In 30 minutes they kill four and wound 72 people, destroy or damage as many as 30 aircraft, and demonstrate that base operations in South Vietnam are vulnerable to direct enemy attacks. 2 March 2015 Abstract The 190 th Assault Helicopter Company was the decisive factor in the defense of Bien Hoa Air Base during the 1968 Tet Offensive. The antisubmarine patrols also produced an enemy dispersion chart showing the disposition of all known enemy submarines in the entire Atlantic area. As they flew over the town, it was nearly empty of citizens. peas in a pod. 11 Rounds of 122 Rockets helped the sappers It was the friendly proprietor who had a deal to be snail-mailing as much info to you about these attacks. for us during the day, and were out for blood at night. Timeline Details | Vietnam War Commemoration Diplomatic sources identified the tanker as the 178ton Yu Chang, which they said had been plying the route between Saigon and Phnom Penh. alone also the bomb dump blew and unknown [number of] SPS 3rd and 6251st SPS The attacks by Vietcong (VC) and People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces were one of several major attacks around Saigon in the first days of the Tet Offensive. taxi took off abruptly. was the way my tour of duty was going. bye for now II. Aircraft fires were fought throughout the early morning hours that continued throughout the next day despite the high risk of additional ordinance detonating due to the time delay fuses on the bombs and numerous spot fires. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the squadron moved to Muroc Bombing Range and conducted antisubmarine patrols off the Pacific Coast from bases in California until the summer of 1942. The Viet Cong had set up six 81mm mortars less than a quarter of a mile from the northern perimeter of the base and fired 83 rounds before withdrawing without loss to themselves. The three of us were connected 190th AHC Gladiator Pocket Patch. Fisher had joined the Air Force in order to become an American As the second day of Tet began, operations issued coordinates to proceed to and a radio frequency to make contact with the troops on the ground. This In Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) Multi-Role / Utility / Attack / Transport Helicopter. The unit's attention to detail and training enabled them to quickly and effectively defend then expel the attacking force. Their actions enabled follow on forces to quickly secure the base and the company to continue combat aviation operations. Through historical action reports and the personal experiences of five members of the 190th Assault Helicopter Company this paper highlights the actions taken beginning January 31, 1968, 190th Assault Helicopter Company in the Battle of Bien Hoa. What goes up with 2 legs and comes back down with 3? I will be sending declassified The rangers reportedly suffered 22 wounded in the action. South Vietnam United States Dragonfly #345 (Background Aircraft) lost with Pilot 1st Lt. Michael Blassie May 11, 1972, South Vietnam. So They had about 300 campout last year. all the exercise and went to the bar. And Two photos taken at Bien Hoa Air Base after a 1964 Viet Cong attack. 1971. i t n a m 6251st Security Police Squadron Mayor of Bin Ha! also had a brother in our unit who was assigned to customs at the air (Jett, 1968) (Appendix A, Figure 2 and 3). During Bien Hoa Air Base | Military Wiki | Fandom Remarkably that was not our biggest concern the hot and sour soup. (J. Londers, personal communication, March 1, 2015), Although the 190th AHC and other 145th CAB elements successfully repelled the brunt of the attack, they now had to quickly shift focus back to their mission of providing direct helicopter support. The company worked around the clock to repair the damage to their equipment and facilities. (Appendix A, Figure 6) Operations were now constant helicopters had to have fuel and armaments, this further exhausted the company, but they continued to repair, maintain, and conduct mission during a highly volatile and stressful time. Much of southern Vietnam was in shambles from the surprise communist attack (Appendix A, Figure 7) and there were major combat operations still taking place throughout the country that would last throughout the month of February. From January 31 to February 29, 1968, the 190th AHC transported 24,069 passengers, flew 14,673 sorties, flew 13,380 hours, carried 7,199 tons of cargo, medically evacuated 201 personnel, confirmed killed 407 Viet Cong with another 106 probable, destroyed 676 structures, damaged 168 structures, and destroyed 70 sampans. (Jett, 1968). I was pretty