Firebase Betty
{{Infobox military structure
|name=Firebase Betty
|partof=
|location=
|coordinates={{Coord|10.908|N|108.074|E|display=inline|name=Firebase Betty}}
|image= File:Betty, September 1967.png
|caption=21 September 1967
|type= Army
|code=
|built= 1966
|builder=
|materials=
|height=
|used= 1966-75
|demolished=
|condition=abandoned
|ownership=
|controlledby=
|garrison=
|commanders=
|occupants= 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry
3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry
1st Battalion, 50th Infantry
|battles= 60px
Vietnam War
|events=
}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Phan Thiết
| elevation-f =
| elevation-m =
| website =
| metric-rwy =
| r1-number = 07/25
| r1-length-f = 3600
| r1-length-m =
| r1-surface = asphalt
| footnotes =
}}
Firebase Betty (also known as Currahee Base Camp, Landing Zone Betty or Phan Thiết) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) firebase south of Phan Thiết in Bình Thuận Province, southern Vietnam.
History
The base was established at the French-era Phan Thiết airfield approximately 5 km southwest of Phan Thiết and 2 km east of Highway 1.{{cite book|last=Kelley|first=Michael|title=Where we were in Vietnam|publisher=Hellgate Press|year=2002|isbn=978-1555716257|page=52}}
File:Phan Thiet Airfield, November 1968.png
The first U.S. Army unit based here was the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry from September 1966 to December 1967 as part of Operation Byrd.{{cite book|last=Stanton|first=Shelby|title=Vietnam Order of Battle|publisher=Stackpole Books|year=2003|isbn=9780811700719|page=127}}
The 192nd Assault Helicopter Company was based here from October 1967 to January 1971.{{rp|122}}
The 3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry was based here from February 1968 to December 1969 giving the base its alternative name of Currahee Base Camp.{{rp|159}}
The 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry was based here from October 1969 to December 1970.{{rp|151}}
Other U.S. Army units based here included:
- 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry (May 1969){{rp|125}}
- 5th Battalion, 27th Artillery{{rp|102}}
- 2nd Battalion, 320th Artillery{{rp|108}}
- 3rd Platoon, 272nd Military Police Co.
On the morning of 25 February 1968 the base was hit by People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) mortar and rocket fire which exploded an ammunition bunker and was followed by a PAVN sapper attack. U.S. losses were three killed and 29 wounded and 21 PAVN killed and one captured
On 24 April 1969 a Douglas DC-3 of Far Eastern Air Transport was damaged beyond repair while landing at the airfield.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19690424-0|title=24 April 1969 |publisher=Aviation Safety network|accessdate=5 February 2015}}
On 3 May 1970 a PAVN artillery and sapper attack on the base resulted in five U.S. killed and 25 wounded.{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|title=30 U.S. casualties at base|date=4 May 1970|page=13}}
Current use
The base is abandoned and has reverted to farmland and housing. The former airfield is now Truong Van Ly road.