Cam Ranh Bay is a deep-water seaport in Vietnam in the province of Khanh Hoa. It is located at an inlet of the South China Sea situated on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, between Phan Rang and Nha Trang, approximately 290 Kilometers / 180 Miles northeast of Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier or simply a location identifier [1], is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). ... The ICAO airport code (IPA pronunciation: ) is a four-letter alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world. ... The Russian Navy (Russian: Военно Морской Флот (ВМФ) - Voyenno- Morskoy Flot (VMF) or Military Maritime Fleet) is the naval arm of the Russian armed forces. ... The term above mean sea level (AMSL) refers to the elevation (on the ground) or altitude (in the air) of any object, relative to the average sea level. ... A foot (plural: feet; symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Runway 13R/31L of El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. ... A foot (plural: feet; symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ... Pavement in American English refers to the durable surface for an area intended to sustain traffic, which can be either vehicular traffic or foot traffic. ... Pavement in American English refers to the durable surface for an area intended to sustain traffic, which can be either vehicular traffic or foot traffic. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Port. ... Khánh Hòa Province is a province of Vietnam with a population of 1,066,300 spanning an area of 5,197 km². Its capital is Nha Trang. ... The South China Sea, showing surrounding countries and neighbouring seas and oceans The South China Sea is a marginal sea south of China. ... This article contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành Chí Minh) is the largest city in Vietnam, located near the delta of the Mekong River. ...

Cam Ranh is often considered one of the finest such seaports in the world. The continental shelf of Southeast Asia is relatively narrow at Cam Ranh Bay, bringing deep water close to land. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Port. ...  Sediment  Rock  Mantle  The global continental shelf, highlighted in cyan The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent, which is covered during interglacial periods such as the current epoch by relatively shallow seas (known as shelf seas) and gulfs. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ...

Overview

Historically, the bay has been significant from a military standpoint. The French used it as a naval base for their forces in Indochina. It was also used as a staging area for the Imperial Russian fleet under Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky prior to the Battle of Tsushima in 1905, and by the Japanese navy in preparation for the invasion of Malaysia in 1942. In 1944 U.S. Naval Task Force 38 destroyed most Japanese facilities and it was abandoned. French Indochina was a federation of protectorates in Southeast Asia, part of the French colonial empire. ... USMC convoys staging prior to going north into Iraq in March of 2004 A staging area is a temporary location where military units, aircraft and warships plus their matériel are assembled ahead of an attack or invasion. ... Admiral Zinovy Petrovich Rozhestvensky Zinovy Petrovich Rozhestvensky1 (October 30, 1848-January 14, 1909) was an admiral of the Imperial Russian Navy, who was in command of the Second Pacific Squadron in the Battle of Tsushima, during the Russo-Japanese War. ... Combatants Japan Russia Commanders Heihachiro Togo Zinovi Rozhdestvenski Nikolai Nebogatov Strength 4 battleships, 27 cruisers, in addition to destroyers and auxiliary vessels 8 battleships, 3 coastal battleships, 8 cruisers Casualties 117 dead, 583 injured, 3 torpedo boats sunk 4380 dead, 5917 injured 21 ships sunk, 7 captured, 6 disarmed The... 1905 (MCMV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ...

In 1964 U. S. Navy seventh fleet reconnaissance aircraft, the seaplane tender Currituck (AV-7), and Mine Flotilla 1 units carried out hydrographic and beach surveys and explored sites for facilities ashore. 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ...

This preparatory worked proved fortuitous when a North Vietnamese trawler was discovered landing munitions and supplies at nearby Vung Ro Bay in February 1965; the incident led the United States to develop Cam Ranh as a major base.

The United States Air Force operated a large cargo/airlift facility called Cam Ranh Air Base and it was also used as a tactical fighter base. It was one of three aerial ports where United States military personnel entered or departed South Vietnam for their 12 month tour of duty. Aircraft of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and coalition counterparts stationed together at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in southwest Asia, fly over the desert. ... Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809 km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ...

The United States Navy operated a major port facility at Cam Ranh, and the United States Army had a major presence there as well. The Navy flew various aircraft from Cam Ranh and other bases, conducting aerial surveillance of South Vietnam's coastal waters. USN redirects here. ... It has been suggested that United States Army values be merged into this article or section. ...

