During the Vietnam War Tan Son Nhut Air Base was important for both the USAF and the RVNAF. The base served as the focal point for the initial USAF deployment and buildup in South Vietnam in the early 1960s. Tan Son Nhut was initially the main air base for MAC flights to and from South Vietnam, until other bases such as Bien Hoa and Cam Ranh opened in 1966. After 1966, with the establishment of the
7th Air Force as the main USAF command and control headquarters in South Vietnam, Tan Son Nhut functioned as a headquarters, a Tactical Reconnaissance base, and as a Special Operations base. With the drawdown of US forces in South Vietnam after 1971, the base took on a myriad of organizations transferred from deactivated bases across South Vietnam. Between 1968 and 1974, Tan Son Nhut Airport was one of the busiest military airbases in the world.
Pan Am schedules from 1973 showed
Boeing 747 service was being operated four times a week to San Francisco via Guam and Manila.
Continental Airlines operated up to 30
Boeing 707 military charters per week to and from Tan Son Nhut Airport during the 1968–74 period. It was from Tan Son Nhut Air Base that the last U.S. airman left South Vietnam in March 1973. The
Air Force Post Office (APO) for Tan Son Nhut Air Base was APO San Francisco, 96307.
Military Assistance Advisory Group Davis Station On 13 May 1961 a 92-man unit of the
Army Security Agency, operating under cover of the 3rd Radio Research Unit (3rd RRU), arrived at Tan Son Nhut AB and established a communications intelligence facility in disused RVNAF warehouses on the base (). This was the first full deployment of a US Army unit to South Vietnam. On 22 December 1961 SP4 James T. Davis of the 3rd RRU was operating a mobile PRD-1 receiver with an ARVN unit near Cầu Xáng when they were ambushed by VC and Davis was killed, becoming one of the first Americans killed in the Vietnam War. On 1 June 1966 the 3rd RRU was redesignated the 509th Radio Research Group. The 509th RR Group continued operations until 7 March 1973, when they were among the last US units to leave South Vietnam.
507th Tactical Control Group In late September 1961, the first permanent USAF unit, the
507th Tactical Control Group from
Shaw Air Force Base deployed sixty-seven officers and airmen to Tan Son Nhut to install
MPS-11 search and MPS-16 height-finding radars and began monitoring air traffic and training of RVNAF personnel to operate and service the equipment. Installation of the equipment commenced on 5 October 1961 and the unit would eventually grow to 314 assigned personnel. This organization formed the nucleus of South Vietnam's tactical air control system. 1 RF-101C was destroyed in a sapper attack on Tan Son Nhut AB. The last 45th TRS RF-101C left Tan Son Nhut on 16 November 1970. The need for additional reconnaissance assets, especially those capable of operating at night, led to the deployment of two Martin
RB-57E Canberra Patricia Lynn reconnaissance aircraft of the
6091st Reconnaissance Squadron on 7 May 1963. From 1962 the
Utility Tactical Transport Helicopter Company (UTTHCO) was based here initially with
Bell HU-1A Huey's then UH-1B's. It was assigned to the Southeast Asia Communications Region (itself part of the Pacific Communications Area),
Air Force Communications Service. It was upgraded to become the
1964th Communications Group on 1 October 1962 and appears to have directed about 10 squadrons in the
Republic of Vietnam. It provided communications and
navaids for Air Force fixed bases in the country. One of its squadrons was the
1876th Communications Squadron, designated and organized at Tan Son Nhut on 1 November 1965. The 1876th Communications Squadron was reassigned on 1 April 1972, and moved to the
United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. The aircraft were soon deployed to forward operating locations at Binh Thuy, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Pleiku Air Bases. • Detachment 1 of the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing On 15 October 1966, the 460th TRW assumed aircraft maintenance responsibilities for Tan Son Nhut AB, including being responsible for all depot-level aircraft maintenance responsibility for all USAF organizations in South Vietnam.