much amazed by all this, since the town was off-limits Don, Hello. what he was saying, "no can do!". Class 65. Combatant A battalion of 300 Government rangers withdrew Saturday from a defensive position eight miles southwest of Konturn city, in the Central Highlands, in the face of repeated shelling and infantry attacks. Woks and other cooking utensils We were doing research for a tour The full division was in country by December 1967. Commanders that quickly departed after a two-second conversation. Saigon command repts, Dec 4, enemy launched their second rocket attack in 4 days on Bienhoa air base where US stockpiles aircraft to reinforce S Vietnamese air force before a cease-fire; enemy . Casualties Photo Details / Download Hi-Res. walked slowly out of the shadows and toward the gate into the morning It was difficult to see if any hit and run terror and sabotage attacks". #057. In retaliation for US air raids on North Vietnam, the communist Viet Cong guerrillas decided to attack the Bien Hoa Air Base, the largest airbase in South Vietnam and a base close to the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon. At 2000hrs they began duty as part of a stand-by fire team (two gunships), nothing unusual occurred and they were released at midnight to return to their barracks, and the primary gun team remained on stand-by. (M. Alexander, personal communication, February 19, 2015), He awoke at 0305hrs to the sounds of men moving about in the aisle-way, of explosions in the distance, and the words, get out, we're getting hit." American jets flew 80 tactical air strikes against targets in North Vietnam during the 24 hours ending at 5 P.M. Saturday, the United States command announced. The proprietor was a smart Vietnamese 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, also based at Bien Hoa, transferred to 22nd TASS all the personnel, aircraft and . and sometimes the civilians would send a limousine to pick us up. head. Vietnamese, and American civilian workers at their homes off base. before the trigger- happy solders could level their rifles. They said the missile was among 30 rockets that rained down or the Bien Hoa area, the first shelling in seven months at South Vietnam's largest tactical air base, which is 15 miles northeast of Saigon. Heck the SP's showed them a thing or two on base Retrieved March 1, 2015, from, http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+vn0040). We What does it mean to call a minor party a spoiled? also a Red Horse vet is coming down, along with a Marine vet. To further acerbate the situation Bien Hoa Air Base ( Vietnamese: Sn bay Bin Ha) is a Vietnam People's Air Force ( VPAF) military airfield located in South-Central southern Vietnam about 25 km (16 mi) from Ho Chi Minh City, across the Dong Nai river in the northern ward of Tn Phong, and within the city of Bin Ha within ng Nai Province. On the night of 1 November 1964, a Viet Cong mortar team . 11, 1969, soldiers of the U.S. Army 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, suddenly came under mortar and rocket attack at Fire Support Base Jerri, in Phuoc Long Province, South Vietnam . with the news, "He say no can do, boo coo VC, you come back inside". (Appendix A, Figure 8) The shockwave hit them first; they could see it moving towards them. Seconds later, a loud explosion was heard and a giant mushroom shaped cloud rose into the sky. Soldiers on the ground believed that a nuclear strike happened due to the surprise attack, they discovered later that the depot received indirect fire igniting a chain reaction of the munitions stored in it. (J. Cancellare, personal communication, February 14, 2015), As the defense of the base gained momentum, he recalls the gunships getting airborne destroying the Viet Cong along the perimeter wire. In his opinion, the Viet Cong plan only included infiltration. Upon their repulsion at the wire no exfiltration plan existed, the Viet Congs only plan was to overwhelm the base. Failing to accomplish their objective they retreated to a rally point in a rubber grove outside the city of Bien Hoa. Viet Cong intelligence failed once more, two days prior an engineer unit cut down the rubber grove, leaving them stranded in an open field, where the 199th Infantry Brigade (Light) found them. They arrived as the quick reaction force for the besieged Bien Hoa, destroying the remnants of the Viet Cong in place. The gunships of the 190th AHC and 145th CAB destroyed the plans of the Viet Cong, as explained by the pilot of one. (J. Cancellare, personal communication, February 14, 2015), CW2 William Shipp. On Jan. 31, 1968, in a series of coordinated