LZ Jane
Overview
LZ Jane was a landing zone in the Song Re Valley corridor, Quang Ngai Province, I Corps, used by D Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry on 17 August 1967 — one day before the redeployment order that sent the battalion back to the Pershing AO. Like its neighbor LZ Tom (BS347482, 18 Aug), it carries no formal name in the firebase gazetteer, appearing there only as "LZ Unnamed."
The position sits approximately 12 km north-northeast of LZ Tom and Ta Ma Airfield. The timing — D Company present on 17 Aug, then at LZ Tom as a pickup zone on 18 Aug — points to LZ Jane serving as a consolidation or staging point as the brigade assembled for extraction from the valley. The 3d Brigade's reconnaissance in force ran 1–19 August; both LZ Jane and LZ Tom fall on its final two days.
Location
The gazetteer fixes LZ Jane at BS362596 (15.0013°N, 108.5422°E), in the upper Song Re Valley corridor north of Ta Ma Airfield. It lies within the same tight cluster of five unnamed August 1967 LZs, all sourced from gazetteer ref 179 and all representing airmobile activity during the 3d Brigade's two-week push through the valley.
Sources
| Claim | Source | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| LZ Unnamed, BS362596, D/2/8th Cav 17Aug67 | Firebase gazetteer ref 179 | confirmed |
| Name "LZ Jane" — in-use battalion name | Michael Miller | high — battalion-era name, not in gazetteer |
| Redeployment from Song Re initiated 18 Aug; LZ Jane (17 Aug) is staging day prior | 1st Cav ORLL AD0387543, period ending 31 Oct 1967 | confirmed (primary) |
Open questions
- [ ] Confirm namesake of "Jane" designation.
- [ ] Determine whether LZ Jane had any infrastructure or was a one-day field position.
- [ ] Cross-check against D Co KIA records for Aug 1967 — the ORLL records 7 US KIA brigade-wide for the operation.
Today: Song Re Valley corridor, roughly 35 km west of Quang Ngai city. Approximately 12 km north-northeast of LZ Tom (BS347482) and Ta Ma Airfield.
The gazetteer records D/2/8th Cav at this location on 17 Aug 67 — one day before redeployment from the Song Re back to the Pershing AO was formally initiated (18 Aug). Likely a consolidation or staging position as the battalion assembled for extraction.