The APO for Cam Ranh Air Base was APO San Francisco, 93638. An army post office is a special military system to integrate the civil postal system to that of the military. ...

USAF use of Cam Ranh Bay

12th Tactical Fighter Wing

The 12th Tactical Fighter Wing was assigned to Cam Ranh Bay AB from 8 November 1965 until 30 March 1971. It was transferred to Southeast Asia from MacDill Air Force Base Florida. Image File history File links 12tfw. ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (90th in a leap year). ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... MacDill Air Force Base Emblem showing a KC-135 Stratotanker of the 6th Air Mobility wing with the Tampa Skyline and Gasparilla ship in the background. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Tactical Air Squadrons at Cam Ranh AB were:

• 558 Tactical Fighter: 8 November 1965 - 31 March 1970 (F-4C Tail Code: XD/XT)
• 555 Tactical Fighter: 8 November 1965 - 25 January 1966 (F-4C Tail Code: XT)
• 43 Tactical Fighter: 8 November 1965 - 4 January 1966 (F-4C)
• 557 Tactical Fighter: 1 December 1965 - 31 March 1970 (F-4C Tail Code: XC)
• 559 Tactical Fighter: 27 December 1965 - 31 March 1970 (F-4C Tail Code: XN)
• 391 Tactical Fighter: 26 January 1966 - 22 July 1968 (F-4C Tail Code: XD/XT)

F-4C Serial 63-7542 of the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron. This aircraft survived the war and eventually was sent to AMARC for scrapping 12 July 1988

Note: The 43d TFS provided replacement training unit for F-4 aircrews and was deactivated in place and aircraft dispersed to other wing squadrons; the 391st TFS was transferred the 475th Tactical Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan in response to USS Pueblo incident; 555th TFS was transferred to 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base. November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... January 25 is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (362nd in leap years). ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Image File history File links F-4c-63-7542-557tfs-camranh. ... Image File history File links F-4c-63-7542-557tfs-camranh. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Misawa Air Base. ... Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force facility and is the home of Wing 21 of the RTAF 2nd Air Division. ...

At Cam Ranh Bay the wing carried out close air support, interdiction, and combat air patrol activities over both Vietnams and Laos, in addition to augmenting U.S. Forces in South Korea after the capture of the USS Pueblo. This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

On 30 March 1970, as part of the Vietnamization process and phase out of the F-4C, fighter operations at Cam Ranh Bay AB were halted and the 12th TFW was deactivated. The 557th, 558th and 559th TFS were deactivated in place and the F-4C's transferred to the Air National Guard. March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (90th in a leap year). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... The Air National Guard (ANG) is part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Air Force (USAF). ...

On 31 March 1970 the 37th TFW at Phu Cat Air Base was re-designated the 12th TFW in a name-only transfer. March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... Aerial Photo of Phu Cat Air Base - South Vietnam - 1971 Phu Cat Air Base is a former South Vietnamese Air Force and United States Air Force base. ...

483rd Tactical Airlift/Composite Wing

The 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing was activated on 15 October 1966. With the deactivation of the 12th Tactical Fighter wing, the 483d became the host wing at Cam Ranh Bay on 31 March 1970. The wing was established to receive ex-Army CV-2B "Caribou" light transports. Upon transfer to the USAF, the aircraft was redesignated as a C-7B. The 483d TAW mission was to provide cargo and logistical support to U.S. Army and allied ground forces throughout South Vietnam. Image File history File links 483taw. ... October 15 is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ...

Tactical Airlift Squadrons of the 483d were:

• C-7B Squadrons
  • 457 Tactical Airlift (Cam Ranh) (Tail Code: KA)
  • 458 Tactical Airlift (Cam Ranh) (Tail Code: KC)
  • 459 Tactical Airlift (Phu Cat) (Tail Code: KE)
  • 537 Tactical Airlift (Phu Cat) (Tail Code: KN)
  • 535 Tactical Airlift (Vung Tau) (Tail Code: KH)
  • 536 Tactical Airlift (Vung Tau) (Tail Code: KL)

• C-130B Squadrons (TDY from the 463d Tactical Airlift Wing Clark AB Philippines)
  • 29th Tactical Airlift (Tail Code: QB)
  • 772d Tactical Airlift (Tail Code: QF)
  • 773d Tactical Airlift (Tail Code: QG)
  • 774th Tactical Airlift (Tail Code: QW)

C-130E Squadrons (TDY from CCK Taiwan) C-130A Squadrons (TDY from Naha Okinawa) Aerial Photo of Phu Cat Air Base - South Vietnam - 1971 Phu Cat Air Base is a former South Vietnamese Air Force and United States Air Force base. ... Aerial Photo of Phu Cat Air Base - South Vietnam - 1971 Phu Cat Air Base is a former South Vietnamese Air Force and United States Air Force base. ...

