Camp Thunderbolt
| Camp Thunderbolt | |
|---|---|
 Camp Thunderbolt, August 1968 | |
| Coordinates | 13°46′N 109°06′E / 13.76°N 109.10°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1965 |
| In use | 1965-present |
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Capital Division |
ROK Strip Airfield | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 60 ft / 18 m | ||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Camp Thunderbolt (also known as ROK Strip Airfield or ROK Valley) is a former Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) base west of Qui Nhơn in Bình Định Province, Vietnam.
History
[edit]The base was originally established in late 1965 by the 70th Engineer Battalion[1] approximately 14 km west of Qui Nhơn, 5 km south of Lane Army Airfield and southwest of the Highway 19 and Highway 1 intersection.[2] Further improvements to the base were made by the 19th Engineer Battalion.[1]: 34–5
The Camp served as the base for the Capital Mechanized Infantry Division (also known as the Tiger Division) from their arrival in Vietnam in September 1965 until their departure in March 1973.
On 5 March 1971 CH-47C #67-18518 of the 180th Assault Support Helicopter Company on approach to Lane Army Airfield collided with a ROKA O-1D causing both aircraft to crash killing 5 passengers and crew on the CH-47 and the pilot of the O-1.[3]
Current use
[edit]The base appears to remain in use by the People's Army of Vietnam.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Traas, Adrian (2010). Engineers at War. Government Printing Office. p. 34. ISBN 9780160882739.
- ^ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 350. ISBN 978-1555716257.
- ^ "Barry Mercer Straw". Virtual Wall. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
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