Củ Chi Base Camp (also known as Củ Chi Army Airfield) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base in the Củ Chi District northwest of Saigon in southern Vietnam.
Củ Chi Base Camp | |
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![]() A 1970 view of the 25th Infantry Division base camp | |
![]() ![]() Củ Chi Base Camp | |
Coordinates | 10.982°N 106.507°E / 10.982; 106.507 (Củ Chi Base Camp) |
Type | Army Base |
Site information | |
Owner | People's Army of Vietnam |
Site history | |
Built | 1965 |
In use | 1965-present |
Battles/wars | ![]() Vietnam War |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | 25th Infantry Division |
Củ Chi Army Airfield | |||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 39 ft / 12 m | ||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
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Củ Chi Base Camp was established in 1965 near Highway 1, 25 km northwest of Tan Son Nhut Air Base and 50 km southeast of Tây Ninh. The camp was located south of the Vietcong stronghold known as the Iron Triangle and was near and in some cases above the Cu Chi Tunnels.[1]
The 25th Infantry Division had its headquarters at Củ Chi from January 1966 until February 1970.[2]
Other units stationed at Củ Chi included:
From 1967 the 159th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance) with Bell UH-1D Hueys was deployed here.[4]
The airfield was capable of accommodating de Havilland Canada C-7 Caribou and Fairchild C-123 Provider aircraft.
On 3 January 1969 a Vietcong bomb exploded in a messhall at the camp killing 15 Americans mostly from the 554th Engineer Battalion and two Vietnamese kitchen staff.[5]
On 26 February 1969 PAVN sappers attacked the base destroying 9 Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters of the 242nd ASH Company.[6]
Following the departure of the U.S. forces in 1972, Củ Chi became the base of the ARVN 25th Division.[1]
The base remains in use by the People's Army of Vietnam. The airfield is no longer used but is still visible on satellite images.