C-7B Serial No 63-9725 of the 535th Tactial Airlift Squadron - October 1971. It is believed that this aircraft along with other C-7s from the 483d TAW was tranferred to the South Vietnamese Air Force in 1972 after the 483d was deactivated.

Note: The C-130 squadrons rotated frequently from Clark AB were operated as Detachment 1. 463d Tactical Airlift Wing. Image File history File links C-7A-63-9725-535tas-483taw-camranh-oct71. ... Image File history File links C-7A-63-9725-535tas-483taw-camranh-oct71. ...

The 14th Aerial Port Squadron and 608th Military Airlift Support Squadrons of the 483d Wing operated the Military Airlift Command terminal facilities at Cam Ranh, moving personnel and cargo in and out of South Vietnam. C-141 Starlifter and C-5 Galaxy aircraft were the main transport aircraft used. Once passengers and cargo were unloaded the C-130 Hercules and C-7 Caribou squadrons provided transportation in-country. MAC shield Military Airlift Command (MAC) was a former United States Air Force command. ... C-141 Starlifter A C-141 Starlifter leaves a vapor trail over Antarctica // The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter is a military strategic airlifter in service with the United States Air Force. ... The C-5 Galaxy is a jet-powered military transport aircraft designed to provide strategic heavy airlift over intercontinental distances. ...

The 463d and 483d at Cam Ranh formed the 834th Air Division.

In April 1971 the aerial port at Cam Ranh Air Base moved 80,522 passengers and 10,425 tons of cargo. Also handled were 712 tons of mail and 10,939 Vietnamese travelers. April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

The unique capabilities of the C-7 for short landing and takeoff made Caribou transports absolutely vital to the war effort. On many occasions the C-7s flew emergency airlift missions to airstrips and combat areas that no other aircraft could reach. Most notable were those in support of special forces camps in the central highlands.

In June 1968 the wing flew a record 2,420 combat troops in three days between Dak Pek, Ben Het and Dak To. 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

In August 1968 pinpoint night airdrops were accomplished at Duc Lap, Ha Thanh and Tonle Cham Special Forces camps. Ammunition and medical supplies were parachuted into 75-foot-square drop zones while the camps were under attack. 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

In June 1969 during the siege of Ben Het more than 200 tons of ammunition, POL, rations, water and medical supplies were airdropped into a 100 x 200-foot zone with every load on target and 100 per cent recovered. Year 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ...

Again in April 1970, the 483rd helped break the siege of Dak Seang. The wing flew 100 air-drop sorties under heavy hostile fire in ten days delivering some 400,000 pounds of vital supplies. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ...

During their five years' flying for the 483rd, the C-7 Caribous carried more than 4.7 million passengers, averaging more than one million a year during 1967, 68 and 69. At the same time the wing averaged more than 100,000 tons of cargo each year.

In 1971 several squadrons from other deactivating units were assigned to Cam Ranh. The 483d was renamed as the 483d Composite Wing. 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

• 90th Special Operations 1 January 1971 (A-37B Tail Code: CG)
• 360th Tactical Electronic Warfare 31 August 1971 (EC-47N/P/Q Tail Code: AJ)
• 361st Tactical Electronic Warfare 31 August 1971 (EC-47N/P/Q Tail Code: AL)
• 362d Tactical Electronic Warfare 31 August 1971 (EC-47N/P/Q C-47H Tail Code: AN)

The 90th SOS inactivated in place 31 May 1972; the 360th TEWS was reassigned to 377th Air Base Wing at Ton Son Nhut Air Base 1 February 1972; the 361st was deactivated in place 1 December 1971 and the 362d was assigned to the 366th TFW at Da Nang Air Base on 1 February 1972. Emblem The 366th Fighter Wing (366 FW) is a unit of the United States Air Force headquartered at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. ...