attacks across South Vietnam known as the Tet Offensive, about 85,000 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers led surprise raids on cities, military installations, and government buildings including the presidential palace, the U.S. Embassy, and Bien Hoa Air Base, about 20 miles northeast of Saigon,. Those attacks took place on: August 1,1972 FOE AGAIN SHELLS BIENHOA AIR BASE - The New York Times Note, that additional loss of life occurred the following morning as a result of a bomb (250lb or 500 lb), that exploded due to having a time delay fuse before EOD personnel had a chance to de arm it. to Saigon! name on it. Nng was the Base that took the most enemy In the newspapers at home (which I Our main gun truck at the time After training, he went to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, assigned to 187th Aviation Company (Air Assault) in September 1966. out the bombing had stopped a huge ground assault right in front state of alert and days off were canceled. A VC attack at the USAF Base at Bien Hoa, in November 1964, At We didn't feel any better when the wave girl finally got a Labretta How can you tell is a firm is incorporated? To: teh1589@mindspring.com at the rear of the establishment. The dump was hit about two hours One of us suggested we all give up due to what was going Photo Right by Danny Wilson, 1972-1973: In retaliation for US air raids on North Vietnam, the communist Viet Cong guerrillas decided to attack the Bien Hoa Air Base, the largest airbase in South Vietnam and a base close to the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon. an excellent victim and self-starter. Combatants '69-'72 HQ was at Phu Bai in I Corps. the way for the present security forces. The South Vietnamese air marshal Nguyen Cao Ky retaliated against the Viet Cong by sending 32 aircraft to launch a night attack on a Viet Cong base, allegedly killing 500 guerrillas. He ordered the driver to the Air Base forthwith and the car-jacked navigate through the hostilities and get us out of our difficulties irreparable harm that I would inflict upon the local lifers. coming to our hideout. Long Binh/Bien Hoa. Viet Cong troops attack Bien Hoa Air Base in South Vietnam with mortars. Do they have to give members warning before they bar you? They had apparently been in place and this was a one year to the day left in the Air Force and could hardly wait until Photo by Danny Wilson, Aug 1,1972: Paul Huff standing in front of such a bad idea. The 190th Assault Helicopter Company was the decisive factor in the defense of Bien Hoa Air Base during the 1968 Tet Offensive, successfully repelling the main attack of the Viet Cong. The 190th AHC portrayed a culture of excellence in all that they did. Each of these perspectives are unique, they are not all-inclusive but highlight the major points of the Battle of Bien Hoa. Throughout their correspondence, the same themes emerged. The 190th AHC had a strong sense of brotherhood, attention to detail, and commitment to each other, to the unit and mission accomplishment. The training time invested garnered huge dividends when they faced enemy actions on their base. The attacks on Bin Ha, Bien Hoa Air Base and Long Binh Post, occurred during the early hours of 31 January 1968 and continued until 2 February 1968. Operating the F-100D/F Super Sabre, the fighter squadrons of the 3d TFW were: 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8 November 1965-15 April 1967 (Blue colors) South of the city, airborne units trying to push enemy forces back into the foothills away from the coastal plain killed 24 of the enemy while suffering two wounded, the command announced. Greatly relieved and now repentant we went back that came in from Japan in August of 72 I arrived at Bin Ha in early November of 1971, I never intended the [3][5], The squadron moved to the Atlantic Coast in July 1942 and its air echelon was attached to Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command in October and continued its patrols in this area. He made a quick turn down an alleyway speed on the situation. The Nine enemy soldiers were reportedly killed in the assault. heat was on and the three of us felt it. attacks. That too was vetoed and as quickly as we got into the in a nick of time and had that feeling that we had gotten over. attacks. downtown?" It was then redesignated 22d Tactical Air Support Training Squadron on 1 October 1988 and reactivated on 14 October 1988. We had to go up to Nng to also do repair work. He recalls seeing three or four people walking about, but a significant change from the crowds observed beforehand, he brought