Posted on Nov 4, 2016
U.S. hands over air base to the Vietnamese Air Force - Nov 04, 1970 - HISTORY.com
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The United States hands over an air base in the Mekong Delta to the Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) as part of the Vietnamization program. President Richard Nixon initiated this program in 1969 to increase the fighting capability of South Vietnam so they could assume more responsibility for the war. It included the provision of new equipment and weapons and an intensified advisory effort. Secretary of the Air Force Robert Seamans and Gen. Creighton Abrams, commander of Military Assistance Command Vietnam, attended the ceremony. The air base became the home of two South Vietnamese helicopter squadrons, with the United States providing 62 aircraft, 31 of which were turned over along with the air base. By 1973, after additional equipment and aircraft transfers had been made to VNAF, the air base had a fleet of 1,700 aircraft, including more than 500 helicopters.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCPT (Join to see)COL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell SFC William Farrell
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCPT (Join to see)COL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell SFC William Farrell
U.S. hands over air base to the Vietnamese Air Force - Nov 04, 1970 - HISTORY.com
Posted from history.com
Vietnam War
Warfare
Military History
American History
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 4
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This was the beginning of the end. Many of those 500 helicopters were still in service 5 years later and were used to escape to safety when Vietnam was falling.
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Capt Seid Waddell
SFC William Farrell, mostly because the U.S. Congress cut off their promised support. It still comes down to our anti-war left.
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Thanks for the sad reminder SP5 Mark Kuzinski that Vietnamization applied to each of the military services of the South Vietnamese. Unfortunately this process was time-focused instead of mission-accomplishment focused.
I concur with LTC (Join to see)'s response about the helicopters being available to ferry many to safety as South Vietnam was overrun in 1975.
I concur with SFC William Farrell's response about the poorly implemented Vietnamization.
I concur with LTC (Join to see)'s response about the helicopters being available to ferry many to safety as South Vietnam was overrun in 1975.
I concur with SFC William Farrell's response about the poorly implemented Vietnamization.
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LTC (Join to see)
I did not know they flew to Thailand too. the Thais also got F-5s by the Dozen because the CIA put out there was a reward if you flew them out. The Thais hid the planes and helicopters from the nosy press and the Thai Air Force personnel were happy!
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