LSA Vandegrift, Vietnam, Remains, Destruction

            "On 9 April, a CH-53A aircraft from HMH-462 crashed at Vandegrift LSA while attempting an external pick-up. The resulting fire completely destroyed the aircraft as well as the LSA. Three crewmen received major injuries and were evacuated. The fourth crewman received minor injuries. Two ground personnel at Vandegrift received minor injuries and one person received major injuries due to the crash. The following day, additional injuries, including one fatality, were received by ground personnel as ammunition in the LSA continued to explode." MAG-36 Command Chronology April 1969

"Three personnel were evacuated out of country, as a result of a helicopter accident on 9 April 1969." HMH-462 Command Chronology April 1969

The 1st MAW CC lists the 53 as BuNo 153738. The loss was classed as operational and the cause was listed as pilot error. None of these sources list the names of the crew or ground personnel.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

April 4, 1968 1st Cavalry forces at LZ Stud
Coordinates16.7°N 106.88°E
TypeArmy/Marines
Site information
Conditionabandoned
Site history
Built1968
In use1968-71
Battles/warsVietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg
Vietnam War
Garrison information
Occupants1st Cavalry Division
9th Marines
ARVN 2nd Division

Vandegrift Combat Base (also known as FSB Vandegrift and LZ Stud) is a former U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base north of Ca Lu in Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam.

History
1968

LZ Stud was originally established by the 1st Cavalry Division on Route 9 in early 1968 to support Operation Pegasus, the relief of Khe Sanh.[1] On 14 March engineer construction began on a 150 feet (46 m) x 2,500 feet (760 m) airstrip and a logistical complex at LZ Stud.[2]: 11  On 24 March the quartering party moved to LZ Stud and began work on command and communications bunkers. By 29 March the strip was opened for C-7 Caribou aircraft. On 30 March the 11th Aviation Group moved to LZ Stud.[2]: 6 

The base was later occupied by the 9th Marine Regiment, part of the 3rd Marine Division who renamed it Vandegrift Combat Base after Marine General Alexander Vandegrift.[1][3]
1969

From January–March 1969 Vandegrift was used to support Operation Dewey Canyon, an offensive into the A Shau Valley south of the base.

On 9 April 1969 a Marine Sikorsky CH-53A Sea Stallion helicopter (BuNo 153738) of HMH-462 crashed into the logistics support area at Vandegrift triggering a large fire.[4]
Destruction of Vandegrift Combat Base, 26 September 1969

In October 1969 the base was handed over to the ARVN 2nd Division who dismantled it and used it to reinforce Camp Carroll.[1]
1971

In late January 1971 the base was reoccupied by the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division in support of Operation Dewey Canyon II and Operation Lam Son 719.[3] During the same period, the base was also occupied by the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 23rd Infantry Division in support of Operation Dewey Canyon II.

On 21 March PAVN sappers attacked the base destroying 10,000 gallons of aviation fuel.[5]: 117 
Current use
The base is abandoned and turned over to farmland. 
   

Taken on: November 9, 2022

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