Electronic reconnaissance A few months after the 460th TRW's activation, two squadrons activated on 8 April 1966 as 460th TRW Det 2: •
360th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron: 8 April 1966 – 31 August 1971 (EC-47N/P/Q Tail Code: AJ) •
361st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron: 8 April 1966 – 31 August 1971 (EC-47N/P/Q Tail Code: AL) (Nha Trang Air Base) •
362d Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron: 1 February 1967 – 31 August 1971 (EC-47N/P/Q Tail Code: AN) (Pleiku Air Base) Project
Hawkeye conducted radio direction finding (RDF), whose main target were VC radio transmitters. Before this program RDF involved tracking the signals on the ground. Because this exposed the RDF team to ambushes, both the US Army and USAF began to look at airborne RDF. While the US Army used
U-6 Beaver and
U-8 Seminole aircraft for its own version of the
Hawkeye platform, the USAF modified several C-47 Skytrains. Project
Phyllis Ann also used modified C-47s, however, the C-47s for this program were highly modified with an advanced navigational and reconnaissance equipment. On 4 April 1967, project
Phyllis Ann changed to become
Compass Dart. On 1 April 1968,
Compass Dart became
Combat Cougar. Because of security concerns the operation's name changed two more times first to
Combat Cross and then to
Commando Forge. Project
Drillpress also used modified C-47s, listening into VC/PAVN traffic and collected intelligence from it. This data gave insights into the plans and strategy of both the VC and the PAVN. Information from all three projects contributed in a major way to the intelligence picture of the battlefield in Vietnam. In fact about 95 percent of the Arc Light strikes conducted in South Vietnam were based, at least partially, on the data from these three programs. On 6 October 1967,
Drillpress changed to
Sentinel Sara. The US would go to great lengths to prevent this equipment from falling into enemy hands, when an EC-47 from the 362d TEWS crashed on 22 April 1970, members of an explosive ordnance unit policed the area destroying anything they found and six F-100 tactical air sorties hit the area to be sure. Detachments of these squadrons operated from different locations, including bases in Thailand. Each of the main squadrons and their detachments moved at least once due to operational and/or security reasons. Personnel operating the RDF and signal intelligence equipment in the back of the modified EC-47s were part of the
6994th Security Squadron. On 1 June 1969 the unit transferred to become 360th TEWS Det 1.
Inactivation As the Vietnamization program began, Vietnamese crews began flying with EC-47 crews from the 360th TEWS and 6994th SS, on 8 May 1971, to get training on operating the aircraft and its systems. The wing was inactivated in-place on 31 August 1971. Decorations awarded to the wing for its Vietnam War service include: •
Presidential Unit Citation: 18 February 1966 – 30 June 1967; 1 September 1967 – 1 July 1968; 11 July 1968 – 31 August 1969; l February-31 March 1971. •
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 1 July 1969 – 30 June 1970; 1 July 1970 – 30 June 1971. •
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 August 1966 – 31 August 1971.
315th Air Commando Wing, Troop Carrier In October 1962, there began what became known as the Southeast Asia Airlift System. Requirements were forecast out to 25 days, and these requirements were matched against available resources. In September 1962 Headquarters 6492nd Combat Cargo Group (Troop Carrier) and the 6493rd Aerial Port Squadron were organized and attached to the
315th Air Division, based at
Tachikawa AB. On 8 December 1962 the
315th Air Commando Group, (Troop Carrier) was activated replacing the 6492nd Combat Cargo Group and became responsible for all in-country airlift in South Vietnam, including control over all USAF airlift assets. On the same date the
8th Aerial Port Squadron replaced the 6493rd Aerial Port Squadron.The 315th Group was assigned to the 315th Air Division, but came under the operational control of MACV through the
2d Air Division. On 10 August 1964 six
Royal Australian Air Force RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam DHC-4 Caribous arrived at the base and were assigned to the airlift system. In October 1964 the
19th Air Commando Squadron equipped with C-123s was established at the base and assigned to the 315th Troop Carrier Group. On 8 March 1965 the 315th Troop Carrier Group was redesignated the 315th Air Commando Group. The 315th Air Commando Group was re-designated the
315th Air Commando Wing on 8 March 1966. Squadrons of the 315th ACW/TC were: •
12th Air Commando Squadron (Defoliation), 15 October 1966 – 30 September 1970 (Bien Hoa) (UC-123 Provider) • Det 1, 834th Air Division, 15 October 1966 – 1 December 1971 (Tan Son Nhut) (C-130B Hercules) • 19th Air Commando Squadron 8 March 1966 – 10 June 1971 (Tan Son Nhut) (C-123 Provider) (including 2
Royal Thai Air Force-operated C-123s named
Victory Flight) • 309th Air Commando Squadron 8 March 1966 – 31 July 1970 (Phan Rang) (C-123) • 310th Air Commando Squadron 8 March 1966 – 15 January 1972 (Phan Rang) (C-123) •
311th Air Commando Squadron 8 March 1966 – 5 October 1971 (Phan Rang) (C-123) • Det 1., HQ 315th Air Commando Wing, Troop Carrier 1 August – 15 October 1966 • Det 5., HQ 315th Air Division (Combat Cargo) 8 March – 15 October 1966 • Det 6., HQ 315th Air Division (Combat Cargo) (8 March – 15 October 1966) • 903rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron 8 July 1966 • RAAF Transport Flight, Vietnam (RTFV) 8 March – 15 October 1966 The unit also performed C-123 airlift operations in Vietnam. Operations included aerial movement of troops and cargo, flare drops, aeromedical evacuation, and air-drops of critical supplies and paratroops
Operation Ranch Hand The 315th ACG was responsible for
Operation Ranch Hand Defoliant operations missions. After some modifications to the aircraft (which included adding armor for the crew), three C-123B Provider aircraft arrived at the base on 7 January 1962 under the code name
Ranch Hand. The 315th ACW was transferred to
Phan Rang Air Base on 14 June 1967.
