483rd SPS By Steve Janeke The 483rd Security Police Squadron at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base provided security for the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing and the 483rd Troop Carrier Wing (latter renamed the 483 Tactical Airlift Wing). The base was located on South Vietnams East coast, approximately 180 miles Northeast of Saigon. The base was primarily used as a cargo/airlift base. It was one of three airbases where military entered or departed the country for their 12 month tour of duty. Of the 500 officer and airmen assigned to the squadron during my tour of duty (1970-71) about 55-60 were assigned to the K-9 Division. The division had two kennels. One kennel was for law enforcement and customs. That kennel had drug detector dogs to search baggage, mail, aircraft, and people for narcotics. The kennel also had a 135 pound dog named King that worked with air police patrols to stop bar fights and other disturbances. The majority of the dogs were in a kennel located on a small hill overlooking the runway. The hill was appropriately called K-9 Hill. The American and allied soldiers in the field had the added fire support provided by the fighter and the fighter-bomber aircraft of the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing from 1965 to 1970. The 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing provided support from 1966 to 1972. Air Force dog teams (Kilo Teams) might not be well known outside of Air Force circles, but these dogs and handlers were an important part of America's fighting forces in Viet Nam. We have currently located over 30 handlers from the 483rd and are looking for the rest. This article was first printed in the Viet Nam Dog Handlers Association Publication “Dogman”, Volume 6, Number 1, February 1999. Steve Janeke is a member of Viet Nam Dog Handlers Association , the VDHA Chaplain, and Unit Director for the Cam Ranh Bay Handlers.
Weekly Training Military Dog History History in The Pacific Theater 1st Patrol Dog Class
Contributors Steve Janeke Bill Rominger Bruce Kinniard Scott Baker "Doc" Robert Engelmeier Links of Interest To Non-VSPA Internet Pages 12 TFW Australian AF F-4's US Navy Base Cam Ranh Bay |
