Other units stationed at Camp Enari included: Hensel Airfield was named after WO-1 Ernest Hensel a 10th Cavalry helicopter gunship pilot who was killed in action on 17 February 1967.[1]:5219. Vietnam War - Memories of Pleiku. Villagers gathered near a well which is under construction. The B Company 'Roadrunners' of the 504th Military Police Battalion faced Viet Cong land mines and ambushes as they patrolled the notorious roads of the Central Highlands. The deadline for sending in seeds was October 15th, but there are still plenty of ways to get involved. The APO for Pleiku was APO San Francisco, 96318. A bulldozer on a road. Pleiku Air Base was then managed by the VNAF 92d Base Support Group and the base was used as a staging and emergency airfield. [13], In March 1970 the USAF began handing the base over to the RVNAF and this transfer was completed by the end of 1970. General William C. Westmoreland pins up a medal onto General Peers. Contact Us | The Central Highlands area in South Vietnam, consisting of 12 provinces, and the largest of the four corps in size. South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu reviews Montagnard troops at Plei Me in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. (Courtesy Photo), U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Bill Thompson, 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, poses with his ramp patrol vehicle at Pleiku Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, Oct. 1967. Crew Members: P W1 FAHY T . [8]:241, From 1968 to 27 June 1972 the 362d Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron flying specially-equipped EC-47s were assigned to Pleiku. Our website is dedicated to the preservation of our memories and experiences in the highlands of II Corp, Pleiku, South Vietnam. The VNAF 1141st Observation Squadron moved to Pleiku from Da Nang Air Base in January 1965, and a detachment of Douglas A-1 Skyraiders from Bien Hoa Air Base resided there for close air support capability. The primary mission of Pleiku Air Base was forward air controller missions coordinated with the South Vietnamese and also as a base for United States special operations forces (initially called Air Commando units) in the South Vietnamese Central Highlands. President Thieu walks past crates of Japanese medical supplies. With so many varieties available, it can be hard to decide which one is best for your climate and taste preferences. [1]:1712, Camp Enari served as the base for the 4th Infantry Division from September 1966 until February 1968 and from April 1968 until February 1970.[2]. In Pleiku, Vietnam 1968, the U.S. Military owned the day but "Charlie" owned the night. As North Vietnamese infiltration increased within and along the Laotian and Cambodian borders the importance of Pleiku Air Base increased, and base facilities were expanded and improved by American Army and Air Force civil engineering units. 1967 Viet-Cong forces attacked the perimeter and overran the South Vietnamese army outpost. maxhightForP2 = 13222; Here are the events of 5-6 Jan 1967 attack on Pleiku AB. . Schiffer Military Aviation History. During the construction period, a Viet Cong attack on Pleiku airbase was made on 6 February 1965. With its diverse units, a wide variety of propeller-driven aircraft operated from the base, along with a large number of helicopters. The Pleiku Airbase Association Dear Members In 1988, four Pleiku Air Base veterans got together in a small town in Pennsylvania for a backyard picnic, where they decided to take up the task of searching for any and all veterans of Pleiku Air Base. Privacy Policy2023 CriticalPast LLC. It is a low acid tomato with a unique flavor that has been described as sweet, yet slightly tangy. Early Sweet Pepper Varieties: Which is Best for Your Climate and Taste? Trips into town were always exciting because you never knew who would be there or what would be going on. Villagers carry ammo cases and construct a well in a Montagnard village in Pleiku, Vietnam. On Feb. 7, 1965, the Viet Cong attacked the U.S. base at Pleiku in the Central Highlands. REAL ID Act 472.3.2 Records of the Office of the Deputy Chief . License Agreement | Did anybody keep score? The RVNAF established the 72d Tactical Wing at the base with the 530th Fighter Squadron equipped with A-1 Skyraiders, along with two UH-1H helicopter assault squadrons (229th, 235th) and the 118th Liaison Squadron, with Cessna O-2A, U-17 forward air controller/light reconnaissance aircraft. The unit was originally designated as the 633rd Combat Support Group when it was activated at Pleiku . Thanks VetFriends. On March 24 1971 the 633rd Air Base Wing inactivated at Pleiku Air Base Republic of Vietnam. The 633rd Special Operations Wing was activated at Pleiku on 15 July 1968. Here's what you need to know about the project. The aviation battalion has had four commanding officers in the last four months. Somewhere around 0130 hours, our ARVN outpost out from the bomb dump on the North perimeter was overrun by the VC and 4 ARVN's were killed. IV Corps War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch of Service: Army Unit of Service: 25th Infantry Division Location of Service: Fort Richardson, Alaska; Fort Benning, Georgia; Camp Hovey, Korea; Cu Chi, Vietnam; Pleiku, Vietnam . First, make sure your seeds are dry before sending them in. During the conflict in Vietnam, U.S. Army Engineers played a significant role in support of U.S. and allied forces, both in construction and in combat. It was established by the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) in 1962 at an undeveloped airstrip, and was used by the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War in the II Corps Tactical Zone of South Vietnam. