Dĩ An Base Camp

Dĩ An Base Camp
Dĩ An Base Camp, 16 April 1966
Coordinates	10.9°N 106.739°E / 10.9; 106.739 (Dĩ An Base Camp)
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
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Elevation AMSL	108 ft / 33 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 2,800 853 laterite

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.

History

1966–72

President Richard Nixon greets US troops, 30 July 1969

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

The base remains in use by the People's Army of Vietnam.

References

1. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-1555716257.
2. Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 74. ISBN 9780811700719.
3. Zahn, R (2003). Snake Pilot. Brassey's Inc. p. 249. ISBN 1-57488-565-0.
4. 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.
5. "Presidential and Secretaries travels abroad Richard M. Nixon". State Department Office of the Historian. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
6. "Enemy demolition squad destroys two U.S. copters". The New York Times. 14 October 1971. p. 4.
7. 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.