Katum Camp

Katum Camp (also known as Katum Special Forces Camp or Firebase Katum) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base northeast of Tây Ninh in southern Vietnam.

Katum Camp
Coordinates11.667°N 106.216°E / 11.667; 106.216 (Katum Camp)
TypeArmy Base
Site history
Built1967
In use1967–71
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants25th Infantry Division
5th Special Forces Group
Katum Airfield
Summary
Elevation AMSL133 ft / 41 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3,000 914 laterite

History

The base was originally established to support Operation Junction City in February 1967 and the first US combat parachute jump of the war took place west of the camp.[1] By 3 March 1967 the 1st Engineer Battalion had completed an airfield at Katum.[2] The base was located 40 km northeast of Tây Ninh, 43 km west of An Lộc and 8 km south of the Cambodian border[3]

The camp was used by the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division during Operation Yellowstone which ran from December 1967 until February 1968.

In November 1967 the 5th Special Forces Group Detachment A-322 moved to Katum from Camp Suoi Da to monitor infiltration activity from Cambodia.[4]

The base received frequent artillery and mortar fire from the Vietcong and People's Army of Vietnam leading to it being nicknamed Kaboom.[5]

On 1 February 1968 Bell UH-1C Iroquois #66-00686 collided with UH-1H #66-16061 while landing at night at Katum resulting in 2 U.S. killed.[6]

On 25 June 1968 a Lockheed C-130E Hercules serial #62-1861, of the 50th Troop Carrier Squadron, took 0.51 calibre AAA fire on takeoff from Katum which set the port outer engine on fire which spread along port wing, the aircraft crash-landed at Tây Ninh.[7]

On 18 August 1968 the Vietcong 5th Sapper Battalion attacked the base but was beaten back. On the morning of 25 September following a mortar and rocket barrage the Vietcong attacked the base again, but were again defeated at a cost of 14 CIDG and 61 Vietcong killed and 10 Vietcong captured.[8]

On 27 May 1969 C-130A #56-0472 of the 21st Tactical Airlift Squadron was hit by ground fire while landing at Katum and the starboard wing burned off in post-landing fire.[9]

On 23 June 1969 C-130B #61-0965 of the 772d Tactical Airlift Squadron, carrying artillery ammunition, was hit by ground fire on approach to Katum and crashed killing all six crewmembers.[10]

The 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division operated from Katum in April–May 1970.[1]:127 On 24 May 1970 a US medevac helicopter was shot down on approach to Katum, passenger Sergeant first class Louis R. Rocco evacuated the wounded crew, actions for which he was later awarded the Medal of Honor.[11]

The 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division returned to Katum in June 1970 to support the Cambodian Incursion.[1]:140

From 28 September to 2 October 1971 the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division and 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment mounted Operation Katum, a security operation to cover the withdrawal of US personnel from the base.[12]

Current use

The base has been turned over to farmland and housing.

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References
  1. Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 108. ISBN 9780811700719.
  2. "Vietnam Studies Cedar Falls- Junction City: A TURNING POINT". U.S. Army. p. 107. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  3. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–271. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  4. Stanton, Shelby (2008). Special Forces at War: An Illustrated History, Southeast Asia 1957–1975. Zenith Press. p. 181. ISBN 9780760334492.
  5. Rottman, Gordon (2011). Special Forces Camps in Vietnam 1961–70. Osprey Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 9781780961408.
  6. "Helicopter UH-1D 66-16061". Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  7. "Lockheed C-130E Hercules 62-1861". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  8. "Battle for Katum information for A-322 SF DET From date 680818 to 680925". Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  9. "Lockheed C-130A Hercules 56-0472". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  10. "Lockheed C-130B Hercules 61-0965". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  11. Dorland, Peter; Nanney, James (1982). Dust Off: Army Aeromedical Evacuation in Vietnam (PDF). United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 102–6. ISBN 978-1519259394.
  12. "Vietnam Archive Operations Database". The Vietnam Center and Archive.
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