Vietnamese troops with an HMM-362UH-34Transfer ceremony, 4 November 1970
Sóc Trăng Airfield was originally established in the French colonial era, it was subsequently used by the Japanese forces from 1940 to 1945.[1]
HMM-362 with Sikorsky UH-34s codenamed Operation Shufly was the first USMC helicopter unit to serve in Vietnam arriving on 15 April 1962. Sóc Trăng was selected for the deployment because it had one of the few hard-surfaced runways in South Vietnam. HMM-362's mission was to provide transport and resupply for ARVN units throughout the Mekong Delta.[2]: 56–67 On 1 August HMM-163 replaced HMM-362. In early September HMM-163 began moving north to Da Nang Air Base, completing the redeployment by 20 September.[2]: 73–4
Other units stationed at Sóc Trăng included:
93d Transportation Company from June 1962[3]: 16 to 23 June 1963[4]: 64
121st Aviation Company (Airmobile Light) from 23 June 1963. The 121st Aviation Company was activated using the personnel and equipment of the 93d Transportation Company, which was simultaneously inactivated.[4]: 64
On 19 May 1967, two UH-1D Iroquois (#64-13521 and #66-01154) of the 336th AHC collided on approach to Sóc Trăng causing both helicopters to crash killing all 4 crewmen on one helicopter and 1 crewman on the other[8]
^Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 470–1. ISBN978-1555716257.
^ abWhitlow, Robert (1977). US Marines in Vietnam: The Advisory And Combat Assistance Era, 1954-1964. History and Museums Division Headquarters United States Marine Corps. ISBN9781494285296. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^Edgar F. Mote, "82d Medical Detachment Army Medical Service Activities Report, 1969, National Archives II at College Park, Maryland, Record Group 472, Entry A1 891, Box 21, Folder "45th Medial Company 1969"
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