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam ARVN base northwest of Pleiku in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Other units stationed at Camp Enari included: Hensel Airfield was named after WO-1 Ernest Hensel a 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Huey helicopter gunship pilot who was killed in action on 17 February 1967. The museum is, JBLE- Eustis will conduct an Active Shooter Exercise Nov. 8. They set fire to it. It was a joint-service base, with units from the Army, Navy, Marines stationed there as well as the Air Force, which operated and maintained the base. Dump was located in the southeast corner of the base. 633d Air Base Wing Public Affairs. Camp Enari served as the base for the 4th Infantry Division from September 1966 until February 1968 and from April 1968 until February 1970.[2]. [6]:113, In mid-1965 Pleiku AB became a forward operating location for four Douglas AC-47 Spooky gunships of B Flight, 4th Air Commando Squadron. This was the second in a series of retaliations launched because of communist attacks on US. Many American officials had been pushing for more stiff action against North Vietnam and this attack was seen as a good reason to finally take action. Being in Pleiku was a pretty nice gig, except for the bloodshed. The unit 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. The following year, the Viet Cong (VC) 409 th Battalion attacked Camp Holloway (an American helicopter base) in Pleiku on February 6, while the VC 30 th Company attacked a South Vietnam Army base on February 7. VNAF air strikes destroyed five NVA tanks but during one strike, a bomb accidentally hit ARVN sector headquarters severely disrupting communications. Another rocket attack on 26 May damaged 2 more EC-47s. President Thieu talks to a Vietnamese officer. Terms & Conditions | On the night of 9 March 1975, the PAVN struck the city and Pleiku airfield with artillery, mortars, and rockets. [2]:273 472.3.1 Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Joint Staff. The remainder of the Division arrived the following month and set up base camp at Cu Chi, northwest of Saigon. The APO for Pleiku was APO San Francisco, 96318. No aircraft were lost in the air, but three A-37s at Pleiku were destroyed by 122mm rockets on 11 March when the PAVN rocketed the airfield. These aircraft were equipped with various electronic warfare components. [2]:275 The RVNAF 114th Liaison Squadron moved to Pleiku in 1963. Mr. Cook served with the 1st Infantry Division, 2-16th Infantry, as a 1st Lieutenant in the Long Binh area of Vietnam. Little did Carter know the impact he made on Michael Moore by shaking his hand in December 1978. A nurse attempts to comfort a wounded U.S. Army soldier in a ward of the 8th army hospital at Nha Trang in South Vietnam on February 7, 1965. It was captured by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) in March 1975 and was abandoned for many years. . We have moved to https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/vietnamveterans/index.php, The Explosive Storage Area on the east end of the runway, Harvest Delicious Red Tomatoes with Red Rocket in Hot Climates South of Memphis, Tomatoes are a popular and versatile crop that can be grown in many climates, but it is important to choose the right variety for your climate. There are 9 soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division Vietnam that have been identified and recovered. NOTICE This Display Recognition is available ONLY to authorized recipients who possess orders or authorization form or release documentation that confirms award eligibility. Operation Dn Thng 2120 to 26 October 1965 the first Pleime preparatory phase was the relief operation of the besieged Pleime camp. The 9th Air Commando Squadron was activated at Pleiku on 25 January 1967 as a deployed unit of the 1st Air Commando Wing, flying special operations missions using modified C-47D aircraft. The commander of the 6th Air Division at Pleiku, BG Pham Ngoc Sang was given forty-eight hours to evacuate the airfield and immediately requested UH-1s, CH-47s, and C-130s to fly RVNAF personnel and their dependants out of Pleiku. The majority supported Johnsons view that this was the time to take action, thus Operation Flaming Dart was approved. The unit was originally designated as the 633rd Combat Support Group when it was activated at Pleiku in April, 1966. One of the initial United States Air Force advisory units in South Vietnam, aircrews of the 1st Air Commando Squadron operated the A-1 Skyraider, flying interdiction along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, but its pilots and planes also flew cover for pilot rescue missions, and it continued to fly close air support missions for U.S. and South Vietnamese ground forces. License Agreement | Camp Enari (also known as Dragon Mountain Base Camp and Hensel Airfield) is a former U.S. Army base east of Pleiku in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The unit was originally designated as the 633rd Combat Support Group when it was activated at Pleiku in April 1966. The war ended with the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 1973 and the unification of Vietnam under Communist control 2 years later. It also doe, This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsTdsCRoH2E, http://189thahc.org/welcome_to_pleiku_photos.html. Camp Enari (also known as Dragon Mountain Base Camp and Hensel Airfield) is a former U.S. Army base east of Pleiku in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam.. History. At Pleiku airfield, the small ARVN garrison came under attack and was forced to defend the control tower, preventing attempts to fly in reinforcements. Pleiku Air Base is a former air force base in Vietnam. 633rd personnel also advised the South Vietnamese in sustaining their own airpower resources and, when necessary, integrate those resources into joint and combined operations with the USAF. Bill Thompson, 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter. [14]:75. The unit was originally designated as the 633rd Combat Support Group when it was activated at Pleiku in April, 1966., . [7] By December 1969 B Flight had been reduced to two AC-47s as the aircraft was increasingly phased out of USAF service.