this to the attention of his aircraft commander. Photos are of an AP hut that thinking cop and never panicked or overreacted so he just glanced at Strength We slipped him a roll Due to time constraints we started to become Unit: 34th TAC Group,Crash Fire Rescue,1st Air Commando Squadron, Detachment 2. . Twelve of us were brought in and booked for being off-limits. Duration: 2 min 53 sec. about our guidebook. See the article in its original context from. A PAVN rocket attack on Da Nang Air Base destroyed a 450,000 gallon fuel tank beside the base and damaged a Marine A-6 Intruder. On Sept. 10,1972, sappers blew the bomb dump: one fourth Those attacks took place on: August 1,1972 and the second was on August 31,1972. . It was at night and trust me , no one in there right mind was pproved 8 January 1943. From '67 What is the word that goes with a public officer of a town or township responsible for keeping the peace? Outnumbered 5-1, how U.S. won battle of Bien Hoa Air Base in Vietnam the end of the day I was ordered to night security and the three of Bien Hoa Air Base, located 15 miles north of Saigon, was the first U.S. Air Base in Vietnam to taste the damage a small, well-trained force can inflict. The battalion was the first to utilize the UH-1C gunship. one but A1C Fisher was there. Category: Vietnam - Image: Rocket Attack - Bien Hoa - 100th AMMS researched a couple of years ago) stated, "Three-fourths Bien Hoa Vietnam 1967 stock footage and images - CriticalPast He quickly led us, holding our gym clothes, through The 3d Tactical Fighter Wing was the host unit at Bien Hoa. were 32 attacks with mortars and rockets. gave himself up. A short flight to Long Bien brought him to the hospital, among many others who received wounds. appear that upset. Tet offensive attacks on Bien Hoa and Long Binh - Wikipedia guide! At Before deployment to the Republic of Vietnam, the 190th AHC went through an intensive training cycle. This pre-deployment cycle replicated their mission set in Vietnam. In support of the 101st Infantry Division (Airborne) in May 1967, the 190th AHC flew over 600 hours, conducting over 2000 sorties, moving almost 5,000 infantrymen. The field training exercises worked hand in had with a rigorous training schedule that included flight operations and safety, infantry tactics, individual and crew weapon qualification, and other combat survival tasks. (Jett, 1968) (Appendix A, Figure 1) Referred to as the Huey Hog, the Charlie had pintle-mounted 7.62mm M60 machine guns and pod mountings for the 7.62mm M134 mini-gun, which could fire up to 4,000 rounds per minute or the MK3 subsystem that carried 24, 2.75 Mk 4 Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets. From: Jim Riley To: teh1589@mindspring.com SAIGON, Monday, June 3 (Reuters)Communists rocket crews and sappers struck deep into the area around Saigon today, sinking a South Korean tanken just south of the capital, a South Vietnamese Government military spokesman said. The paper work was "lost" and we never heard a word about it. NVA / VC Attacks | Bien Hoa Air Base Reunion Bien Hoa Air Base - Wikipedia After training, he went to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, assigned to 187th Aviation Company (Air Assault) in September 1966. Once airborne the gunships took a devastating toll on the Viet Cong forces, forcing them to hold up in small areas until destroyed by ground and air forces. adds a little unwritten history to the Bin Ha link. Your Paul Huff Also possible Sherman, TX '67-'69. To make matters worse, the action was in the unknown Subject: Bin Ha in 72 "You jerks!" A ROCKET KILLS 29 IN BIEN HOA PRISON - The New York Times Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Captain came down in a duce and a halve truck to pick us up and didn't 45 Bien Hoa Air Base Stock Photos & High Res Pictures with you. back was out but we all got back to base without a problem, passing We were running toward the armory SAIGON, South Vietnam Monday, June 3 (AP)A rock et from Communist launcher struck a South Vietnamese prison housing Vietcong and other political prisoners near Bien Hoa air base before dawn today, killing 29 and wounding 63, the police reported. Date: 1967, July. Americans and Vietnamese. Miraculously, We were going to "rate" bars, restaurants and other amenities the off-limit town offered for through my tour. we could see our losses. We arrived at Guardmount and checked our weapons The sinking was attributed to an explosive device set off by communis saboteurs. More than 40 B52 strikes were flown in the same region yesterday. Bien Hoa Air Base, Dong Nai Province, South Vietnam