Tuy Hòa Base Camp

12°59′06″N 109°22′47″E / 12.98500°N 109.37972°E / 12.98500; 109.37972Site informationOperatorArmy of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)
United States Army (US Army)ConditionAbandonedSite historyBuilt1966 (1966)Built by577th Engineer BattalionIn use1966-1970 (1970)Battles/wars
Vietnam WarGarrison informationGarrison1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
173rd Airborne BrigadeAirfield informationElevation20 feet (6 m) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00 3,700 feet (1,128 m) PSP

Tuy Hòa Base Camp (also known as Phú Hiệp Airfield or Phú Hiệp Army Airfield) is a former U.S. Army base southeast of Tuy Hòa in Phú Yên Province Vietnam.

History

UH-1 in revetment, 13 July 1968

The base was located approximately 5 km east of Highway 1 and 7 km southeast of Tuy Hoa Air Base.[1]

The base was used by the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division comprising:

  • 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry[2]
  • 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry[2]: 139 
  • 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry[2]: 141 

from October 1966 to June 1967.

The 173rd Airborne Brigade was based at Tuy Hòa from October–November 1967.[2]: 158 

Other units stationed at Tuy Hòa/Phú Hiệp included:

  • 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry (December 1970-January 1972)[2]: 145 
  • 91st Evacuation Hospital (December 1966-July 1969)[2]: 216 
  • 203rd Reconnaissance Airplane Company (October 1967-July 1970)
  • 225th Aviation Company
  • 268th Aviation Battalion
  • 577th Engineer Battalion
  • 136TH Light Maintenance Company
  • 24th Transportation Company

Once the U.S. Air Force ceased operations at Tuy Hòa Air Base in October 1970 the U.S. Army units based at Tuy Hòa/Phú Hiệp moved to Tuy Hòa Air Base and the facility was closed.[3]

Accidents and incidents

  • 2 December 1967 Bell UH-1D Iroquois #66-00811 of the 48th Assault Helicopter Company disappeared after taking off from Phú Hiệp with 4 crew and passengers on board in bad weather, the remains of the crew were recovered in 1993[4]
  • 10 July 1971 UH-1C #66-00636 of the 134th Assault Helicopter Company crashed at Phú Hiệp while on a mechanical check flight from Tuy Hòa Air Base killing all 3 crew and passengers.[5]
  • 2 April 1971 Boeing CH-47 Chinook #67-18545 of the 180th Aviation Company (Assault Support Helicopter), was destroyed by an explosion and fire when it experienced a blade strike with a revetment while taxiing and was totally destroyed.[6]

Current use

The base is abandoned and turned over to farmland and housing.

References

  1. ^ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 398. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 139. ISBN 9780811700719.
  3. ^ "Citation Nr: 0840013". U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Floyd Wayne Strange". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Army Air Crews 1971". Army Air Crews. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Army Air Crews 1971". Army Air Crews. Retrieved 7 September 2021.