Welcome to Vietnam

     Tan Son Nhut was built by the French in 1920.   The base is owned and operated by the Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF).   All U.S. Forces located on Tan Son Nhut are in a tenant status.   Thus, any authority which the Air Police have over the Vietnamese on Tan Son Nhut is by specific VNAF permission.

     Tan Son Nhut is an extremely important base.   It is the largest civilian airport in Vietnam and the busiest in the world in terms of air traffic.  In the first six months of 1966, Tan Son Nhut had more traffic than the former world's busiest airport, O'Hare Field in Chicago.  Tan Son Nhut services the city of Saigon and also serves as the major point of embarkation/debarkation for U.S. Military personnel.  Tan Son Nhut lies on the northwest edge of Saigon approximately 10 minutes driving distance from the heart of the city.

     The Air Police Squadron at Tan Son Nhut came into being as the 6250th Air Police Squadron on 1 October 1965.   Prior to that time it was a section within the Support Squadron.   When activated, the squadron strength was less that 200 personnel.   However, with the massive buildup in Southeast Asia, the squadron grew rapidly in November and December 1965, more that doubling in size.   By March 1966, the squadron reached its authorized strength.  On 8 April 1966, the squadron was redesignated the 377th Air Police Squadron.

     The early days of the squadron found the Commander's Office, Orderly Room, Security & Law Enforcement Administration, all Law Enforcement activities and the Unit Armory all located within Bldg 19, the present Law Enforcement Operations building.  Due to the rapid expansion of the unit, it was necessary to find other locations to house the many Air Police sections.  And, so it was, through a self-help construction program that a group of air policeman constructed two large hutments in Cantonment Area Two.  One hutment contains the Commander's Office, Squadron Orderly Room and Squadron Operations; the other houses the Air Police Armory.  Law Enforcement Operations and Security Operations (including Central Security Control) were likewise remodeled and air conditioned by the Air Police.

     The Squadron Dayroom is located in the Jamesway Hut located at the rear of the Orderly Room (Bldg 123) in Cantonment #2 Area.  It is an airconditioned facility with television and games such as chess, checkers, cards, etc. provided for your entertainment.   Writing tables, lounge chairs and reading material are also provided.   You are asked to keep your dayroom orderly and in respectable appearance.