Chu Lai Base Area
| Chu Lai Base Area | |
|---|---|
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Helicopters at Chu Lai, 1966
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| Coordinates | 15°27′18″N 108°41′24″E / 15.455°N 108.69°E |
| Type | Marines/Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1965 |
| In use | 1965-1972 |
| Battles/wars |
 Vietnam War Operation Starlite |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants |
3rd Marine Division 1st Marine Division Task Force Oregon 23rd Americal Division |
Chu Lai Base Area (also known as Chu Lai Combat Base, Kỳ Hà Air Facility, or simply Chu Lai or Kỳ Hà) is a former U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base in Chu Lai in central Vietnam.
The base was located on the Kỳ Hà peninsula north of Highway 1 approximately 60 km southeast of Da Nang.
On 6 May units from the ARVN 2nd Division and 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines secured the Chu Lai area. On 7 May, the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (United States) (3rd MEB), composed of the 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, elements of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 10 landed at Chu Lai to establish a jet-capable airfield and base area.
The Marines provided security for the Seabees as they constructed the airbase. By mid-June the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines had arrived at Chu Lai to provide artillery support for the 4th Marines and the Marines were authorised to conduct search and destroy operations within a 104 square mile tactical area of operations.
In August 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines and the 3rd 155mm Gun Battery arrived at Chu Lai. On 14 August the 7th Marines arrived at Chu Lai. On 18 August the Marines launched Operation Starlite to secure the area around Chu Lai, the operation lasted until 24 August and resulted in 45 Marines and 614 Vietcong killed.
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