Long Thanh North Airfield

Vietnam / Dong Nam Bo / Bien Hoa /
Former Long Thanh North US Army airfield. Home to several fixed wing aviation units including mine; the Command Airplane Company of the 1st Aviation Brigade. We flew V.I.P. and other transport missions throughout South Vietnam. We had a swimming pool here and sold it to the 1st Air Cavalry unit that moved into our area when we vacated and moved to Tan Son Nhut in March of 1972.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   10°50'15"N   106°57'40"E

Comments

  • I was at Long Than North from Dec 71-Aug 72. I worked in BOC, at first with Cpt Shipley and then 1LT Osbourne. I remember the pool well. I also remember that when I first got there a bldg near the pool area had some flush toilets. NONE worked within days of my arrival. I think I got to flush once before some guys busted the place up. GodDoom Control out.
  • I was with B Co, 169th Engr Bn, the unit that began construction of the airfield. Drainage and compaction. We also experimented with cement/soil stabilization. Don't remember a lot but do remember that we turned the project over to the 92nd Engr Bn late in 67. We lived at Bearcat and most of the time our security was 11 ACR. Dam fine outfit. I remember later coming out of Cambodia on the front of one of their "Tracks" "unloved but respected". And who could forget the pyramid of empty cans beside the road and the sign, "When your out of Schlitz your out of beer".
  • Rod Sand (guest) Was security guard at main gate and for the Vietnamese compound inside LongThanh from Nov 71 to April 72
  • I was assigned to the security Platoon for the 165th Combat Aviation Group at Long Thanh North 1970 - 1971, we searched the Vietnamese day workers coming onto post each day, but I don't remember a Vietnamese compound on the base, maybe that happened after I left. And I remember ta swimming pool that had water in it for maybe one week for the year I was there. And of course Larry (above) would remember the flush toilets and probably hot showers, he was probably an officer. Us grunts sat on open shitters with a half a fifty gallon drum under us, the hooch maids would pull it out from under you, fill it with aviation fuel and burn it. I never thought I'd get that smell out of my nose. Then there was the inept Thai Artillery unit at Bear Cat landing short rounds inside our perimeter. I remember Lt. Streck, Sgt.Hudson, Robb, Russell, Mullins, Gourman, Cano, Tiny Ethridge, Reed, Cahill, Funk, Milsap & Wingad other names escape me. Steve (guest)
  • I was assigned to the 144th Aviation Group at Long Thanh North 1970 - 1971.
  • I was a WO UH-1 pilot at Long Thanh North, 2nd Sig Grp Avn Det, Nov 68 - Nov 69. When I was there, the flush toilets worked, as did the hot showers. The pool had water but the chlorination did not work, I went swimming once and got a terrible ear infection. War is hell!
  • I was with the 144th also, flying RU21's. Carter Smith
  • I was a sentry dog handler there with a Detachment from 212 MP Co (SD), May - Dec71. Prior to Long Thanh I was at Newport Docks and Long Binh ammo depot . Bruce Hirsch
  • Hello, Carter. Bill Finney
  • Hello Carter. Was there flying the U1-A Otter 1970-1971 54th UAC. Carsten Hauge
  • No pool when I was there in '68 with U21A NETT, later CAC.
  • Was there in 70 with the 54th in the good old otter, crew chief big daddy 688 Ron Bettis
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This article was last modified 11 years ago