Phu Cat Air Force Base, Vietnam

37th Security Police Squadron

 


SSgt Bill Marshall

contact:  www.billmarshallsaceliteguard@gmail.com

During the period of April 1968 to April 1969 I served as a Security Policeman at Phu Cat AFB, Vietnam. The base was home to a squadron of F-100, F-4's, Caribou C7A's,  Pedro Helicopter Rescue. The 37th Security Police were tasked with providing the security for this base which was comprised of sentry dog teams, cobra flight ambush teams, mortar crews, bunker and tower observation and fighting positions that surrounded the base. During the period the Air Police and Security Police protected the base it was never over run  and loss of life and resources were at a minimum. The following pictures are from my film archive along with pictures that were furnished by my friends Jack Hatcher (67-68) and John DiFusco (67-68) Newell Swartz (66-67)

The following pictures are courtesy of Newell Swartz who along with 54 Air Policemen convoyed from Phan Rang to secure a new air base named Phu Cat that would be constructed by the RMK/Red Horse civil engineers. The following 15 pictures are from his tour ending January 1967.

1 Aug 1966, Day 1, Hour 1 for the arriving 37th APS


 

Day 1 Bulldozer clearing ground for their tents.


"Ol Glory" Flagpole built with 2X4s



Messhall (Guess the cooks name was Lyle)




"Dispensary" No Dr's just corpsman (Cappy)



Mail Call (The Old Fashion Way)



Newell with cookies from home (yum)



No Showers?  River will do!



Communal Bath



Newells Pet Mongoose "Zippo"



Newell holding "Zippo" (Note Zippo's Hooch)



Spider Holes (Tunnel Entrances)

Checking them out L-R- Irwin, Swartz, Gorman



Checking the tunnel after setting off exposives



Newell teaching the locals how to ride a bull!


End
 

2007 Aerial Pictures of Flight Line and Aircraft Reventment Area, "Currently used as a regional airport"


 

2007 Aerial View (note Hwy 1A)

The below map was submitted by Sgt John Galinac who worked in CSC during the 68-69 period.
The map displays the fighting position posts along with mortar positions.

To view full sized map - Click on the map

 

 
 

Base Operations - Phu Cat Air Base - South Vietnam, 1968

  
 


Welcome to Phu Cat

Phu Cat Air Base is located in the central coastal plains of Vietnam approximately 240 miles northeast of Saigon.

The base has a 10,000' runway. 33 and 15 with TACAN, ADF, and GCA navigational equipment.

Prominent pilotage check points around Phu Cat are Highway 1 and its parallel railroad which runs from Qui Nhon, 17 miles to the southeast, through Phu Cat. The highway and railroad pass Phu Cat on the East from south-southeast to north-northwest. The river is another landmark that can be used to locate Phu Cat in deteriorating weather conditions. The river runs on a southeasterly course and passes approximately one mile south of the base.

Phu Cat has two basic weather seasons, the northeast monsoon season running from October to March and the southwest monsoon running from April to September. The northeast monsoon brings restrictions. Winds during this period are generally from the northwest. The southwest monsoon is characterized by northwesterly winds in late evening and easterly winds during the day with thunderstorms during the night.

The northeast and southwest monsoons are separated by the spring transitional and the fall transitional periods. During these periods between monsoons Phu Cat has its maximum and most severe thunderstorms. It is estimated that Phu Cat will have about 95% VFR weather during the year.

FACILITIES

Transportation – excellent – call Motor Pool with generally a 5 minute wait. Shuttle bus runs basewide and twice daily to Qui Nhon.

BX – small but good. Periodic shortages of scotch, bourbon, soft drinks, envelopes, tape recorders and some other items.

Clubs – Officer’s, NCO’s, and Airman’s club with somewhat limited facilities.

Chow – OK and getting better. Standard field ration mess.

Billeting – Most officers have private 8 x 11 rooms with air conditioning and refrigerators. NCO’s share rooms; airmen in open bays. Maids shine shoes, sweep room, change sheets, cost $4.00/month.

Recreation –

Softball –

Tape and Record Lending Library with recorders available.

Outdoor movie with nightly movies – average selection.

Outdoor park for parties.

Laundry – free but minimal satisfaction. Two or three day service. Off base has better service. Two bits per fatigue uniform.

  


37th Security Police Squadron Area




Front Gate Phu Cat AFB


Approach area to front gate


Civilian base workers were all checked prior to leaving the base at days end.




Rail tracks along front gate (ROK compound in the background)


 


View of adjacent ROK Camp

 

Pass and Registration front gate





Pictures of Base and Perimeter


 

Red Horse area of Phu Cat



Close in perimeter fence near village


 

On base




 

Perimeter Towers (John DiFusco lower picture)



 


Picture taken from Water Tower Observation Post (overlooking F-100, F4  Reventment area)



Perimeter location wire where sapper attack occurred Feb 1969



Water Tower observation post looking towards the Phu Cat mountains



Water Tower observation and radio relay post (foreground is the aircraft test section)


 

POL area



Infrastructure on base


Rice Fields Adjacent to Phu Cat AFB









Strip access road leading to Hwy 1


Bill Marshall, Bravo Bunker





Bill Marshall


Bravo Bunker located adjacent to Flight Line


 

Bill Marshall with Band of Brothers (C Flight Law Enforcement) Wish I could remember the names!


 

SSgt Bob Halverson


Sgt John DiFusco


Bill Marshall, John DiFusco, Flight Line Sentry Post


"MAC" "C" Flight, L/E Mascot

Beer Gussler, C-Ration Lover, Typist, Guard Dog???
















L/E Desk Sergeant (cannot remember name)


 

 Short timer Bar B Q














Going on R&R


 

Cobra Flight Guys on their way to R&R Australia (can't remember names)






Temples and Shrines near  Phu Cat






Qhin  Nhon City Scenes




Access Road from Hwy 1A to Phu Cat AFB (approx. 1 Mile)

shops and homes along the way






The following group of pictures are from the collection of TSgt Jack Hatcher
who served from April of 1967-April 1968 at Phu Cat AFB, Vietnam
























































Sgt John H DiFusco Nov 67,Nov68

The following pictures are from John's tour at Phu Cat AFB


























The following pictures have been supplied by Carl Chamberlin along with Steve Howell from their tours at Phu Cat 1967-1968

Carl (Machine Gun Kelly) Chamberlin

















































































 

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