacques. The airfield was later expanded to a
pierced steel planking (PSP) runway.
Following the partition of Vietnam in 1954, the
French Air Force
The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Army; ...
conducted
Grumman F8F Bearcat
The Grumman F8F Bearcat is an American single-engine carrier-based fighter aircraft introduced in late World War II. It served during the mid-20th century in the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the air forces of other n ...
transition training for the RVNAF at the airfield. Following the completion of this training all removable equipment was stripped from the base.
[
]
Vietnam War
In June 1961 Military Assistance Advisory Group
Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) is a designation for United States military advisors sent to other countries to assist in the training of conventional armed forces and facilitate military aid. Although numerous MAAGs operated around ...
, Vietnam awarded a contract to Bourne Associates for airfield pavement evaluation at the base.
United States use
In December 1962 the United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
's 1st Aviation Company (Fixed-wing Light Transport) equipped with CV-2 Caribous moved to Vung Tau from Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
. In July 1963 a second Caribou company, the 61st Aviation Company, joined it at the base. The 1st Aviation Company left the base in December 1963.
By late 1964 the Army's 765th Transportation Battalion was based at Vung Tau, it supported all four Army aviation battalions then deployed in South Vietnam with two direct support maintenance companies, one general support maintenance company, one CV-2 Caribou company and one Special Warfare aviation detachment of the 73rd Aviation Company, 222nd Aviation Battalion operating Grumman OV-1 Mohawk
The Grumman OV-1 Mohawk is an armed military observation and attack aircraft that was designed for battlefield surveillance and light strike capabilities. It has a twin turboprop configuration, and carries two crew members in side-by-side seating ...
s.[ In December 1964 a detachment from the ]United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
(USAF) 8th Aerial Port Squadron began operating at the base.[
In early March 1965 a team from RMK-BRJ went to the base to repair the runway. A large program began for an Army support facility, including a control tower, troop cantonment, mess-hall, petroleum, oil and lubricants storage, a network of area roads, a 750 kilowatt electrical power system, new aircraft aprons and warehouses, an array of ]Quonset hut
A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semi cylindrical cross-section. The design was developed in the United States, based on the Nissen hut introduced by the British during World War I ...
s for aircraft maintenance and a communications building. They also built a Troposcatter
Tropospheric scatter, also known as troposcatter, is a method of communicating with microwave radio signals over considerable distances – often up to and further depending on frequency of operation, equipment type, terrain, and climate facto ...
radio station atop the highest hill at Vung Tau (), called VC Hill by Americans, which included antennae.[ In May 1965 as part of the initial deployments of U.S. ground forces, the ]1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment
The 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (1–503rd IR) is an active duty airborne infantry battalion in the United States Army, assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and stationed in Vicenza, Italy. The battalion has served with th ...
(Airborne); an engineer detachment; and a medical detachment all from the 173rd Airborne Brigade
The 173rd Airborne Brigade ("Sky Soldiers") is an airborne infantry brigade combat team (IBCT) of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy. It is the United States European Command's conventional airborne strategic response force for Eu ...
arrived at the base from Okinawa to provide defense for the airfield. In mid-June the units moved to Bien Hoa Air Base
Bien Hoa Air Base (Vietnamese: ''Sân bay Biên Hòa'') is a Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) military airfield located in South-Central southern Vietnam about from Ho Chi Minh City, across the Dong Nai river in the northern ward of Tân Phon ...
to join the rest of the Brigade.[ From late 1965, Vũng Tàu was used as an in-county rest and recreation (R&R) center for U.S. forces operated by the 1st Logistical Command and the base was used to transport U.S. personnel from their units to the R&R center. The base was used to shuttle newly arrived troops of the 1st and 25th Infantry Divisions to Bien Hoa Air Base in October 1965 and early 1966.][ A detachment of five USAF ]C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 ...
operated from the base from December 1965 to March 1966.[
The Army's 53rd Aviation Detachment, Field Evaluation (Provisional) operating three ACH-47A Chinook gunships operated from the base in mid-1966. On 8 August 1966 ACH-47A ''Stump Jumper'' #64-13151 collided while taxiing with another CH-47 at the base and was completely destroyed. The remaining two ACH-47As subsequently moved to ]Camp Radcliff
Camp Radcliff (also known as An Khê Army Airfield, An Khê Base or the Golf Course) is a former United States Army base in the An Khê District in central Vietnam.
History
1965–67
Camp Radcliff was established in late August 1965 by the 70t ...
. On 13 July 1966 Caribou #61-2386 was destroyed at the base by Vietcong
,
, war = the Vietnam War
, image = FNL Flag.svg
, caption = The flag of the Viet Cong, adopted in 1960, is a variation on the flag of North Vietnam. Sometimes the lower stripe was green.
