Đức Phổ Base Camp

Đức Phổ Base Camp (also known as Đức Phổ Airfield, LZ Bronco, LZ Montezuma and Núi Đàng) is a former U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army base in the Đức Phổ District, Quảng Ngãi Province Vietnam.

Đức Phổ Base Camp
Đức Phổ, 13 July 1967
Coordinates14.815°N 108.96°E / 14.815; 108.96 (Đức Phổ Base Camp)
TypeMarines/Army
Site information
Conditionabandoned
Site history
Built1966
In use1966-71
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants1st Marine Division
101st Airborne Division
3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
Đức Phổ Airfield
Summary
Elevation AMSL36 ft / 11 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3,600 1,097 PSP

History

1966-71

The base was located along Highway 1 approximately midway between Da Nang and Qui Nhơn.[1]

LZ Montezuma was originally established by the U.S Marine Corps' Task Force X-Ray and the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines and 3rd Battalion 7th Marines were based here until 1 April 1967 when they were replaced by the 1st Cavalry Division in Operation Lejeune.[1]:5–341

The 1st Cavalry Division built a runway capable of landing de Havilland Canada C-7 Caribou aircraft at the base in early April.[1]:5–341 At the end of April the 1st Cavalry Division handed over the base to 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division comprising:

Đức Phổ served as the base for the 101st Airborne Division from June–November 1967.[2]:156

C-7 Caribou 62-4161 plunges to earth after being struck by US Army artillery, 3 August 1967. Photo by Hiromichi Mine.

Other units stationed at Đức Phổ included:

On 3 August 1967 a C-7 Caribou (#62-4161) on approach to Đức Phổ was hit by an outgoing 155mm shell which severed its tail section causing the aircraft to crash killing all 3 crewmen.[3] The falling C-7 was photographed by Hiromichi Mine just before impact.[4]

Current use

The base is abandoned and turned over to farmland, light industry and housing.

References
  1. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–162. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 141. ISBN 9780811700719.
  3. "C-7B Caribou 3 August 1967". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  4. "1967, Hiromichi Mine, 2nd prize, Spot News". World Press Photo. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
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