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 Ta Bat Airfield   | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huế, Central Highlands in Vietnam | |||||||
  A Lưới Camp Shown within Vietnam | |||||||
| Coordinates | 16°16′07″N 107°13′43″E / 16.26861°N 107.22861°E[1] | ||||||
| Site information | |||||||
| Operator | Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) United States Army (U.S. Army) | ||||||
| Condition | Abandoned | ||||||
| Site history | |||||||
| Built | 1962 | ||||||
| Built by | 326th Engineers (1969) | ||||||
| In use | 1962-1966 | ||||||
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War | ||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||
| Garrison | 5th Special Forces Group | ||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||
| Elevation | 0 feet (0 m) AMSL | ||||||
| |||||||
History edit
The 5th Special Forces Group[2] 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.[3]
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.[2]: 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[4]
In August 1968 the 101st Airborne Division briefly reoccupied A Lưới during Operation Somerset Plain.[5]
On 29 April 1969 the 101st Airborne returned to A Lưới during Operation Kentucky Jumper and Ta Bat Airfield was reopened.[3]: 5–489
Current use edit
The base has been turned over to housing/farmland and sits adjacent to the Ho Chi Minh Highway.
References edit
- ^ "A Luoi Airstrip Map". VN War Stories. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ a b Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 246. ISBN 9780811700719.
- ^ a b Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5-2. ISBN 978-1555716257.
- ^ "John McDaniel, MAJ". The Virtual Wall. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ 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. pp. 607–9. ISBN 9780160942808.