Pleiku Air Base: Difference between revisions

Pleiku Air Base is a former South Vietnamese Air Force and United States Air Force base. It is located near the city of Pleiku within Gia Lai Province in Southern Vietnam. Today, the facility is operated as Pleiku Airport (IATA: PXU, ICAO: VVPK).

During the Vietnam War, Pleiku was a major American base, with Army, Navy and USAF personnel stationed there. The USAF forces stationed at Pleiku were under the command of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).

The APO for Pleiku was APO San Francisco, 96318

The 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron was activated on 8 May 1965 but did not become operational until 1 August 1965. At that time, it was attached to the 6250th Tactical Air Support Group (Provisional) and organized at Pleiku with 30 O-1E/F aircraft.

The 21st TASS provided visual reconnaissance and airborne forward air control support of tactical offensive operations. The squadron suffered its first combat loss, O-1F #56-6218, even before it became operational, when Captain Francis Geiger and his observer, Lieutenant Hiep (VNAF), were shot down by small arms fire and killed in action on 22 July 1965. Within the next 30 days, two additional O-1’s were lost due to enemy action.

The 21st TASS FAC's played a key role in saving the US Special Forces Camp at Duc Co, from 3 to 17 August 1965. Relatively new to the country and the job, five 21st TASS FAC's (three from Pleiku and two from Kontum) provided continual air cover in O-1 type aircraft from dawn to dusk throughout the battle, and rode in C-47 flare ships at night. They directed 127 air strikes killing 528 PAVN Regulars and destroying ten 50 caliber machine guns, two 30 caliber machine guns, one anti-aircraft emplacement and twenty-one mortar positions. They also provided air cover for continuous medivac missions into the camp, and their presence and ability to effectively direct air strikes in support of the ground force definitely kept a sizeable relief column from being decimated.

During this time period, 21st TASS FAC's took an active and significant part in thirty-nine major engagements with the Viet Cong or their PAVN allies. These actions occurred throughout the II Corps area. 21st TASS played a key role in the largest engagement with the Viet Cong in the history of the conflict up through October, 1965, the siege of Plei Me.

On 18 August, 21st TASS initiated its VR program. This program became so effective at spotting Viet Cong targets that hand held camera program was established in early December to capture the VR targets on film. The Battle of Dak Sut, which was actually the repulsion of three separate VC attacks on the large but remote ARVN complex, was participated in by 21st TASS FAC's located in Kontum.

Shortly there after, from 25 August to 10 September 1965, Operation Quin Thang 165 (Ramrod) was held. 21st TASS FAC's from Quin Nhon supported this road clearing operation by directing fifty A1-E strikes, four F-100 strikes and one B-57 strike, against constant ground fire, ambushes and automatic weapons fire for sixteen days.

During "Ramrod", 21st TASS FAC's from Pleiku were supporting Operation Than Phong III, a major effort to open Highway 21 to Ban Me Thout from Nha Trang. Within the six-day operation, 28 August - 3 September, one hundred and thirteen air strikes involving every type of strike aircraft belonging to Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, were directed by the three Nha Trang FAC's. The conditions were equally as hostile as those encountered by the "Ramrod" FAC's.

Other major operations involving 21st TASS FAC's followed closely: "Tam Thang 118" on 6-9 September with FAC's from Ban Me Thout, "Than Phong 4" on 10 September with FAC's from Qui Nhon, Operation "Don Tre" on 22 September with FAC's from Tuy Hoa, and Operation 'Gibralter" from 19-21 September with FAC's from Qui Nhon.

These were merely preludes to the Battle of "Bong Son" and Phu Cu Pass", which lasted from 23 September to 1 October and netted over 650 KBA, 300 of which were netted on one day, 25 September.

On that same day one 21st TASS O1E, flown by a 21st TASS FAC received four hits from the continuously intense ground fire. The battle started when the Viet Cong overran the US Special Forces Camp at Bong Son and continued as relief forces were ambushed both at night and during the days to follow. The battle grew in such proportion that FAC's were called in from other 21st TASS operating locations as far away as Pleiku to augment the overworked FAC's from Qui Nhon. Constant air cover was flown by these FAC's, in O-1E aircraft during daylight and in C-123 flare ships at night.

Time and again ground commanders praised the FAC's for directing strikes so accurately that the ground forces were saved from being overrun. During the Battle of Bong Son, the flexibility of 21st TASS was shown by the fact that the FAC's at Tuy Hoa were augmented in their operation 48th Quang Truh, held on 28 September.

The 21st TASS was reassigned and relocated to Nha Trang Air Base in September 1966 where it was attached to the 14th Air Commando Wing.

On 8 November 1965, the 6250th became the 505th Tactical Air Support Group. The group furnished Command, Administrative, and limited Logistical support for the Squadron.

The 633rd Special Operations Wing was activated at Pleiku on 15 July 1968. Its mission was to assess, train, advise and assist South Vietnamese Air Force personnel in airpower employment, sustainment and force integration. 633rd personnel also advised the South Vietnamese sustain their own airpower resources and, when necessary, integrate those resources into joint and combined operations with the USAF.

