On 15/1, the Quang Tri Provincial Museum announced that the aircraft was transported by a specialized vehicle from Dong Nai to Ta Con airport in Khe Sanh commune last week. The exhibit is currently being assembled for display at the relic, with completion expected by the end of January.
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The C-119 aircraft being transported to Ta Con airport for assembly. Photo: Minh Anh. |
The C-119 aircraft, originally a large-bodied transport plane for the U.S. military, was upgraded for reconnaissance missions. It saw action along the Truong Son Road – Ho Chi Minh Trail, including in Quang Tri province.
In 2016, the Ministry of National Defense allocated the C-119 aircraft to Quang Tri province for display. However, due to budget constraints, the plan faced multiple delays. In late 2024, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee provided 4 billion Vietnamese dong to Quang Tri province for the restoration, disassembly, transport, and installation of the C-119 aircraft from Dong Nai.
Ta Con airport was a strategic U.S. military base during the 1966-1968 period in Khe Sanh. It also marks the victories of the Vietnam People's Army during the anti-American resistance. The site of Ta Con airport is associated with the 1968 Khe Sanh – Huong Hoa liberation campaign and was designated a national relic in 1986.
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The C-119 aircraft will be displayed next to the C-130 "workhorse" on the right. Photo: Minh Anh. |
The relic site currently displays numerous outdoor artifacts, including: C-130, CH-47 Chinook, and UH-1A aircraft; M48, M41, and M113 tanks; 155 mm artillery; and various bomb and shell casings. Notably among these is the C-130 "workhorse" with tail number 532, which participated in the Khe Sanh – Ta Con battles and was transferred to the relic in 2012.
Ta Con airport welcomes over 20,000 visitors annually, with more than half being international tourists. The addition of the large C-119 aircraft is expected to enrich the existing exhibits and recreate the atmosphere of a military airfield at Ta Con, making it one of Quang Tri's important destinations.
Dac Thanh
