Camp Evans (Vietnam) Explained

Camp Evans
(Camp Evans Airfield)
Ensign:  
Location:Huế, Thừa Thiên–Huế Province
Country:Vietnam
Type:Army/Marine Base
Pushpin Map:Vietnam
Pushpin Map Caption:Shown within Vietnam
Pushpin Label:Camp Evans
Operator:Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)
United States Marine Corps (USMC)
United States Army (U.S. Army)
Garrison:1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
Used:1966-
Builder:8th Engineer Battalion
Condition:Abandoned
Battles:
Vietnam War
Elevation:63feet
R1-Number:00/00
R1-Length:2900feet
R1-Surface:Aluminium matting

Camp Evans is a former U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps base northwest of Huế in central Vietnam.

History

1966-7

Camp Evans was established by the [3rd Battalion, 26th Marines]] in late 1966 as part of Operation Chinook. The camp was located to the west of Highway 1, approximately 24 km northwest of Huế in Thừa Thiên–Huế Province. The camp was named after Marine Lance Corporal Paul Evans who was killed during Operation Chinook.[1] [2]

Marine units based at Camp Evans during this period included:

1968

In January 1968 Camp Evans was taken over by the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).[3]

On the night of 19 May 1968 the ammunition dump at Camp Evans was hit by People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) rockets and exploded causing a chain reaction and fire that lasted more than 12 hours and damaged or destroyed 124 aircraft rendering the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division combat ineffective for a week until replacement aircraft arrived.[4]

On 3 October 1968 a USAF C-7 Caribou (#63-9753) that had just taken off from the Camp Evans airstrip collided with a 1st Cavalry Boeing CH-47 Chinook (#66-19041) resulting in the death of all 24 passengers and crew on both aircraft.[5]

1969-72

Camp Evans was taken over by 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.[2]

Army units based at Camp Evans during this period included:

The 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron used Camp Evans as a forward operating base.[7]

Current use

The base is abandoned and turned over to farmland.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Wiknik, Arthur. Nam Sense. Casemate Publishers. 2009. 9781935149675. 8.
  2. Book: Kelley, Michael. Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. 2002. 978-1555716257. 5-174.
  3. Book: Stanton, Shelby. Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. 2003. 9780811700719. 340.
  4. Book: Villard, Erik. United States Army in Vietnam Combat Operations Staying the Course October 1967 to September 1968. Center of Military History United States Army. 2017. 9780160942808. 539.
  5. Web site: de Havilland C-7B Caribou. Aviation Safety network. 23 October 2014.
  6. Web site: 77th Aerial Rocket Artillery Unit. Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. 4 November 2018.
  7. Web site: The US Air Force at Camp Evans. 22 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141117213809/http://www.campevansfacs.com/. 17 November 2014. dead.