A Lưới Camp
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A Lưới Camp (also known as A Lưới Special Forces Camp, LZ Stallion or Ta Bat Airfield) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base in the A Sầu Valley southwest of Huế in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
United States Army (U.S. Army)
| A Lưới Camp Ta Bat Airfield   | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huế, Central Highlands in Vietnam | |||||||
| Site information | |||||||
| Operator | Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) United States Army (U.S. Army) | ||||||
| Condition | Abandoned | ||||||
| Location | |||||||
  A Lưới Camp Shown within Vietnam | |||||||
| Coordinates | 16°16′07″N 107°13′43″E[1] | ||||||
| Site history | |||||||
| Built | 1962 | ||||||
| Built by | 326th Engineers (1969) | ||||||
| In use | 1962-1966 | ||||||
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War | ||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||
| Garrison | 5th Special Forces Group | ||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||
| Elevation | 0 feet (0 m) AMSL | ||||||
| |||||||
History
The 5th Special Forces Group[2] first established a base here in 1962 to monitor communist infiltration into the A Sầu Valley. The base was located along Route 548, 40 km southwest of Huế.[3]
The base was abandoned in 1966 due to increased pressure from the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces and the A Sầu Valley became a major PAVN base area supporting operations throughout the Central Highlands.
In April 1968 during Operation Delaware the 1st Cavalry Division briefly reoccupied A Lưới.[2]: 127–8 The 8th Engineer Battalion rebuilt the airfield to handle Fairchild C-123 Provider and Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft.
On 26 April 1968 C-130B #60-0298 was hit by enemy fire while on approach to the camp airfield, the aircraft crashed and burnt on the airfield, the remains of 5 of the 8 crewmen were recovered[4]
In August 1968 the 101st Airborne Division briefly reoccupied A Lưới during Operation Somerset Plain.[5]
On 29 April 1969 the 101st Airborne returned to A Lưới during Operation Kentucky Jumper and Ta Bat Airfield was reopened.[3]: 5–489
Current use
The base has been turned over to housing/farmland and sits adjacent to the Ho Chi Minh Highway.