Lane Army Airfield
| Lane Army Airfield | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 13°48′29″N 109°05′42″E / 13.808°N 109.095°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1965 |
| In use | 1965-present |
| Battles/wars |
 Vietnam War |
| Lane Army Airfield | |
|---|---|
| Summary | |
| Elevation AMSL | 40 ft / 12 m |
Lane Army Airfield (also known as Lane Army Heliport or An Son Airfield) is a former United States Army base west of Qui Nhơn in Bình Định Province, Vietnam.
History
The base was originally established in late 1965 by the 70th Engineer Battalion[1] approximately 14 km west of Qui Nhơn and southwest of the Highway 19 and Highway 1 intersection. The base was named after SP5 James Lane of the 8th Transport Company who was killed in action on 16 July 1962.[2] The base's first occupants were the 161st Aviation Company which was based there from 1965 until 1967.
Other units stationed at Lane at various times included:
- Troop H, 10th Cavalry Regiment (April 1972-February 1973)[3]
- 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment (1971-2)[2]
- 61st Aviation Company (November 1967-March 1972)[3]:121
- 128th Assault Helicopter Company
- 129th Assault Helicopter Company (October 1965-March 1973)[3]:121
- 174th Assault Helicopter Company
- 196th Assault Support Helicopter Company (January 1967-December 1970)[3]:122
- 498th Medical Company
On 5 March 1971 CH-47C #67-18518 of the 180th Assault Support Helicopter Company on approach to Lane collided with a Republic of Korea Army O-1D causing both aircraft to crash killing 5 passengers and crew on the CH-47 and the pilot of the O-1.[4]
Current use
The base appears to remain in use by the People's Army of Vietnam.
References
- ↑ Traas, Adrian. Engineers at War. Government Printing Office. pp. 34–5. ISBN 9780160882739.
- 1 2 Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–289. ISBN 978-1555716257.
- 1 2 3 4 Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 129. ISBN 9780811700719.
- ↑ "Barry Mercer Straw". Virtual Wall. Retrieved 11 November 2014.