A Lưới Camp

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 is located in Vietnam
A Lưới Camp
A Lưới Camp
Shown within Vietnam
Coordinates16°16′07″N 107°13′43″E[1]
Site information
OperatorArmy of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)
United States Army (U.S. Army)
ConditionAbandoned
Site history
Built1962 (1962)
Built by326th Engineers (1969)
In use1962-1966 (1966)
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Garrison5th Special Forces Group
Airfield information
Elevation0 feet (0 m) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
18/36 1,500 feet (457 m) Asphalt

History

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

The base has been turned over to housing/farmland and sits adjacent to the Ho Chi Minh Highway.

References
  1. "A Luoi Airstrip Map". VN War Stories. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  2. Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 246. ISBN 9780811700719.
  3. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5-2. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  4. "John McDaniel, MAJ". The Virtual Wall. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  5. 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.
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