Lane Army Airfield

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Lane Army Airfield
Lane Army Airfield, May 1967.png
Lane Army Airfield, 1 May 1967
Coordinates13°48′29″N 109°05′42″E / 13.808°N 109.095°E / 13.808; 109.095 (Lane Army Airfield)
Site history
Built1965
In use1965-present
Battles/warsVietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg
Vietnam War
Lane Army Airfield
Summary
Elevation AMSL40 ft / 12 m

Lane Army Airfield (also known as Lane Army Heliport or An Son Airfield) is a former United States Army base west of Qui Nhơn in Bình Định Province, Vietnam.

History[]

The base was originally established in late 1965 by the [1] approximately 14 km west of Qui Nhơn and southwest of the Highway 19 and Highway 1 intersection. The base was named after SP5 James Lane of the 8th Transportation Company who was killed in action on 16 July 1962.[2] The base's first occupants were the 161st Aviation Company which was based there from 1965 until 1967.

Other units stationed at Lane at various times included:

  • Troop H, 10th Cavalry Regiment (April 1972-February 1973)[3]
  • 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment (1971-2)[2]
  • 61st Aviation Company (November 1967-March 1972)[3]: 121 
  • 128th Assault Helicopter Company
  • 129th Assault Helicopter Company (October 1965-March 1973)[3]: 121 
  • 174th Assault Helicopter Company
  • 196th Assault Support Helicopter Company (January 1967-December 1970)[3]: 122 

On 5 March 1971 Boeing CH-47C Chinook #67-18518 of the 180th Assault Support Helicopter Company on approach to Lane collided with a Republic of Korea Army Cessna O-1D Bird Dog causing both aircraft to crash killing 5 passengers and crew on the CH-47 and the pilot of the O-1.[4]

Current use[]

The base appears to remain in use by the People's Army of Vietnam.

References[]

  1. ^ Traas, Adrian. Engineers at War. Government Printing Office. pp. 34–5. ISBN 9780160882739.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 289. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  3. ^ a b c d Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 129. ISBN 9780811700719.
  4. ^ "Barry Mercer Straw". Virtual Wall. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
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