Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base: Difference between revisions
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Most USAF operations moved out of Don Muang in [[1970]] to other bases in Thailand. |
Most USAF operations moved out of Don Muang in [[1970]] to other bases in Thailand. |
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==Don Muang RTAFB Today== |
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Don Muang is an active Royal Thai Air Force base, the home of tje 1st Air Division, and consists primarily of non-combat aircraft. |
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* 601 Transport Squadron flies C-130h/h-30. |
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* 602 Royal Flight flies Airbus A310-324, Boeing 737, BAe 748 Srs 208 |
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* 603 Transport Squadron flies G222, BAe 748 Srs 208 |
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* 604 Communications Squadron flies T-41D, Cessna 150H |
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* 606 Survey Squadron flies Learjet 35A, Merlin IV, N22B Nomad, Arava 201 and King Air 200 mapping aircraft |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 17:51, 27 April 2006
Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base is the main operating and command base for the Royal Thai Air Force. It is located in the northern suburbs of Bangkok. It is jointly used by civil authorities as Bangkok International Airport and is the busiest commercial airport in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, Dong Muang was used as a major command and logistics hub of the United States Air Force.
The official American military presence in Thailand started in April 1961 when an advanced party of the USAF 6010th Tactical (TAC) Group arrived at Don Muang at the request of the Royal Thai government to establish an aircraft warning system. Then in November 1961, Four RF-101C reconnassance aircraft of the 45th Tactial Reconnassance Squadron and their photo lab arrived to fly photo recon flights over Laos.
In November 1962 the 2nd Air Division assumed control of the 6010th TAC Group. In August the group was redesignated the 35th Tactial Group. The 35th TAC group consisted of the following units:
- 35th Air Base Squadron - Located at Don Muang.
- 331st Air Base Squadron - Located at Takhli RTAFB.
- 332nd Air Base Squadron - Located at Ubon RTAFB.
- Det #1, 35th Tactical Group - Located at Korat RTAFB.
In July 1965 the 35th TAC Group was redesignated the 6236th Combat Support Group and again in April 1966 it was redesignated the 631st Combat Support Group. In March 1965 there were 1342 enlisted men stationed at Don Muang RTAFB, with their primary mission to provide support for all USAF units and detachments assigned to the base or other bases in Thailand.
Other units attached to Don Muang RTAFB were the following:
- 509th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - 4 F-102's
- 452nd Air Refueling Squadron - 4 KC-135's
- 315th Air Division - 4 C-130's
Up through 1966 many of the USAF logistics requirements in Thailand were routed through this facility to other Thai bases transported by Don Muang's Transport Units.
Most USAF operations moved out of Don Muang in 1970 to other bases in Thailand.
Don Muang RTAFB Today
Don Muang is an active Royal Thai Air Force base, the home of tje 1st Air Division, and consists primarily of non-combat aircraft.
- 601 Transport Squadron flies C-130h/h-30.
- 602 Royal Flight flies Airbus A310-324, Boeing 737, BAe 748 Srs 208
- 603 Transport Squadron flies G222, BAe 748 Srs 208
- 604 Communications Squadron flies T-41D, Cessna 150H
- 606 Survey Squadron flies Learjet 35A, Merlin IV, N22B Nomad, Arava 201 and King Air 200 mapping aircraft