QuanLoi-PhotoPage-1

Among the units supported from Quan Loi:

The USAF provided support with Air Weather, Aeroport staff, and the 19 TASS FAC O1-E (Birdog), and OV-10's (Bronco).
Also Dustoff Crews from 4th Platoon 45th Medical Company (AA), based out of Lai Kai, staying at QL on 3 day rotations.
One such was Aircraft #66-16432, this aircraft carried the name "Iron Butterfly", CE was Steve Huntley, 6/68-12/68.
Also was "Iris 421" the C7A Caribou from the USAF that brought the mail to us. "Iris" was the call sign for the 536th Tactical Airlift Squadron at Vung Tau. The 421 was a mission number if I recall correctly. The particular aircraft and crew would have rotated daily, however, the Iris/536th aircraft had a big KL and yellow patch on the tail. (R K Blinn provided information on "Iris 421".) Also (Jay Gehring who was a Flight Engineer on the C-7a and flew these missions.)
Also there was units of the 3rd 17th Air Cav 1st Avn Bde, "The Spurs".
The “Cannon Kings”, "A" Battery 6th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, Twenty-third Artillery Group, II Field Forces.
Photo page at 15th Med, 1st Air Cav Asscoiation of Quan Loi.

Historical Information

Quan Loi comes as a shock when you step off the plane. No comparison between it and Long Binh or Bien Hoa. Cut out of the rubber trees, the base camp looks like a splotch in the middle of 'no-mans's land.' Red dirt is embedded in everything.

Quan Loi airfield, open by 1st Infantry Division June 8, 1966, providing operational support for the surrounding area, to include An Loc, Loc Ninh,through out Binh Long Province, and into Cambodia. Well remembered about Quan Loi was the extreme abundance of red laterite clay DUST. Seems this stuff got into everything, our clothes, food, tents. I had red clay coming out of my pours for about 3 months after returning to the State. Quan Loi over the years was call "Rocket City". Webster recalls being able to sent the clock by the incoming motor fire nightly at 2000, 2400, 0200,and 0400 hours. In the day time the VC would always trying to hit the ammo dump or the POL area, using the Quan Loi Tower as their aiming point. That was nerve racking. How about the ability of Quan Loi to "hide" at night, when those 55 gallon drum "runway" lights were lit and smoking. During the "Rainy" season, being able to set the clock by the 1600 hours rain fall starting. Quan Loi also got its "SMALL" share of USO shows, and Red Cross Girls visiting. Remember the bands for the Philippines? Were the really as bad as I remember? How about a cool swim in the pool at the French Country Club on the Southwest side, after walking thru the perimeter wire to get there. Pretty weird seeing a 10 meter concrete diving platform in a war zone. Getting in and out of Quan Loi was simple question of either getting a ride on a convoy up and down "Thunder Road", which had to be sweep for mines daily in 1968, are catch a ride on one of the flights coming to the airstrip. That choice was a real no brain'r. Mail was delivered daily by "Iris 421", a USAF C-7A. Much of the supplies and troop transport was supply by the USAF C-130's, Callsign "Igloo". They "hated" to come into Quan Loi after the airstrip had been sprayed with "penna prime" oil. It would get all over the landing gear and at high altitude it would harden and the crew would have to fly to Okinawa to land, because the landing gear would not "come down" and they would have to "belly land", then get it fixed.

Quan Loi airstrip was used by many different aircraft. C-7A, C-47, C-123, C-130, O1-E, OV-10, 0V-1, UH-1B,C,D,H, AH-1, AH-1G, OH-6A, OH-58, OH-13, OH-23, U6, U8, U21, from the USAF and USA. All so there were a series of Air America aircraft in and out of Quan Loi, to include the Pilatus Porter, C-123's and C-47's. (Recollections of Vietnam:Aircraft of the Vietnam War, is a great collection of photos, maintained by Peter Bird, past C-7A pilot with the 535th TAS USAF, in Vietnam).    Navy F-4's would use the airstrip to preform a "compass check" upon "NOT" returning from Cambodia in 1968. That was exciting, because they would "kick the AB" mid-field, burn the runway, and piss off the CP in the trees south of the runway. I never did get a "tail number", but the Callsign was "Playboy" of the USS Enterprise. Air American used the airstrip with its French STOL aircraft, the "Porter", several C-123's, and C-47's. I recall "visits" from "Black, whisked" EC-130's. Once in a while a visit form AC-47A and AC-130's, "Puff the Magic Dragon", and "Spector" after a mission close by. Once there was even an old Ford Tri-motor that landed. I understand that there was even a visit by a US Navy CH-53 "Sea Stallion" to Quan Loi.

Personal story. The Webster was the controller on duty the day that the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Air Cav. arrived at Quan Loi in November of 1968. He was "supposed" to have work from 0600 until 1200 hours that day. The traffic was so heavy, that his relief at 1200 hours was unable to keep up with the traffic long enough to take over. At one point there were at least 15 C-130 stacked at 1000 foot intervals West and South of the airstrip for landing, seeing how only one could be on the ground at a time. Also coming in where multiply flights of 10 UH-1's for troop transport, refueling, and re-arming. During all this new arriving equipment the 1st Infantry Division continued operations in the area, supported by aviation support from the 1st Aviation Battalion, 173rd Aviation Company (Robinhoods and Crossbows), and others. The Webster finally was able to had off the "mic" at about 1900 hours that evening. For those who flew in and out of Quan Loi the Webster was the controller with the "high pitched" voice, sometimes mocked by the pilots trying to talk like a girl.

Radio Frequency used in the Quan Loi area, July 1969.
Quan Loi Arty: 39.7 HF, and 272.0 UHF.
Quan Loi Tower and GCA Frequency's are not know to the Webweaver at present.
Capital Center for Flight Following: 36.3 HF, 122.5 VHF, 249.5 or 304.1 UHF.

On April 7th, 1972 "Easter Offensive", the 5th NVA Division troops took Quan Loi airfield.
April, 1975 Quan Loi fell for the final time to NVA troops on their way to Saigon.

Operation Ranch Hand data: gallons sprayed within 8 km of the specified area. (Thus, each area is a 9.6 mile diameter.)
An Loc: 77000 Orange, 79830 White,         Quan Loi: 44190 Orange, 34300 White.