Da Nang Air Base

Today, I am posting all of the on-base photos that "survived the cut" in my digital inventory.

Unfortunately, the years took their toll on my original photos. Therefore, I decided to delete many of the shots that I took on Da Nang Air Base because they were so damaged in one way or another as to be distracting. They would have required such extensive repair work, that by the time they were done, they would not have been accurate replicas of the original, as-shot photo, but would have instead become originals themselves!

The first Marines landed at Red Beach, Da Nang in April, 1965. I arrived on the airbase in November, 1965. President Johnson's big build-up had not yet begun to make itself fully visible. Some of us Air Force types were extremely fortunate to be assigned to billeting in one of the old concrete walled barracks built by the French. It was not only the closest location to my workplace on the flight line, but it was also close to the support facilities in the "cantonment area", I. E. the chow hall, the movie theater, the library, medical clinic, etc.

The barracks were configured in an H-shape, with 2 two-story legs housing the 4-person "cubes" formed by steel, personal wall-lockers and 2 steel framed bunk beds. The connector joining the 2 legs of the H housed the latrine, showers and cleaning supply closets. Each facility had Vietnamese "Mama-sans" assigned to take care of the housekeeping, which was definitely not up to USAF standards. But then, this was a war zone...

The 8 photos, immediately following this narrative, are those of my barracks, Building 4222B, located close to the main gate to the USAF base support compound. There were also U.S. Marine tents located in the areas between the 2 legs of the H. Since we "non-combatants" were not issued weapons, I assumed that the Marines were on base to augment the USAF Air Police for defense, in the event of an enemy attack. They also had access to the latrine and shower facilities, although during the heat of day, the "aroma" from the tent areas might lead one to think differently!

The next few photos are of "Tent City", which was where the majority of the base personnel lived, until the new wooden barracks were completed.

The remaining photos are in no particular order. Hopefully my captions are helpful. Is this a worthwhile project? Please let me know your thoughts about whether or not I should continue, and/or how I might improve it.

Barracks 4222B & Main Gate to USAF Compound. Marine tent to the right of traffic policeman.

Back side of the Barracks, 4222B on far right. Another Marine tent by the bicycles.

Barracks 4222B, showing connector on the left that housed the latrine and shower facilities.

Building 4222B. A sample of some of the irreparable photo damage wrought over 50+ years.

The main aisle running down Barracks 4222B, showing the steel wall lockers that delineated each "cube".

The latrines probably appeared quite the same as they did when the French left around 10 years earlier.

Improvised ash-tray on the inside of commode door.

Entrance to a U.S. Marine tent, adjacent to Barracks 4222B.

"Tent City", home to most of the early arrivals at Da Nang AB.

"Tent City"

"Tent City".

The Monsoon Season did create its problems around "Tent City".

The construction of new, wooden barracks was underway in 1965-66.

Almost move-in ready!

Wooden barracks under construction.

New, steel wall lockers under construction.

Two completed wooden barracks. Hill 327 in background on left.

Sunrise on Hill 327.

The Da Nang base library. I spent many off-duty hours, here.

USAF Hangar lights, viewed through the canopy of a B-57, Canberra.

Bunker outside the Base Theater.

Fire extinguishers on the Flight Line.

Whoops! Misaligned oil drainage bucket.

C-130 Hercules getting some engine work.

Just completed "Freedom Hill" Exchange complex. (Hill 327)

VNAF clothes dryer.

Main Gate to USAF compound/cantonment area.

Low hanging cloud formation. In foreground? Not sure - could be a GPU (ground power unit). Parked next to the POL bladders, though, it might be a pump or something. If you know, I'd appreciate a note in the comments section!

Water tower.

USAF hangar and Transient Alert.

Airmen getting off the shuttle bus.

C-Rations. This is what we ate, 99% of the time. The only exceptions I remember were Thanksgiving and Christmas. I do recall that the Chow Hall also occasionally provided powdered eggs and powdered milk for breakfast. Exceptions, though! I first learned to drink coffee, in Vietnam.

"Freedom Hill Exchange". Hill 327 in background.

Movie poster outside the Base Theater.

Construction on Hill 327.

Digging a ditch outside the "Freedom Hill" Exchange complex.

Yours truly standing outside the recently completed Hill 327 complex. We called it the "Marine PX" at the time. It would later be formally named the "Freedom Hill Exchange". Due to the distance, we continued to use the much closer, Navy Exchange.

Hill 327

Forward Air Controller (FAC) "birds".

"No Smoking". Monsoon Season on the flight line.

Old former French bunker/observation post.

New construction. Not certain where this was. Could be along the road up to Marine Exchange on Hill 327. More likely, they were in the China Beach area, with Monkey Mountain in the background.

Empty hangar. PSP in foreground. (Pierced Steel Planking)

6252nd CAMRON Orderly Room.

6252nd TFW Headquarters Building (Note the Christmas tree.)

Rubble at the end of the main runway.

Airstrip guard bunker.

Old taxi-way. Navy "birds" on the tarmac. Hill 327 in the background.

Bunker position guarding the perimeter.

View from inside bunker.

"No Man's Land" on the base perimeter.

Old, formerly French bunker.

View of "Tent City" from inside old bunker.

Flight-line fire/crash truck.

Prefabbed office, 311th Air Commando Squadron.

Defense bunker on the base perimeter.

Defense bunker on the perimeter.

Da Nang AB Movie Theater. The best part of this place was the fresh pop-corn!

Da Nang AB Movie Theater.

Water tower.

USAF hangar. In 1966 the 6252nd CAMRON became the 35th FMS.

Door to the Airmen's Club. Flies and mosquitoes did not require a club card.

Waiting for "the birds" to come home.

Random shot of the flight line.

Hill 327. (Nikon F Photomic T, 300mm lens)

Just completed Hill 327 Marine Exchange complex is visible above the C-47's wing-tip.

Vietnamese guard bunker on the perimeter.

A pastoral perimeter area.

Hawk missile air defense position.

Stacked 50 gallon oil drums

Gooney Birds" on the tarmac. Low-hanging clouds over the hills.

A fuel bladder.

Home of the AP's canine patrol dogs.

Stacked wooden crates. 81mm mortar cartridges.

ARVN troops.

50 gallon drum trash cans.

After the monsoon season.

Whimsical road sign to some major points in the U.S.

Whimsical road sign to points OCONUS.

ARVN/VNAF barracks.

A lonely sentinel. PSP.

The Officer's Club.

ARVN/VNAF barracks.

The "chow hall".

Air to air missiles. Sidewinders and a couple I don't know.

Marine defense positions on the base perimeter. Basketball, Volleyball, solar heated showers - what more could you ask for?

The flight line.

Whoops! Foreign material on the tarmac.

My 12-hour per day duty station in USAF hangar, when not out on the flight line.

Part of the flight line.

Guard tower and bunker.

Hill 237.

Cook on his way to work.

Night work on a B-57.

Flight Line Guide truck.

Today's post is a continuation of the many aircraft photos I took while assigned to Da Nang Air Base during 1965-66. Perhaps one of the most versatile of the various jet-aircraft deployed to Vietnam was the F-4 Phantom II. It was fielded by the U.S. Navy, Marines and Air Force in various versions and configurations.