Chu Lai
Encyclopedia
Chu Lai is a sea port, urban and industrial area in Dung Quat Bay, Núi Thành
district, Quang Nam province
of Vietnam. The city is served by Chu Lai Airport.
base
from 1965 - 1971 during the Vietnam War
. Roughly 56 miles (90.1 km) southeast of Da Nang
, the base had an air field to supplement the major base at Da Nang. It wasn't named for any local geographic feature; it was the Chinese
name of Lieutenant General
Victor H. Krulak
, commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
.
Da Nang Air Base
was the first major airfield used by the United States Marine Corps
during the Vietnam War. Shortly after conventional ground forces began arriving in country in 1965, it became necessary to open a second airfield because of the heavy traffic into and out of Da Nang. Charles R. Gibson was selected to be the head engineer of the base. He and his crew broke ground in December and the base was officially operational as of June 1, 1965, when three A4-C Skyhawks from VMA-225
landed. It was involved in Operation Starlite
on August 18, 1965, when the Marines made a pre-emptive strike on gathering Viet Cong forces who were preparing to attack the base. By mid-October 1965, the base was home to over 80 A-4 Skyhawks from Marine Aircraft Group 12
. Marine Aircraft Group 13
was also based at Chu Lai from September 1966 until September 1970, with three F-4 Phantom squadrons. The Marines departed Chu Lai on October 13, 1970, turning control over to the United States Army
.
Chu Lai was also home to the Americal Division
from approximately 1967 until 1971.
Other than the runway and several concrete revetments for fighter aircraft
nothing remains of the U.S. Military presence. Nature has reclaimed the home of the SeaBees on Ky Ha Peninsula. The nearby heliport
, once home to several U.S. Army aviation units
, including F/8th Cav(BlueGhost)
has been reclaimed by sand dunes.
Kia Motors
has manufactured automobiles at its Chu Lai Plant as part of a joint ventured with Truong Hai Automobile Co. The site covers 320 hectares (790.7 acre), and Truong Hai was the first private company in Vietnam to manufacture automobiles, and the first to achieve an annual output of 5,000 automobiles. The facility expanded in 2003 on 38 hectares (93.9 acre) in Tam Hiep Industrial Park with an investment of VND1,900 billion. In 2007, Truong Hai Automobile Co. Ltd became Truong Hai Automobile Joint Stock Company (Thaco), with automobiles marketed as
Thaco-Kia.
Nui Thanh
Núi Thành is a district of Quang Nam province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the district had a population of 142,020. The district covers an area of 533 km². The district capital lies at Nui Thanh.-References:...
district, Quang Nam province
Quang Nam Province
Quảng Nam is a province on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bordered by Thua Thien-Huế province to the north, the nation of Laos to the west, Kon Tum Province to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi Province to the southeast, the South China Sea to the east, and the city of Da Nang to the...
of Vietnam. The city is served by Chu Lai Airport.
Vietnam War
Chu Lai was a United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
from 1965 - 1971 during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Roughly 56 miles (90.1 km) southeast of Da Nang
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
, the base had an air field to supplement the major base at Da Nang. It wasn't named for any local geographic feature; it was the Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
name of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
Victor H. Krulak
Victor H. Krulak
Victor H. Krulak was a decorated United States Marine Corps officer who saw action in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He was born in Denver, Colorado to Jewish parents...
, commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
The United States Fleet Marine Force, Pacific is the largest maritime landing force in the world. Its units are spread across the Pacific Ocean and reports to the United States Pacific Command. It is headquartered at MCB Camp H. M...
.
Da Nang Air Base
Da Nang Air Base
Da Nang Air Base was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force facility. The United States used it as a major base during the Vietnam War , stationing Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine units there...
was the first major airfield used by the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
during the Vietnam War. Shortly after conventional ground forces began arriving in country in 1965, it became necessary to open a second airfield because of the heavy traffic into and out of Da Nang. Charles R. Gibson was selected to be the head engineer of the base. He and his crew broke ground in December and the base was officially operational as of June 1, 1965, when three A4-C Skyhawks from VMA-225
VMFA(AW)-225
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. The squadron, known as the "Vikings", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing .-World War II:Marine...
landed. It was involved in Operation Starlite
Operation Starlite
Operation Starlite was the first offensive military action conducted by a purely U.S. military unit during the Vietnam War. The operation was launched based on intelligence provided by Major General Nguyen Chanh Thi, the commander of the South Vietnamese forces in northern I Corps area. Lieutenant...
on August 18, 1965, when the Marines made a pre-emptive strike on gathering Viet Cong forces who were preparing to attack the base. By mid-October 1965, the base was home to over 80 A-4 Skyhawks from Marine Aircraft Group 12
Marine Aircraft Group 12
Marine Aircraft Group 12 is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , itself an integral part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, and based at MCAS Iwakuni in Japan.-Mission:The...
. Marine Aircraft Group 13
Marine Aircraft Group 13
Marine Aircraft Group 13 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma that is currently composed of four AV-8B Harrier squadrons and a maintenance and logistics squadron...
was also based at Chu Lai from September 1966 until September 1970, with three F-4 Phantom squadrons. The Marines departed Chu Lai on October 13, 1970, turning control over to the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
Chu Lai was also home to the Americal Division
Americal Division
The 23rd Infantry Division, more commonly known as the Americal Division of the United States Army was formed in May 1942 on the island of New Caledonia. In the immediate emergency following Pearl Harbor, the United States had hurriedly sent three individual regiments to defend New Caledonia...
from approximately 1967 until 1971.
Other than the runway and several concrete revetments for fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
nothing remains of the U.S. Military presence. Nature has reclaimed the home of the SeaBees on Ky Ha Peninsula. The nearby heliport
Heliport
A heliport is a small airport suitable only for use by helicopters. Heliports typically contain one or more helipads and may have limited facilities such as fuel, lighting, a windsock, or even hangars...
, once home to several U.S. Army aviation units
United States Army Aviation Branch
The Aviation Branch of the United States Army is the administrative organization within the Army responsible for doctrine, manning and configuration for all aviation units....
, including F/8th Cav(BlueGhost)
has been reclaimed by sand dunes.
Kia Plant
Since 2001,Kia Motors
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
has manufactured automobiles at its Chu Lai Plant as part of a joint ventured with Truong Hai Automobile Co. The site covers 320 hectares (790.7 acre), and Truong Hai was the first private company in Vietnam to manufacture automobiles, and the first to achieve an annual output of 5,000 automobiles. The facility expanded in 2003 on 38 hectares (93.9 acre) in Tam Hiep Industrial Park with an investment of VND1,900 billion. In 2007, Truong Hai Automobile Co. Ltd became Truong Hai Automobile Joint Stock Company (Thaco), with automobiles marketed as
Thaco-Kia.
See also
- United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
- List of United States Marine Corps installations