Yên Bái Air Base


Yên Bái Air Base is a Vietnam People's Air Force military airfield located north-northwest of Yên Bái.

History

Vietnam War

On 15 November 1967 F-105s of the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron bombed the base as part of a Commando Club guided bombing mission.
In February 1969 the 925th Fighter Regiment was formed at the base operating the MiG-17F and Shenyang J-6.
On 10 May 1972 a VPAF J-6 of the 925th Fighter Regiment ran out of fuel after a combat air patrol mission, deadsticked from an altitude of 1,400 meters, descending too rapidly, and overran the runway overturning and exploding, killing the pilot instantly.
On 1 June 1972 F-4D #65-0784 was shot down by a VPAF J-6 near the base, the weapons system operator Capt Roger Locher successfully evaded capture for 23 days before being rescued.

Current use

The VPAF 931st Fighter Squadron operating Su-22M-4/UM-3K is based at Yên Bái.