The 633d was formed from elements of the 14th Special Operations Wing at Nha Trang Air Base and the 1st Special Operations Wing on Temporary Duty from Hurlburt Field, Florida. Squadrons transferred from Nha Trang were:

• 6th Air Commando Squadron (20 AE-1H Tail Code: ET)

The 6th Air Commando Squadron was formed at England Air Force Base Louisiana as a unit of the 1st Air Commando Wing. At Pleiku, it was the operational flying component of the 663d. The squadron was deployed to Southeast Asia in February 1968 and arrived at Pleiku AB in March. During the stay at Pleiku, the squadron maintained a forward SAR alert unit at Da Nang Air Base.

The 6th ACS was designated as the 6th Special Operations Squradron on 1 August 1968. It was deactivated in place on 15 November 1969 with its aircraft being turned over to the South Vietnamese Air Force

• 9th Air Commando Squadron (AC-47D Tail Code: ER)

The 9th Air Commando Squadron was activated at Pleiku on 25 Jan 1967 as a deployed unit of the 1st Air Commando Wing, flying special operations missions using modified C-47D aircraft. On 1 September 1967, the squadron relocated to Nha Trang Air Base.

During its active service, the 633d flew combat missions, including air support for ground forces, air cover for transports, day and night interdiction, combat search and rescue support, armed reconnaissance, and forward air control.

In October 1969 the unit was being broken up and the pilots were transferred to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base. They were assigned to either the 1st SOS, 22nd SOS, or the 602nd SOS (Fighter).

With the departure of the 6th SOS personnel in late 1969, a small group remained at Pleiku for a short period of time to advise the SVNAF. The wing deactivated on 15 March 1970.

For it's actions at Pleiku Air Base, the wing was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award - with Combat "V" Device and the Republic Of Vietnam Gallantry Cross - with Palm.

For a brief time (1 Feburary - 27 June 1972), the 362d Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron flying specially-equipped EC-47s and C-47Hs were assigned to Pleiku from the 366th TFW. These aircraft were equipped with various electronic warfare components.

By the early spring of 1975 North Vietnam realized the time was right to achieve its goal of re-uniting Vietnam under communist rule, launched a series of small ground attacks to test U.S. reaction.

When these attacks failed to draw a military response from Washington, the NVA staged a massive attack on the strategic town of Ban Me Thuot in the Central Highlands. Ban Me Thuot controlled Highways 14 and 21. vital supply lines for the important highland towns of Kontum and Pleiku.

The NVA had selected the Central Highlands as the battlefield in an attempt to cut South Vietnam in half.

On the night of 9 March 1975, the NVA struck the city and Pleiku airfield with artillery. mortars. and rockets. By the next afternoon, over half of Ban Me Thuot was in enemy hands, despite fierce resistance from ARVN defenders. VNAF air strikes destroyed five NVA tanks but during one strike, a bomb accidentally hit ARVN sector headquarters. severely disrupting communications.

At Pleiku airfield, the small ARVN garrison came under attack and was forced to defend the control lower. preventing attempts to fly in reinforcements. ARVN reinforcements were diverted to Buon Ho, north of the city, far from the battle.

On the airfield, the NVA had destroyed an 0-1. a CH-47, and ten UH-1s. although three damaged Hueys had managed to escape. Fierce lighting continued for three more days but by 14 March the situation was hopeless. During the four day battle the VNAF flew over 200 sorties inflicting heavy losses on the NVA, hut to no avail. Fortunately no aircraft were lost in the air. but three A-37s at Pleiku were destroyed by 122mm rockets on 11 March when the NVA rocketed the airfield .

The day Ban Me Thuot fell, President Thieu called an emergency high level meeting at Cam Ranh Bay. During this meeting Thieu made the decision to attempt an orderly withdrawal from the Central Highlands around Kontum and Pleiku in order to conserve forces and regroup for a counter-attack. Unfortunately, the conmtander of the region. General Phu, misinterpreted this order and directed an immediately evacuation of both cities.

The commander of the 6th Air Division at Pleiku was given forty-eight hours to evacuate the airfield and immediately requested UH-1s CH-47s and C-130s to fly VNAF personnel and their dependants out of Pleiku.

On 16 March artillery fire began hitting the city and ARVN troops began a retreat to the coast along Highway 7B. At Pleiku airfield sixty-four aircraft were abandoned with little effort to destroy them before evacuating and large quantities of fuel and ordinance were left behind. undamaged and ready for the enemy to use.

Pleiku Air Base was the home of the SVNAF 6th Air Division.

72d Tactical Wing

• 118th Liason Squadron Cessna O-2A,U-17
• 530th Fighter Squadron A-1

• 229th Helicopter Squadron Bell UH-1H
• 235th Helicopter Squadron Bell UH-1H
• Det B 259th Helicopter Squadron Bell UH-1H (Medevac)

• United States Air Force In South Vietnam

• Martin, Patrick, Tail Code: The Complete History Of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings, 1994

• Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings: Linege and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Office OF Air Force History, United States Air Force, 1984

• VNAF - The South Vietnamese Air Force 1951-1975

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