Sông Bé Base Camp
| Sông Bé Base Camp | |
|---|---|
 Sông Bé Base Camp signal site, 10 January 1970 | |
| Coordinates | 11°49′08″N 106°57′40″E / 11.819°N 106.961°E |
| Type | Army Base |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1965 |
| In use | 1965-71 |
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War Battle of Song Be |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | 199th Light Infantry Brigade 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division |
Sông Bé Airfield | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 797 ft / 243 m | ||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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Sông Bé Base Camp (also known as Sông Bé Airfield, Farley Field or Landing Zone Buttons) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam base southwest of Phước Bình in southern Vietnam.
History[]
The base was originally established in April 1965 as a 5th Special Forces Detachment B-34 base and was located approximately 2 km southwest of Phước Bình in Phước Long Province.[1]: 77 The Battle of Song Be was fought around the base in May 1965.
On 10 April 1966 the 173rd Airborne Brigade moved to Sông Bé for Operation Denver and remained there until the end of April.
The 199th Light Infantry Brigade was based at Sông Bé from December 1966 to February 1967.[2]
The 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division comprising:
- 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment[2]: 137
- 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment[2]: 146
- 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment[2]: 147
was based at Sông Bé from May until June 1969.
The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division was based at Sông Bé in January 1968.[2]: 157
In August 1969 Headquarters, 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division comprising:
- 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry[2]: 128
- 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry[2]: 132
- 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry[2]: 132
moved to Sông Bé and would stay here until March 1971.
On 4 November 1969, the 5th VC division & NVA launched a massive rocket and sapper attack against FSB Buttons airbase. Units of the 2nd Brigade repulsed the attack, and 63 enemy soldiers died.
Other units stationed at Sông Bé included:
- 2nd Battalion, 19th Artillery (1970)[2]: 101
- 2nd Battalion, 40th Artillery (1968)[2]: 104
- 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery[2]: 106
- 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry[3]
- Alpha Troop
Accidents and incidents[]
- 18 December 1974 Republic of Vietnam Air Force Lockheed C-130A Hercules #56-0521 was destroyed on the ground
- 25 December 1974 Republic of Vietnam Air Force C-130A #55-0016 was shot down while landing
- 28 October 1969 UH1 C/227 AVN #68-15767 Aircraft entered IFR[clarification needed] during takeoff and impacted trees at the edge of the rubber plantation 400m from FSB Buttons airbase; 4 killed.
Current use[]
The base is abandoned and turned over to housing but the former airfield is still clearly visible on satellite images.
References[]
- Installations of the United States Army in South Vietnam
- Installations of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
- Buildings and structures in Bình Phước province