Phu Bai Combat Base

For the civil airport use of this facility after 1975, see Phu Bai International Airport.
Phu Bai Combat Base
Coordinates 16°24′06″N 107°42′10″E / 16.40167°N 107.70278°E
Type Army/Marine Base
Site information
Condition Seized 1975 by PAVN, Now Civil Airport
Site history
Built 1963
In use 1963-1975
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Airfield information
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Elevation AMSL 49 ft / 15 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
09/27 8,775 2,675 Asphalt

Phu Bai Combat Base (also known as Phu Bai Airfield and Camp Hochmuth) is a former U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps base south of Huế in central Vietnam.

History

1962-5

The Army Security Agency operating under cover of the 3rd Radio Relay Unit (3rd RRU) established a radio facility at Phu Bai in 1963, 12 km southeast of Huế on Highway 1.[1] The operational unit was later redesignated as the 8th Radio Research Field Station (8th RRFS).

1965-7

In 1965 the US Marine Corps established a base across Highway 1 from the 3rd RRU facility.[1]:5-396

The 3rd Marine Division established its headquarters at Phu Bai in late 1965 and would remain there until late 1967 when it was moved forward to Đông Hà.

In late November 1967 the base was named Camp Hochmuth in honor of Bruno Hochmuth, Commanding General, 3rd Marine Division who was killed in a helicopter explosion north of Huế.

U.S. Special Forces established Forward Operating Base 1 (FOB 1) at Phu Bai in June or July 1966. The base remained in use until early 1969.[2]

Marine units based at Phu Bai during this period included:

1968

On 30/31 January the base was hit by Vietcong mortar and rocket fire as part of the Tet Offensive. The base was used to support U.S. and ARVN forces fighting in the Battle of Huế. The first relief force was disapatched from Phu Bai to the MACV Compound in Huế City.[4]

On 15 February 1968 General Creighton Abrams established MACV Forward at Phu Bai to assume direct control of US forces in northern I Corps which were then engaged in the Battle of Huế, the Battle of Khe Sanh and the Tet Counteroffensive. MACV Forward ceased operation on 10 March 1968.[4]:140[5]

1969-72

In 1969 the 85th Evacuation Hospital moved from Qui Nhơn and was established at the northwest end of the airfield adjacent to Highway 1.[1]:4–9

In 1969 the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division was moved to Phu Bai.

Units based at Phu Bai during this period included:

1973-5

The ARVN operated Phu Bai as a forward logistics base and it was the only airport serving Huế.

1975

From 5 March 1975 the base was shelled by the NVA as part of the Hue–Da Nang Campaign. The base continued to be used for aerial reinforcement of the ARVN until overrun by the NVA on 23/24 March 1975.

Current use

The airfield is now used as Phu Bai international Airport.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 4–9. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. ↑ "Forward Operational Base #1 (FOB#1)". Special Forces History. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "Order of Battle". USMC Combat Helicopter Association. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Nolan, Keith (1996). Battle for Hue: Tet 1968. Presidio Press. p. 9. ISBN 978-0891415923.
  5. ↑ Sorley, Lewis (2002). Thunderbolt: General Creighton Abrams and the Army of His Time. Simon & Schuster. pp. 213–9. ISBN 978-0671701154.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.