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A Lưới Camp

Coordinates: 16°16′07″N 107°13′43″E / 16.26861°N 107.22861°E / 16.26861; 107.22861
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Lưới Camp
Ta Bat Airfield
 
Huế, Central Highlands in Vietnam
A Lưới Camp is located in Vietnam
A Lưới Camp
A Lưới Camp
Shown within Vietnam
Coordinates16°16′07″N 107°13′43″E / 16.26861°N 107.22861°E / 16.26861; 107.22861[1]
Site information
OperatorArmy of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)
United States Army (U.S. Army)
ConditionAbandoned
Site history
Built1962 (1962)
Built by326th Engineers (1969)
In use1962-1966 (1966)
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Garrison5th Special Forces Group
Airfield information
Elevation0 feet (0 m) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
18/36 1,500 feet (457 m) Asphalt

A Lưới Camp (also known as A Lưới Special Forces Camp, LZ Stallion or Ta Bat Airfield) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base in the A Sầu Valley southwest of Huế in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

History

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The 5th Special Forces Group[2] first established a base here in 1962 to monitor communist infiltration into the A Sầu Valley. The base was located along Route 548, 40 km southwest of Huế.[3]

The base was abandoned in 1966 due to increased pressure from the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces and the A Sầu Valley became a major PAVN base area supporting operations throughout the Central Highlands.

In April 1968 during Operation Delaware the 1st Cavalry Division briefly reoccupied A Lưới.[2]: 127–8  The 8th Engineer Battalion rebuilt the airfield to handle Fairchild C-123 Provider and Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft.

On 26 April 1968 C-130B #60-0298 was hit by enemy fire while on approach to the camp airfield, the aircraft crashed and burnt on the airfield, the remains of 5 of the 8 crewmen were recovered[4]

In August 1968 the 101st Airborne Division briefly reoccupied A Lưới during Operation Somerset Plain.[5]

On 29 April 1969 the 101st Airborne returned to A Lưới during Operation Kentucky Jumper and Ta Bat Airfield was reopened.[3]: 5–489 

Current use

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The base has been turned over to housing/farmland and sits adjacent to the Ho Chi Minh Highway.

References

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  1. ^ "A Luoi Airstrip Map". VN War Stories. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 246. ISBN 9780811700719.
  3. ^ a b Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5-2. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  4. ^ "John McDaniel, MAJ". The Virtual Wall. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  5. ^ Villard, Erik (2017). United States Army in Vietnam Combat Operations Staying the Course October 1967 to September 1968. Center of Military History United States Army. pp. 607–9. ISBN 9780160942808.
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