Location
Lat 11° 38' 1N 108° 57' 6E  Phan Rang Airfield is located roughly three miles inland from the coast in Ninh Thuận Province in South Central Coast Region in Vietnam. Bordering Camranh Bay (Cam Ranh Bay). Also known as Thành Sơn Air Base.

Construction
During 1942, built by the Japanese with a single 3,500' runway.

World War II
Used by the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) during 1942 until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
Used by the French Air Force during the First Indochina War, then abandoned during 1954.

Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, Phan Rang Airfield was rebuilt in 1965 and used by both the United States Air Force (USAF) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). This airfield was part of the II Corps Tactical Zone of South Vietnam.

Units based at Phan Rang
USAF
336th Tactical Fighter Wing (F-100, F-4) Holloman AFB March 20, 1966
35th Tactical Fighter Wing (F-100) Myrtle Beach AFB October 10, 1966
8th BS (B-57) Da Nang
13th BS (B-57) Da Nang
315th Air Commando Wing (315th Special Operations Wing) Tan Son Nhut June 15, 1967 - 1972
14th Special Operations Wing Nha Trang October 15, 1969
RAAF
No. 2 Squadron (Canberra) 1966 - 1971 RAAF Amberley

After American and Australian units withdrew, Phan Rang was used by the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF). The 92nd Tactical Wing was transfered from Nha Trang and operated A-37 and UH-1. Also the 920th Training Squadron operated from this airfield with T-37B for jet training until June 1974.

During early 1975, VNAF pilots at Phan Rang flew missions to support retreating Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) until they abandoned Camranh Bay on April 14. In a desperate attempt to hold the airfield, the 92nd Tactical Wing commander ordered his men to continue fighting to hold the airfield and flyable aircraft departed leaving only four AC-119s and two A-37s. Vietnamese Rangers were sent in for one last attempt to hold the airfield, but Phan Rang was captured by the North Vietnamese Army on April 16, 1975.

Today
Since occupation until the present day, Phan Rang Airfield is used by the Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF). Also known as Phan Rang Airport. Airport codes: ICAO: VVPR / IATA: PHA. The single concrete surfaced runway measures 9,990' x 148'. Until the late 1990s, the VPAF operated captured aircraft including the A-37 and UH-1. Since then, Phan Rang Airfield operates Sukhoi Su-30MK2V, Sukhoi Su-27SK and Su-27UBK fighters.

References
Index to Air Bases - Research Report No. 85, I.G. No 9185 - July 30, 1944

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Last Updated
July 19, 2024