Khe Gát Airfield Explained

Khe Gát Airfield
Nativename:Sân bay Khe Gát
Ensign Size:50px
Type:Airfield
Built:1969
Used:1969-72
Condition:abandoned

Khe Gát Airfield (Vietnamese: Sân bay Khe Gát, also known as Khe Phat Airfield[1] [2] [3]) was a military airfield in Bo Trach District, Quang Binh, Vietnam. It was built within seven months in 1969 and played a major role for the Vietnam People's Air Force during the Battle of Dong Hoi in April 1972.[4] Nowadays it is part of the Ho Chi Minh Highway.

History

On 19 April 1972, two MiG-17s piloted by Lê Xuân Dị and Nguyễn Văn Bảy "B" took off from the airfield.[5] At approximately 17:00, one of the MiG-17s scored a direct hit on USS Higbee with a BETAB-250 (250abbr=onNaNabbr=on) bomb, after failing to hit its target twice on two previous attack runs. The attack crippled Higbee's 5-inch gun turret, impaired its steering and propulsion, and wounded 4 sailors on deck.[6] Another MiG-17 simultaneously aimed its bombs at USS Oklahoma City but missed the target.

The U.S. later responded by bombardment against Vinh and Dong Hoi on the same day and the following, and an air strike by 33 aircraft on April 22 at the airfield. The U.S claimed destroying one MiG and damaging another on the ground.[7] According to the North Vietnamese, one MiG-17 was damaged.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: KHE PHAT AIRFIELD NORTH VIETNAM, CIA-RDP83-01074R000300200006-0. https://web.archive.org/web/20170122213914/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP83-01074R000300200006-0.pdf. dead. January 22, 2017. Central Intelligence Agency. 21 July 1973. 8 May 2009.
  2. Web site: KHE PHAT AIRFIELD NORTH VIETNAM 40 NAUTICAL MILES FROM TRACK, CIA-RDP85T00339R000400070003-2. https://web.archive.org/web/20170123004808/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP85T00339R000400070003-2.pdf. dead. January 23, 2017. Central Intelligence Agency. 21 July 1973. 5 March 2009.
  3. Book: United States Congress House Appropriations. Department of Defense Appropriations for 1973: Hearings ... 92d Congress, 2d Session, pt. 8-9. 1972. 4.
  4. Web site: Vietnam Military History Museum. 2020-02-12. 2019-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20190416095939/http://btlsqsvn.org.vn/Ho%E1%BA%A1t-%C4%91%E1%BB%99ng/bai-viet/san-bay-da-chien-khe-gat-va-chien-cong-cua-khong-quan-tiem-kich-bom-5199. dead.
  5. Book: Toperczer, Itsván. MiG-17 and MiG-19 Units of the Vietnam War. Osprey Publishing. 2001. 9781841761626.
  6. Book: Gutzman, Philip. Vietnam: Naval and Riverine Weapons. 2010. 9780557177431. 34.
  7. Book: Boniface, Roger. MIGs Over North Vietnam: The Vietnam People's Air Force in Combat, 1965-75. Stackpole Books. 2008. 9780811706964. 85.
  8. https://thethaovanhoa.vn/tran-dau-mig-17-tan-cong-ham-doi-7-cua-my-20120326101437128.htm

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