Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base: Difference between revisions
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====347th Tactical Fighter Wing==== |
====347th Tactical Fighter Wing==== |
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===Major Aircraft Types Assigned To Takhli=== |
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* [[F-100 Super Sabre]] (1961–1963) |
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* [[F-105 Thunderchief]] (1963–1970) |
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* [[Boeing KB-50]] (1964–1965) |
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* [[F-104 Starfighter]] (1965) |
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* [[B-66 Destroyer|Douglas EB-66 Destroyer]] (1965–1970) |
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* [[KC-135 Stratotanker]] (1967–1968) |
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* [[General Dynamics F-111]] (1968, 1972–1974) |
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* [[F-4 Phantom II]] (1972) |
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* [[MC-130 Combat Talon]] |
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=== Post-Vietnam Deployments by USAF to Takhli === |
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From 13–17 December 1982 '''Commando West V''' was held. This marked the first visit of a PACAF tactical unit to Thailand since the early 1970s. |
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The '''90th Tactical Fighter Squadron''' from [[Elmendorf AFB]] [[Alaska]] deployed six F-4Es to Takhli, flying a total of 55 sorties with the Royal Thai Air Force. |
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Also on 25 November 1983 six F-4Es from the '''3d Tactical Fighter Wing''''s 3TFS deployed to Takhli for dissimilar air combat tactics training with the Royal Thai Air Force. The group returned to [[Clark Air Base]] on 5 December. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base
 | |
|---|---|
| Part of Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) | |
| Coordinates | 15°16′05″N 100°17′32″E / 15.26806°N 100.29222°E |
| Type | Air Force Base |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Military Air Force Base |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1955 |
| In use | 1955-Present |
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War |
Airfield information | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force facility. It is located in Central Thailand, approximately 144 miles (240 km) northwest of Bangkok in Takhli district, Nakhon Sawan Province, near the city of Nakhon Sawan.
Units
Takhli is the home of the Royal Thai Air Force Wing 4, 3d air division. Squadrons assigned are:
- 401 Light Attack Squadron, flying L-39 Albatross
- 402 Reconnaissance Squadron, flying Lear Jet 35A and IAI201
- 403 Fighter Squadron, flying F-16A/B
History
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base was established in the 1950s as a RTAF base. Political considerations with regards to Communist forces engaging in a civil war inside Laos and fears of the civil war spreading into Thailand led the Thai government to allow the United States to covertly use five Thai bases for the air defense of Thailand and to fly reconnaissance flights over Laos.
The USAF forces at Takhli were under the command of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). Takhli was the location for TACAN station Channel 43 and was referenced by that identifier in voice communications during air missions.
The APO for Takhli was APO San Francisco, 96273
United States Advisory Forces
The initial squadrons and units deployed to Takhli were placed under the command and control of the Thirteenth Air Force, headquartered at Clark AB in the Philippines. Thailand-based aircraft flew missions mostly into Laos until the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which expanded the air war into North Vietnam.
In 1962, the U.S. Military Assistance Group in South Vietnam was upgraded to 'U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (the famous “MACV”}, a promotion which gave it authority to command combat troops. Shortly thereafter, the Military Assistance Command, Thailand (MACT) was set up with a similar level of authority in order “to aid Thailand, (America’s) ally and historic friend in resisting communist aggression and subversion.
The United States Air Force component of the U.S. Pacific Command was Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). Thirteenth Air Force was headquartered at Clark Air Base, Philippines. Seventh Air Force, another Numbered Air Force of PACAF was headquartered at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam, although the Seventh controlled many units based in Thailand. Thai sensitivities about units based in Thailand reporting to a headquarters in South Vietnam caused a shift whereby the Seventh Air Force was ostensibly subordinate to Thirteenth Air Force for administrative matters (and therefore referred to as 7/13 Air Force). The commander, Seventh Air Force, played a dual role as MACV’s deputy for air operations.
6441st Tactical Fighter Wing
355th Tactical Fighter Wing
1972 Reopening
49th Tactical Fighter Wing
366th Tactical Fighter Wing
474th Tactical Fighter Wing
347th Tactical Fighter Wing
Major Aircraft Types Assigned To Takhli
- F-100 Super Sabre (1961–1963)
- F-105 Thunderchief (1963–1970)
- Boeing KB-50 (1964–1965)
- F-104 Starfighter (1965)
- Douglas EB-66 Destroyer (1965–1970)
- KC-135 Stratotanker (1967–1968)
- General Dynamics F-111 (1968, 1972–1974)
- F-4 Phantom II (1972)
- MC-130 Combat Talon
Post-Vietnam Deployments by USAF to Takhli
From 13–17 December 1982 Commando West V was held. This marked the first visit of a PACAF tactical unit to Thailand since the early 1970s. The 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron from Elmendorf AFB Alaska deployed six F-4Es to Takhli, flying a total of 55 sorties with the Royal Thai Air Force.
Also on 25 November 1983 six F-4Es from the 3d Tactical Fighter Wing's 3TFS deployed to Takhli for dissimilar air combat tactics training with the Royal Thai Air Force. The group returned to Clark Air Base on 5 December.
See also
- United States Air Force In Thailand
- United States Pacific Air Forces
- Seventh Air Force
- Thirteenth Air Force
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. CD-ROM.
- Glasser, Jeffrey D. (1998). The Secret Vietnam War: The United States Air Force in Thailand, 1961-1975. McFarland & Company. ISBN 0786400846.
- Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0887405134.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present
- The Royal Thai Air Force (English Pages)
- Royal Thai Air Force - Overview
External links
- Takhli Photos 72-74
- www.Takhli RTAFB.org
- Takhli RTAFB, Thailand – 355th TFW Days
- Takhli RTAFB Hootchs
- Takhli Message Board
- Takhli Air Base - APO 96273
 United States Air Force In Thailand  | ||
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| Air bases |  | |
| Wings | ||