834th Air Division On 15 October 1966 the
834th Airlift Division was assigned without personnel or equipment, to Tan Son Nhut AB to join the Seventh Air Force, providing an intermediate command and control organization and also act as host unit for the USAF forces at the base. The 315th Air Commando Wing and 8th Aerial Port Squadron were assigned to the 834th Division. Initially the 834th AD had a strength of twenty-seven officers and twenty-one airmen, all of whom were on permanent assignment to Tan Son Nhut. The Air Division served as a single manager for all tactical airlift operations in South Vietnam, using air transport to haul cargo and troops, which were air-landed or air-dropped, as combat needs dictated, through December 1971. The 834th Air Division became the largest tactical airlift force in the world. In addition to airlift of cargo and personnel and RVNAF training, it took on
Ranch Hand defoliation and insecticide spraying; psychological/propaganda leaflet distribution; helicopter landing zone preparation; airfield survey; the operation of aerial ports; and other special missions. Units it directly controlled were: •
315th Air Commando (later, 315th Special Operations; 315th Tactical Airlift) Wing: 15 October 1966 – 1 December 1971) : Located at: Tan Son Nhut AB; later Phan Rang AB (15 June 1967 – 1 December 1971) UC-123 Provider. Composed of four C-123 squadrons with augmentation by C-130 Hercules transports from the
315th Air Division, Tachikawa AB, Japan. :: Two C-123 Squadrons (32 a/c) at Tan Son Nhut AB; :: There were 23 C-130B aircraft assigned by 1 November 1966 •
483d Troop Carrier (later, 483d Tactical Airlift) Wing: 15 October 1966 – 1 December 1971 • 2d Aerial Port Group (Tan Son Nhut) : 8th Aerial Port Squadron, Tan Son Nhut (16 detachments) :: Detachments were located at various points where airlift activity warranted continuous but less extensive aerial port services. Aerial port personnel loaded, unloaded, and stored cargo and processed passengers at each location. The Air Division also supervised South Vietnamese air transport operations (primarily C-47s), six
DHC-4 Caribou transports operated by the
No. 35 Squadron RAAF at
Vung Tau Air Base and two
Republic of Korea Air Force Curtiss C-46 Commando transport aircraft from 29 July 1967, later replaced by C-54s. The Air Division received the
Presidential Unit Citation recognizing their efforts during the
Battle of Khe Sanh. In late 1969 C Flight,
17th Special Operations Squadron equipped with five AC-119G gunships was deployed at the base. By the end of 1970 this Flight would grow to nine AC-119Gs to support
operations in Cambodia. During its last few months, the 834th worked toward passing combat airlift control to Seventh Air Force. On 1 December 1971 the 834th AD was inactivated as part of the USAF withdrawal of forces from Vietnam.
377th Air Base Wing The
377th Air Base Wing was responsible for the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the USAF portion of the facility from April 1966 until the last USAF personnel withdrew from South Vietnam in March 1973. In addition, the 377th ABW was responsible for housing numerous tenant organizations including Seventh Air Force, base defense, and liaison with the RVNAF. In 1972 inactivating USAF units throughout South Vietnam began to assign units without equipment or personnel to the 377th ABW. From Cam Ranh AB: •
21st Tactical Air Support Squadron: 15 March 1972 – 23 February 1973. From Phan Rang AB: •
8th Special Operations Squadron: 15 January – 25 October 1972 (A-37) •
9th Special Operations Squadron: 21 January – 29 February 1972 (C-47) • 310th Tactical Airlift Squadron: January–June 1972 and March–October 1972 (C-123, C-7B) • 360th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron: 1 February – 24 November 1972 (EC-47N/P/Q) All of these units were inactivated at Tan Son Nhut AB. An operating location of the wing headquarters was established at Bien Hoa AB on 14 April 1972 to provide turnaround service for F-4 Phantom IIs of other organizations, mostly based in Thailand. It was replaced on 20 June 1972 by Detachment l of the 377th Wing headquarters, which continued the F-4 turnaround service and added
A-7 Corsair IIs for the deployed
354th Tactical Fighter Wing aircraft based at
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand on 30 October 1972. The detachment continued operations through 11 February 1973. The 377th ABW phased down for inactivation during February and March 1973, transferring many assets to the RVNAF. When inactivated on 28 March 1973, the 377th Air Base Wing was the last USAF unit in South Vietnam. ==Post-1975 Vietnam People's Air Force use==