A Lưới Camp

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.

A Lưới Camp
A Lưới Camp
Coordinates16.264°N 107.23°E / 16.264; 107.23 (A Lưới Camp)
TypeArmy Base
Site history
Built1962
In use1962-66
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants5th Special Forces Group
Ta Bat Airfield
Summary
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
1,500 457

History

The 5th Special Forces Group[1] 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.[2]

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.[1]: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[3]

In August 1968 the 101st Airborne Division briefly reoccupied A Lưới during Operation Somerset Plain.[4]

In 1969 the 101st Airborne returned to A Lưới during Operation Kentucky Jumper.[2]

Current use

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

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References

  1. Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 246. ISBN 9780811700719.
  2. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5-2. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  3. "John McDaniel, MAJ". The Virtual Wall. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  4. 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. p. 607-9. ISBN 9780160942808.

Photos and video of the area in October 2017

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