Contact Admin. Republic of Vietnam Air Force. It is located 5. The temporary aluminum runway became operational on 20 February and by mid-March all the interim facilities were operational. By the end of the year the base was fully completed with powerplant, water and sewage system, operations, accommodation and other structures.
The US population at the base increased dramatically from in March to over 4, in September This increase led to pressure on accommodation and maintenance facilities which were still under construction; [1]: Missions included air support of ground forces, interdiction, visual and armed reconnaissance, strike assessment photography, escort, close and direct air support, and rapid reaction alert.
It struck enemy bases and supply caches in the Parrot's Beak just inside the Cambodian border, AprilβMay and provided close air support and interdiction in support of South Vietnamese operations in Laos and Cambodia, JanuaryβJune On 24 December , 3 Operation Tropic Moon II Bs, experimentally fitted with a low light level television system carried in a pod underneath the port wing arrived at Phan Rang. By November the 8th Bombardment Squadron's strength was down to only 9 aircraft, and it was decided that it was time to retire the BB from active service.
Between 10 August and 31 May , the th Civil Engineering Squadron built an armament and electronics shop, fire station, a concrete access taxiway, 6 troop barracks and 2 officers quarters protecting by a revetment wall, a 49,square-yard asphalt hardstand, and a base theater.
On 3 May VC sappers attacked the base but were repulsed with minor damage and no Allied casualties. On 10 September VC attacked the main gate but were also repulsed with little damage and no Allied casualties. Operations included aerial movement of troops and cargo, flare drops, aeromedical evacuation, and air-drops of critical supplies and paratroops.
