Sông Bé Base Camp

Sông Bé Base Camp (also known as Sông Bé Airfield, Farley Field or Landing Zone Buttons) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base southwest of Phước Bình in southern Vietnam.

Sông Bé Base Camp
Sông Bé Base Camp signal site, 10 January 1970
Coordinates11.819°N 106.961°E / 11.819; 106.961 (Sông Bé Base Camp)
TypeArmy Base
Site history
Built1965
In use1965-71
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Battle of Song Be
Garrison information
Occupants199th Light Infantry Brigade
1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division
2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
Sông Bé Airfield
Summary
Elevation AMSL797 ft / 243 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3,400 1,036 PSP

History
C-124 offloads engineering equipment at Sông Bé, 4 April 1967
Artillery pad construction, 23 September 1967

The base was originally established in April 1965 as a 5th Special Forces Detachment B-34 base and was located approximately 2 km southwest of Phước Bình in Phước Long Province.[1][1]:5-77 The Battle of Song Be was fought around the base in May 1965.

On 10 April 1966 the 173rd Airborne Brigade moved to Sông Bé for Operation Denver and remained there until the end of April.

The 199th Light Infantry Brigade was based at Sông Bé from December 1966 to February 1967.[2]

The 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division comprising:

was based at Sông Bé from May until June 1969.

The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division was based at Sông Bé in January 1968.[2]:157

In April 1970 the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division comprising:

  • 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry[2]:128
  • 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry[2]:132
  • 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry[2]:132

moved to Sông Bé and would stay here until March 1971.

Other units stationed at Sông Bé included:

Accidents and incidents
  • 18 December 1974 Republic of Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) Lockheed C-130A Hercules #56-0521 was destroyed on the ground
  • 25 December 1974 VNAF C-130A #55-0016 was shot down while landing

Current use

The base is abandoned and turned over to housing but the former airfield is still clearly visible on satellite images.

References
  1. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5–472. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 137. ISBN 9780811700719.
  3. Zahn, R (2003). Snake Pilot. Brassey's Inc. p. 246. ISBN 1-57488-565-0.
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