Bearcat Base (also known as Bearcat, Camp Martin, Camp Cox or Long Thanh North) is a former U.S. Army base near the city of Biên Hòa in Đồng Nai province in southern Vietnam.

Bearcat Base
(Long Thanh North Airfield)
 
Biên Hòa, Đồng Nai province in Vietnam
Bearcat Base, 26 September 1967
Bearcat Base is located in Vietnam
Bearcat Base
Bearcat Base
Shown within Vietnam
Coordinates10°50′06″N 106°57′36″E / 10.835°N 106.96°E / 10.835; 106.96
Site information
OperatorArmy of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)
United States Army (U.S. Army)
ConditionAbandoned
Site history
Built1960 (1960)
In use1960-1972 (1972)
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Garrison9th Infantry Division
Royal Thai Volunteer Regiment
Royal Thai Army Expeditionary Division
Airfield information
Elevation140 feet (43 m) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
05/23 5,000 feet (1,524 m) Asphalt

History

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Long Thanh helicopters, 27 January 1967

Bearcat was originally a French airfield, later used by the Japanese during World War II. Early in the Vietnam War, the 1st Special Forces established a base there. It was later the base camp for the 9th Infantry Division from January 1967 until the division moved to Đồng Tâm Base Camp near Mỹ Tho in late 1967. The camp was located on Route 15, 16 km southeast of Biên Hòa.[1] The camp took its name from its Special Forces radio call sign.[2][3] Other U.S. units stationed at Bearcat included:

Bearcat also served as the base for the Royal Thai Army Expeditionary Division forces from 1968.[2][4]

Long Thanh North Airfield
 
Long Thanh Army Airfield, July 1967

Aviation paragraph.

ARVN use

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In 1972 the Army of the Republic of Vietnam infantry school and armor school began moving to Bearcat Base from Thủ Đức.[5]

Current use

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The base was abandoned and turned over to farmland although the Long Thanh North airfield is clearly visible on satellite images.

References

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  1. ^ See map on: http://720mpreunion.org/history/project_vietnam/212th/detachments/Long_Thanh/long-thanh-north.html accessed October 16, 2018
  2. ^ a b Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 77. ISBN 9780811700719.
  4. ^ Ruth, Richard A (2011). In Buddha's Company: Thai Soldiers in the Vietnam War. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-3489-0. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  5. ^ "United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam 1972-1973 Command History Annex C" (PDF). United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. 15 July 1973. p. C-44. Retrieved 10 September 2020.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.