Củ Chi Base Camp

Củ Chi Base Camp (also known as Củ Chi Army Airfield) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base in the Củ Chi District northwest of Saigon in southern Vietnam.

Củ Chi Base Camp
A 1970 view of the 25th Infantry Division base camp
Củ Chi Base Camp
Coordinates	10.982°N 106.507°E / 10.982; 106.507 (Củ Chi Base Camp)
Type	Army Base
Site information
Owner	People's Army of Vietnam
Site history
Built	1965
In use	1965-present
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants	25th Infantry Division

Củ Chi Army Airfield
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Elevation AMSL	39 ft / 12 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 2,900 884 asphalt

History

1965-70

Củ Chi Base Camp was established in 1965 near Highway 1, 25 km northwest of Tan Son Nhut Air Base and 50 km southeast of Tây Ninh. The camp was located south of the Vietcong stronghold known as the Iron Triangle and was near and in some cases above the Cu Chi Tunnels.[1]

25th Infantry Division sign, Cu Chi, 1 September 1966

The 25th Infantry Division had its headquarters at Củ Chi from January 1966 until February 1970.[2]

O-1 FAC in revetment at Cu Chi, 24 September 1967

Other units stationed at Củ Chi included:

• 1st Battalion, 8th Artillery (1966-1971)[2]^:98
• 7th Battalion, 11th Artillery (1966–70)[2]^:99
• 1st Battalion, 27th Artillery (February-December1970)[2]^:102
• 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery (November 1965-April 1967, October 1969-January 1972)[2]^:103
• 6th Battalion, 77th Artillery (May 1967 – 1968)[2]^:106
• 1st Battalion, 321st Artillery (November 1967-February 1968)[2]^:108
• 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division(January 1969)[2]^:126
• 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (September 1969) comprising:
  • 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry[2]^:143
  • 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry[2]^:143
  • 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry[2]^:143
• 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (February–October 1968) comprising:
  • 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry[2]^:156
  • 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry[2]^:156
  • 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry[2]^:157
• 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (July–September 1968) comprising:
  • 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry[2]^:157
  • 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry[2]^:159
  • 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry[2]^:159
• 588th Engineer Battalion (July 1966-April 1967, May–November 1970)[2]^:174
• 7th Surgical Hospital (June 1966-April 1967)[2]^:214
• 12th Evacuation Hospital (September 1966-December 1970)[2]^:214
• 269th Aviation Battalion ( January 1967-April 1971) comprising:
  • 116th Assault Helicopter Company (September 1966-June 1970)[2]^:214
  • 188th Assault Helicopter Company
  • 242nd Assault Support Helicopter Company (November 1967-April 1971)[3]

From 1967 the 159th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance) with Bell UH-1D Huey's was deployed here.[4]

The airfield was capable of accommodating de Havilland Canada C-7 Caribou and Fairchild C-123 Provider aircraft.

On 26 February 1969 PAVN sappers attacked the base destroying 9 Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters of the 242nd ASH Company.[5]

1970-5

Following the departure of the U.S. forces in 1972, Củ Chi became the base of the ARVN 25th Division.[1]

Current use

The base remains in use by the People's Army of Vietnam. The airfield is no longer used but is still visible on satellite images.

References

Citations

1. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–124. ISBN 978-1555716257.
2. Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 138. ISBN 9780811700719.
3. "Associated Units | 25th Infantry Division Association". www.25thida.org. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
4. Dunstan 1988, p. 139.
5. "26 Feb 1969 Boeing CH-47A Chinook 66-19022". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 26 November 2014.

Bibliography

• Dunstan, S (1988). Vietnam Choppers. UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-85045-572-3.