NORTH VIETNAMESE AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04560A006400010047-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2000
• Sequence Number: 47
• Publication Date: October 1, 1968
• Content Type: MEMO

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PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION MEMORANDUM
NORTH VIETNAMESE
AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION
Declass Review, NIMA/DoD
NPIC/R-119/68
OCTOBER 1968
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AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
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This document contains information affecting
the national defense of the United States,
within the meaning of Title 18, sections
793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as amended.
Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is
prohibited by law.
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NORTH VIETNAMESE AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION
Since the imposition of US bombing restrictions on 31 March 1968,
the North Vietnamese have made a concerted effort to repair and expand
their operational airfields and to complete the two airfields which had
previously been under construction (Figure 1). Outside assistance is
suggested by the different construction techniques observed at the air-
fields. When construction is completed, the North Vietnamese will have 25X1 D
significantly extended the operating range of their aircraft in all direc-
tions and increased their dispersal and recovery capabilities.
The runway and taxiway at Yen Bai were completed in = after a no-
ticeable increase in the rate of construction. The extremely crude con-
struction method employed at this airfield (hand pouring concrete directly
into pre-positioned molds) is similar to airfield construction through-
out southern China. The same construction method has been recently em-
ployed at Kep (Figure 2) where the airfield's capacity is being expanded
by a runway extension and the conversion of a taxiway to a secondary run-
way.
Concrete slabs are being fabricated near Haiphong/Kien An Airfield
for use in resurfacing the taxiway and repairing a parking apron. A simi-
lar concrete fabrication area has been recently identified in the vicinity
of Phuc Yen (Figure 3); however, the slabs are not currently in use at 25X1 D
Phuc Yen airfield.
In contrast to these two methods of concrete construction, the run-
way at Bai Thuong was surfaced with Soviet-type pierced steel planking
(PSP) between (Figure 4). This type of PSP has not been
observed previously in North Vietnam. Although an adjacent natural sur-
face strip had been operational at Bai Thuong, the surfacing of the main
runway greatly increases the operating capability in the southern Pan-
handle.
Other airfield repair and expansion observed since the bombing cessa-
tion includes the completion of a secondary runway at Hoa Lac, the filling
of bomb craters at Vinh, and the initial construction of a possible run-
way extension or overrun at Hanoi/Gia Lam.
In addition to the airfield construction, there has been an increase
in the North Vietnamese aircraft inventory. These concurrent developments
suggest the North Vietnamese intend to expand their air operations.
NPIC Project: 250016AJ
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FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF AIRFIELDS, NORTH VIETNAM.
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FIGURE 2. CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY, KEP AIRFIELD.
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FIGURE 3. CONCRETE SLAB FABRICATION, PHUC YEN AREA.
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1 RUNWAY SURFACING, BAI TI-IUONG AIRFIELD.
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