The Old Can Tho Airport in period of 1960s and 1970s
After a hard and bad day, I found a website on which there are many photos of Can Tho Airport in 1960s and 1970s by chance. No matter which color they are, I am glad to see these photos.
I know American soldiers took these photos. I will soon make a little project of photograph. Maybe, I will take pix at the same angles that Joe O’Donnell or Robert Payette or others mentioned on this website took. I want to make a comparison, the current and the old airport.
Here is the link of that website: www.cantho-rvn.org
On this website, Joe and Robert took pix of Can Tho Army Airfield which was located 75 miles south of Saigon, outside the city of Can Tho and next to the Mekong river in the delta. Now, that army airfield becomes Tra Noc Domestic Airport (to me, it is just a domestic airport, even though many people use a good name for it Can Tho International Airport). There flights are only from Can Tho to Ha Noi and vice versa
Mekong Delta Map
Can Tho Army Airfield map
A map of the Can Tho area showing Can Tho City, Soccer Field, & Airfield.
Back to the past, this airport was a big and busy one. Now, well, it is simply a civilization domestic airport. I feel a bit disappointed. I did believe that they will change and take use of what we had to improve and develop this airport; simply make it like a 2nd Tan Son Nhat airport in Mekong Delta. I bet I will wait for a long time.
Many aircrafts in Can Tho at that time
The WHITE WHALE, the VIP C-123, at Can Tho, Senator Charles Percy's fact finding visit Jan. '68. Photo by: Bill Grohoski
Can Tho Airfield runway. Photo by: Phillip Tyson
Can Tho Airfield runway. Photo by: Phillip Tyson
A great photo of a 20mm Cobra at Can Tho Airfield either landing or taking off. Photo by: Gary Gardina
An Air Ambulance. Photo by: John L Jones (UK)
Armed Huey Gunship. Photo by: James Haytas
A Loach. Photo by: Frank Benns
Huey and C-123 Provider at Can Tho Airfield 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette
Single Engine, Can Tho 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette
Flight line at Can Tho 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette
A 235th AWC Cobra waiting for a strike call. Photo by: Ken Foster
Air Viet Nam, Can Tho Airfield, 1965. Photo by: Robert Payette
Can Tho Airfield; 4 Pilatus Porters, 1 Volpar-this is a Beech 18/C-45 with tricycle gear and turbine engines, 1 US Army U-1 Otter, 1 USAF C-7 Caribou callsign is "Iris", 1 USAF C-123 Provider unk callsign. 1968-70. Photo by: Jeff Fozard
A Picture of the Can Tho Airfield Air Tower. Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73
1971-72 A great photo of the Can Tho Airfield front gate. Photo by: Gary Gardina
Well, so impressed! Thanks for posting these photos on cantho-rvn.org. Good source for historic stuffs, at least in 1960s and 1970s.
I know all were army airplanes. The point here is that we did have/receive from the US. Why don’t we base on the infrastructure and stuffs like that to improve the airport? Why do we need to wait for a long time? People keep talking about the Mekong Delta. They want Can Tho to be a big center of Mekong Delta. They want a lot. They just have not done many though. Anyway, Can Tho Domestic Airport is being used now. It is better than nothing.
Photo of the rebuilt airport
Front of Can Tho Airport Terminal
[I express my personal thinking about everything I see and experience on my posts. I use photos from http://www.cantho-rvn.org.]
Nice page, I was stationed Soc Trang 68 – 70, flew gunner with the T-Birds and Vikings, also did a short TDY flying gunner for the MACV Commander at the soccer field. Amazing how so much change has taken place. It was a very beautiful country what a shame things turned out so bad after all the sacrifice by so many. The best thing I can say now is at least the people there are not being killed and seem to live life the best they can.
Tom Materene
336th
121st
The large single-engine plane was a U-1A “Otter” with the callsign “Big Daddy”
The C-123 callsign was “Bookie”
I flew out of Can Tho, callsign “Vanguard” from July 67 to July 68. Lived downtown.
The photo of the rebuilt airport is the old Binh Thuy Air Force bace. Now Can Tho Airport. Can Tho Army Air field is part of the Vietnamese Armp post now.