Cam Ranh Bay Air Base

Cam Ranh Naval Base
Part of Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) Russian Air Force (VVS) Republic of Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) Pacific Air Forces (USAF)
Cam Ranh AB Location of Cam Ranh Air Base, Vietnam
Coordinates	11°59′53″N 109°13′10″E / 11.99806°N 109.21944°E / 11.99806; 109.21944 (Cam Ranh AB)Coordinates: 11°59′53″N 109°13′10″E / 11.99806°N 109.21944°E / 11.99806; 109.21944 (Cam Ranh AB)
Type	Air Force Base
Site information
Condition	Joint Civil/Military Airport
Site history
Built	1965
In use	1965-Present
Battles/wars	Vietnam War

Cam Ranh Naval Base is located on Cam Ranh Bay in Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam. It was one of several South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) air bases built and used by the United States Air Force (USAF) during the Vietnam War. Between 1979 and 2002, the facility was used by the Soviet/Russian Navy. At the end of 2013, Russia resumed the use of the base by its Navy and in 2014 by its Air Force.

On May 19, 2004, after major reconstruction, Cam Ranh Airport received its first commercial flight. As Vietnam considers the facility to be important to its defense, a small garrison of troops are stationed there.

The airfield at Cam Ranh Bay was built by the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps along with civilian contractors beginning in 1965. It was turned over to the USAF Pacific Air Forces on November 8.

Cam Ranh Air Base was a part of the large Cam Ranh Bay logistics facility built by the United States. It was the major military seaport used by the United States for the offloading of supplies, military equipment and as a major Naval base. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force units all had compounds and units assigned to the Cam Ranh Bay facility from its opening in 1965 until its closure in 1972 as part of the drawdown of United States military forces in South Vietnam.

Cam Ranh Air Base served as a United States Air Force tactical fighter base, the first in South Vietnam to base the F-4C Phantom II tactical fighter-bomber. The air base also was used as a strategic and tactical airlift facility. Cargo and personnel would arrive from the United States into the logistics facilities at Cam Ranh Bay by ship and also by large Military Air Transport Service/Military Airlift Command airlifters, and then be transferred to tactical airlift for movement within South Vietnam by the 483d Tactical Airlift Wing, using C-7 Caribou and C-130 Hercules transports. Outgoing cargo and personnel would also be processed though the large aerial port facility.