Firebase Betty

Firebase Betty (also known as Currahee Base Camp, Landing Zone Betty or Phan Thiết) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base south of Phan Thiết in Bình Thuận Province, southern Vietnam.

Firebase Betty
21 September 1967
Coordinates10.908°N 108.074°E / 10.908; 108.074 (Firebase Betty)
TypeArmy
Site information
Conditionabandoned
Site history
Built1966
In use1966-75
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry
3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry
1st Battalion, 50th Infantry
Phan Thiết
Summary
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
07/25 3,600 1,097 asphalt

History

The base was established at the French-era Phan Thiết airfield approximately 5 km southwest of Phan Thiết and 2 km east of Highway 1.[1]

5 November 1968

The first U.S. Army unit based here was the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry from September 1966 to December 1967 as part of Operation Byrd.[2]

The 192nd Assault Helicopter Company was based here from October 1967 to January 1971.[2]:122

The 3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry was based here from February 1968 to December 1969 giving the base its alternative name of Currahee Base Camp.[2]:159

The 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry was based here from October 1969 to December 1970.[2]:151

Other U.S. Army units based here included:

On the morning of 25 February 1968 the base was hit by People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) mortar and rocket fire which exploded an ammunition bunker and was followed by a PAVN sapper attack. U.S. losses were 3 killed and 29 wounded and 21 PAVN killed and 1 captured[1]

On 24 April 1969 a DC-3 of Far Eastern Air Transport was damaged beyond repair while landing at the airfield.[3]

Current use

The base is abandoned and has reverted to farmland and housing. The former airfield is now Truong Van Ly road.

gollark: They never do consider the consequences of replicators, really.
gollark: I mean, it's onboard a military spaceship. They could just be getting imports of stuff they need.
gollark: How do you know *that*?
gollark: Er, no scarcity for any goods.
gollark: What probably will *never* happen is no scarcity for material goods.

References
  1. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–52. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 127. ISBN 9780811700719.
  3. "24 April 1969". Aviation Safety network. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
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