The 483d Composite Wing was inactivated on 15 May 1972. For its service in Vietnam, the 483rd was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Please see Presidential Unit Citation for other versions of this award The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941 (the date of the Attack on... The Outstanding Unit Award is a decoration of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1954. ...

U. S. Navy use of Cam Ranh Bay

Cam Ranh Bay became the center of coastal air patrol operations with the establishment in April 1967 of the U.S. Naval Air Facility, Cam Ranh Bay, and the basing there of P-2 Neptune and P-3 Orion patrol aircraft. That summer, Commander Coastal Surveillance Force and his staff moved their headquarters from Saigon to Cam Ranh Bay and set up operational command post to control Market Time effort. Country wide coordination also was enhanced with establishment of the Naval Communications Station.

In the beginning the shore facilities at Cam Ranh Bay were extremely limited, requiring interim measures to support assigned naval forces. Army depots provided common supplies, while Seventh Fleet light cargo ships Mark (AKL-12) and Brule (AKL-28) delivered Navy-peculiar items from Subic Bay in the Philippines. Until mid 1966 when shore installations were prepared to take over the task, messing and quartering of personnel were handled by APL-55, anchored in the harbor. Also, a pontoon dock was installed to permit the repair of the coastal patrol vessels. Gradually the Naval Support Activity, Saigon, Detachment Cam Ranh Bay, improved the provision of maintenance and repair, supply, finance, communications, transportation, postal service, recreation, and security support.

While the concentration at Cam Ranh Bay of Market Time headquarters and forces during the summer of 1967, the demand for base support became extraordinary. Accordingly, the Naval Support Activity Saigon, Detachment Cam Ranh Bay, was redesignated the Naval Support Facility, Cam Ranh Bay, a more autonomous and self sufficient status. A greater allocation of resources and support forces to the shore installation resulted in an improved ability to cope with the buildup of combat units. In time, the Cam Ranh Bay facility accomplished major vessel repair and dispensed a greater variety of supply items to the anti-infiltration task force. In addition the naval contingent at the Joint Service Ammunition Depot issued ammunition to the coastal surveillance, river patrol and mobile riverine forces as well as to the Seventh Fleet’s gunfire support destroyers and landing ships. Seabee Maintenance unit 302 provided public works assistance to the many dispersed Naval Support Activity, Saigon detachments.

As a vital logistic complex, Cam Ranh Bay continued to function long after the Navy’s combat forces withdrew from South Vietnam as part of the Vietnamization of the war. However between January and April 1972 the Naval Air Facility, and the Naval Communications Station turned over the their installations to the Vietnamese Navy and were duly disestablished.

Capture of Cam Ranh Bay

After the American withdrawal from South Vietnam in 1973, the South Vietnamese Air Force used the airfield at Cam Ranh Bay as a storage facility for many of their propeller-driven aircraft (A-1E, T-28). The aircraft were kept in flyable storage while the large amount of jet F-5s and A-37s were used in operations against the North Vietnamese army. 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

By the early spring of 1975 North Vietnam realized the time was right to achieve its goal of re-uniting Vietnam under communist rule, launched a series of small ground attacks to test U.S. reaction. 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

With the fall of the Central Highlands and the northern provinces of South Vietnam, a general panic had set in. By 30 March order in the city of Da Nang and in Da Nang harbor had completely broken down. Armed South Vietnamese deserters fired on civilians and each other. Forward North Vietnamese fired on American vessels in Da Nang harbor and sent sappers ahead to destroy port facilities, and refugees sought to board any boat or craft afloat. March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (90th in a leap year). ...

Initially, Cam Ranh Bay was chosen as the safe haven for these South Vietnamese troops and civilians transported by boat from Da Nang. But, even Cam Ranh Bay was soon in peril. Between 1 and 3 April, many of the refugees just landed at Cam Rahn reembarked for further passage south and west to Phu Quoc Island in the Gulf of Siam, and ARVN forces pulled out of the faciilty. The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was a military component of the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam (commonly known as South Vietnam). ...

On 3 April 1975 North Vietnamese forces captured Cam Ranh Bay and all of its military facilities. April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ...

