Vietnam Security Police Association

Posted on May 3 2013 by Olivier Bizet & François Millard

37th SPS 81mm mortar. Photo by Mikes Sipes, www.vspa.com

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Volume 1 of Yankee air Pirates features a prominent chapter about USAF Air and Security Police units in Vietnam. Our interest for these rarely publicized units started when we found photos of 377th SPS personnel fighting to protect Tan Son Nhut Air Base during the 1968 Tet offensive, like this one:

(U.S. Air Force)

At the time we were interested only in infantry units, like most collectors. But photos like these sparked our interest in these airmen who fought a different war on the air bases of South Vietnam and Thailand. Our books did not have any information about them, but we were lucky enough to find the VSPA website.

The Vietnam Security Police Association has more than 1,000 members and is open to "USAF Vietnam War veterans who served in Vietnam or Thailand between July 1, 1958 and May 15, 1975, as Air / Security Police (Permanent Change of Station, TDY, or as an Augmentee, and qualify for the Vietnam Service Medal)." Their website is the most comprehensive database ever assembled about Air and Security Police operations in Southeast Asia. Do not be rebuffed by its sometimes questionable design and awkward interface, it is worth a long visit! Ignore the annoying Java application prompt, and start with the Vietnam bases or Thailand bases menu. When you click on a base, at first all you will see is a low resolution psychedelic collage of photos related to the base. But wait! There's much, much more! Click on the top left menu and select "Stories and Photos". There you will find, in a more user-friendly format, hundreds of photos and very interesting information, provided by the veterans themselves or official USAF sources.

Back on the main page, click on the "Menus" tab and choose the first line, 7th AF Crests and Patches. There you will find a great selection of Air and Security Police patches, showing the extent of this seldom explored collecting field. The patches shown are not all from the Vietnam War era, but these pages are often very helpful from a collector's point of view.

So if you cannot wait until the book release on May 28th to find out more about Security Police squadrons in Vietnam, visit vspa.com now!

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Comment on this post

Funginix

01/31/2018 10:29

An unbelievable blog. This blog will indisputably be definitely recommended to my friends as well.

Rudy Rosales

01/23/2015 20:10

I was an augmentee during the 68 Tet offensive at Bien Hoa. I served with the 3rd Security Police Squadron. I was a C-123 aircraft mechanic and I was volunteered into this unit and I am proud to have a part of this great unit. I'll never forget my experience over there and it made me appreciate what we had back home in America and my home town of San Antonio, Tx.

Larry Breazeale

07/14/2014 20:06

Very impressive book! Glad the book includes the USAF SECURITY POLICE (aka: Security Forces). I served with the 3rd SPS at Bien Hoa airbase in three corps, 68-69. I missed TET 68 but, I was there for the 69 TET. 69 TET still had plenty of shooting going around & rocket attacks. I am proudly a member of the Air Force Security Forces Association, Vietnam Security Police Associstion, Vietnam Veterans of America & the National Veterans Coalition/ CP. Thanks! Defensor Fortis!<br /> Larry Breazeale, Msgt.,USAFR, (ret.), Deputy Sheriff LASD (ret.).

Ygnacio D Diaz

10/30/2014 01:21

I was at Bien Hoa Vietnam from Mar 1 1966 to Feb 67. I was a K-9er there. I am also a member of the Vietnam Security Police Assoc. and Vietnam Dog Handler Assoc. I did not make it to the Shreveport La. reunion by the VSPA. I am from San Antonio Texas and I am looking forward to attend the Bien Hoa Reunion coming up in June next year.

Conrad Gomez

01/22/2014 18:30

Wow this is great I was in Vietnam 67-68 and was a an Air Force Security Policeman and rarely do you ever hear any one interested in Sky Cops (nickname) glad to hear some published something on our experiences.

Olivier Bizet & François Millard

01/22/2014 18:46

Thanks for your comment Conrad! The chapter about Security Police is 49 pages long, and was one of the most interesting to write. We hope Yankee Air Pirates will help shed some light on the accomplishments of AP/SP units in Vietnam and Thailand!