, active ...
(VC) mortar fire.[ From July to December 1966, in accordance with the Johnson-McConnell agreement, the USAF took over the ex-Army Caribou transport aircraft in South Vietnam. The 535th and 536th Tactical Airlift Squadrons operated the redesignated C-7A Caribous from the base from 1 January 1967 to 1 July 1970, when they moved to ]Cam Ranh Base
Cam Ranh Air Force Base is located on Cam Ranh Bay in Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam. It was one of several air bases built and used by the United States Air Force (USAF) during the Vietnam War.
Cam Ranh Air Force Base was part of the large Cam ...
.
The United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
's HA(L)-3 equipped with Bell UH-1 Iroquois
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (nicknamed "Huey") is a utility military helicopter designed and produced by the American aerospace company Bell Helicopter. It is the first member of the prolific Huey family, as well as the first turbine-powered helic ...
helicopter gunships was formed at the base on 1 April 1967. On 26 January 1972 the squadron commenced standdown and on 16 March 1972 it was disestablished. The joint U.S. Army and Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...
Experimental Military Unit
The Experimental Military Unit (EMU) was a joint Australian-American company-sized helicopter assault force which operated during the Vietnam War. The unit was created in 1967 following a request from the United States military for Australia to s ...
operating UH-1 helicopters was formed at the base, becoming operational on 3 November 1967. The unit operated from the base during November and December, then was relocated to Blackhorse Base Camp
Blackhorse Base Camp (also known as LZ Blackhorse or simply Xuân Lộc) is a former U.S. Army base and current People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) base near the town of Xuân Lộc District, Xuân Lộc in Đồng Nai Province in southern Vietnam.
...
in Xuân Lộc district on 31 December.
On 23 April 1968 VC mortar fire destroyed C-7 #61-2399 at the base.[
On 17 January 1969 C-7 #60-5434 veered off the runway and was damaged beyond repair. Detachment B of the U.S. Navy's ]VAL-4
VAL-4 was a Light Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. Established on January 3, 1969, it was disestablished on April 10, 1972.
Operational history
In September 1968 VS-41 began training personnel scheduled for assignment to VAL-4, receiving thei ...
equipped with OV-10A Broncos operated from the base from mid-1969 until its disestablishment in April 1972.
During the Fall of Saigon on 27 April 1975 two 374th Airlift Wing
The 374th Airlift Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to Fifth Air Force. It is stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is part of Pacific Air Forces. The 374th Airlift Wing is the only airlift wing in PACAF and provides airl ...
planes landed at the base and evacuated approximately 250 dependents of the Republic of Vietnam Marine Division troops who were defending the base in return for assurances that the base would be held.[
]
Australian use
Royal Australian Air Force
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
(RAAF) Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV) was formed at the base with three DHC-4 Caribou transports, in July 1964. On 1 June 1966, RTFV was redesignated No. 35 Squadron. The squadron, nicknamed "Wallaby Airlines" operated from the base until 13 February 1972 when it was withdrawn to Australia.
On 13 May 1966 the Australian Army
The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...
's 161 Reconnaissance Flight was relocated to the base from Bien Hoa Air Base to support the operations of the 1st Australian Task Force
The 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) was a brigade-sized formation which commanded Australian and New Zealand Army units deployed to South Vietnam between 1966 and 1972. 1 ATF was based in a rubber plantation at Nui Dat, north of Bà Rịa i ...
(1ATF) in its tactical area of responsibility of Phuoc Tuy Province. The flight operated from the base and surrounding airfields and landing zones until its withdrawal to Australia in late 1971. In mid-June 1966 No. 9 Squadron equipped with UH-1 helicopters arrived at the base to provide transport and gunship support for 1ATF. The squadron was eventually withdrawn on 8 December 1971.
RAAF C-130s also operated regular flights to the base, bringing in equipment and evacuating casualties.[
]
Other Free World forces
The Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) ( mi, Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa, "The Warriors of the Sky of New Zealand"; previously ', "War Party of the Blue") is the aerial service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zeala ...
operated a regular shuttle service between Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vung Tau and Qui Nhơn Airfield using Bristol Freighters. The Republic of Korea Air Force operated a twice-weekly shuttle service between Tan Son Nhut, Vung Tau, Nha Trang Air Base and Qui Nhơn using Curtiss C-46 Commando
The Curtiss C-46 Commando is a twin-engine transport aircraft derived from the Curtiss CW-20 pressurised high-altitude airliner design. Early press reports used the name "Condor III" but the Commando name was in use by early 1942 in company pub ...
s.[
]
References
{{Commons category, Vung Tau Air Base
Military installations of the United States in South Vietnam
Military installations of South Vietnam
Airports in Vietnam
Installations of the United States Army in South Vietnam
Former Royal Australian Air Force bases