Uses after 1975

After the fall of Saigon and the unification of Vietnam, Cam Ranh Bay became an important cold war naval base for the Soviet Pacific Fleet. Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành Chí Minh) is the largest city in Vietnam, located near the delta of the Mekong River. ... Pacific Fleet (Тихоокеанский флот in Russian, or Tikhookeanskiy flot), a part of the Soviet Navy stationed in the Pacific Ocean, which secured the Far Eastern borders of the USSR. The fleet headquarters was located at Vladivostok. ...

In 1979, the Soviet government signed an agreement with Vietnam for a 25-year lease of the base. Cam Ranh Bay was the largest Soviet naval base outside the Soviet Union, allowing the Soviet Union to project increased power in the South China Sea. The Russian government continued this arrangement in a 1993 agreement that allowed for the continued use of the base for signal intelligence, primarily on Chinese communications in the South China Sea. By this time, most combat troops and naval vessels had been withdrawn, with only support personnel for the listening station remaining. As the original 25-year lease was nearing its end, Vietnam demanded $200 million in annual rent for the continued operation of the base. Russia balked at this, and decided to withdraw all personnel. For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see 1979 (song). ... Motto: Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) Translation: Workers of the world, unite!) Anthem: The Internationale (1922-1944) Hymn of the Soviet Union (1944-1991) Capital (and largest city) Moscow Official languages None; Russian de facto Government Socialist Republic/Federation of Soviet Republics  - Last President Mikhail Gorbachev  - Last Premier Ivan Silayev... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... The South China Sea, showing surrounding countries and neighbouring seas and oceans The South China Sea is a marginal sea south of China. ...

On May 2, 2002, the Russian flag was lowered for the last time. Currently, Vietnamese officials are considering turning the base into a civilian facility, similar to what the Philippine government did with the American Clark Air Base. May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Clark Air Base is a former U.S. Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, now known as the Clark Special Economic Zone. ...

With the Russian withdrawal, the United States in recent years has been negotiating with the Vietnamese government to declare Cam Ranh Bay to be open to port calls by foreign warships, as it already has done with the ports of Haiphong in northern Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Haiphong (Vietnamese: Hải Phòng, Chinese 海防, Hǎifáng) is the third most populous city in Vietnam. ...

Such an arrangement would not be exclusive to the United States but would allow warships from any nation to use the port.

Cam Ranh Airport

On May 19, 2004, after major reconstruction, Cam Ranh Airport received its first commercial flight from Hanoi. Today, the facility operates as an interal airport, taking over all air traffic which previously headed to Nha Trang Airport. May 19 is the 139th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (140th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... History Cam Ranh Airport was built by US Army during Vietnam War. ... Hanoi (Vietnamese: Hà Ná»™i)  , estimated population 3,058,000(2004), is the capital of Vietnam. ... Nha Trang Air Base is a former United States Air Force base. ...

See also

• United States Air Force In South Vietnam
• List of airports in Vietnam
• United States Pacific Air Forces

Map Of Major USAF bases in South Vietnam Overview What started as a small U.S. assistance program to train the South Vietnamese to protect themselves grew into a massive military and naval effort by the US with four major areas of combat operations. ... // Civil Airports International Airport Danang International Airport (Danang), (DAD/VVDN) Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi), (HAN/VVNB) Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City), (SGN/VVTS) Domestic Airports Buon Ma Thuot Airport (Buon Ma Thuot), (BMV/VVBM) Ca Mau Airport (Ca Mau), (CAH/VVCM) Cam Ly Airport (Da... Emblem of the U.S. Air Forces Pacific The United States Pacific Air Forces (USPACAF or PACAF) is one of nine major U.S. Air Force commands and one of two located outside the continental United States, the other being U.S. Air Forces Europe. ...

References

• Martin, Patrick, Tail Code: The Complete History Of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings, 1994

• Mesko, Jim, VNAF: South Vietnamese Air Force, 1945-1975, 1978

• Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings: Linege and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Office OF Air Force History, United States Air Force, 1984

• Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History

• USAF Historical Reserach Division/Organizational History Branch - 12th Fighter Wing

• VNAF - The South Vietnamese Air Force 1951-1975

• USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to Present [1]

External links

• 12th Tactical Fighter Wing Association

• C-7A 63-09760 At the Air Mobility Command Museum

• Cam Ranh Bay Photo Album
• Steve Lentz's Cam Ranh and Nha Trang Pictures 1968/1969

• World Aero Data airport information for VVCR
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 11.998153° 109.219372°