Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base: Difference between revisions

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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.

Laotian Civil War

File:Pacaf.jpg

Throughout the 1950's Laos had been embroiled in Civil War, and by the early 1960's the conflict was threatening to spread into Thailand. Major fighting broke out in December 1960 and spread far enough to cause casulaties amoung Thai civilians living along the Mekong River. The United States Embassy in Vientiane was burned to the ground and fighting raged in and around the city. Western governments recognized different leaders, with military aid being provided to the communist Pathet Lao forces by the Soviet Union. In December, the U.S. Air Attache photographed a Soviet Il-14 cargo plane transporting supplies to communist forces near Van Vieng. On 23 December, communist forces fired on an American VC-47 passenger transport. The plane, which was carrying the Air Attache, was stuck by .50 caliber rounds but was able to land safely.

It was the first American aircraft in Southeast Asia to be fired upon.

Thailand was a constutional monarchy and traditionally maintaned a pro-western stance in foreign affairs. The fighting in Laos was of great concern to the Thai government and feared if Laos would fall to the communists, the "Domino Theory" would place the entire region, including Thailand in jeapordy. Northeast Thailand housed a community of Vietnamese mixed in with Chinese throughout the country. Some of the Vietnamese wanted to move to communist North Vietnam, but they were not necessarily communist sympathisers. Indeed, attempts by North Vietnamese communists to organize the Vietnamese in Thailand were dealt with strongly by the Thai government.

The Royal Thai Government began flying reconnasance missions over Laos on 19 December 1960 with some RT-33 photo jets. CINCPAC ordered American technicians to assist the Royal Thai Air Force in processing and analyzing the film. On 19 January, PACAF had identified 25 airfields, 49 lines of communication routes and 19 urban targets. A few weeks later, HQ USAF authroized the release of these photographs to the governments of Laos and Thailand.

On 23 March Pathet Lao Anti-aircraft Artillery opened fire on an American C-47 as it flew over the eastern portion of the Plaines des Jarres, shooting the plane down. It was one of the first USAF aircraft shot down over Indochina, and marked the beginning of combat action by the USAF from bases in Thailand.

Origins Of US Military Presence In Thailand

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.

Also in April 1961, a small detachment of F-102 "Delta Daggers" were sent to Don Muang under Operation Bell Tone. Their mission was to bolster the defense capabilties of the Royal Thai Air Force.

Then in November 1961, Four RF-101C reconnassance aircraft of the 45th Tactial Reconnassance Squadron and their photo lab arrived. The RF-101's were sent to assist Royal Thai AF RT-33 aircraft in performing aerial recon flights over Laos.

These small detatchments recieved logistical support from their home bases outside of Southeast Asia. Circumstances in the region, however, were leading to drastic changes in the US position. On 29 April 1961, The Joint Chiefs of Staff instructed CINCPAC to move 5,000 troops and air elements to both Udorn Air Base and Da Nang Air Base. It was believed these forces were going to tack action in Laos if the Pathet Lao did not observe the truce arranged the previous month.

Also, in South Vietnam, the numbers of Communist insurgents continued to increase. More American military advisors were being dispatched to the country, but their reports indicted a need for stronger measures to be taken.

In addition, one of President Kennedy's advisors indicated the need for deterring guerrilla action in northeast Thailand was more pressing than affairs in Veitnam, and Thailand should take precidence. Vice-President Lyndon Johnson recommended that Thailand be given $50 million in military aid.

Two milestones occurred early in 1962. The Military Assistance Group in South Vietnam was renamed U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV} on 6 Feburary. The other being a joint communication from Secratary of State Dean Rusk and Thai Foreign Minister Thanat Koman on 6 March in which the United States "firm intention... to aid Thailand, its ally and historic friend in resisting communist agression and subversion". As a result, the Military Assistance Command, Thailand (MACT) was set up on 15 May 1962 at Don Muang.

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.

Gulf Of Tonkin Incident

By mid-1964 the situation in Southeast Asia was ambiguous. North Vietnam was determined to take over South Vietnam. Communist rebel forces were making military and politicl gains in Laos. The United States was taking over the role of "protector" from France in the area and the fear was that Communism would prevail over the democratic governments in the region. However there was no real justification for a full-scale American military involvement in the region.

On 31 July 1964 the Gulf of Tonkin Incident occoured. It was a pair of alleged attacks by North Vietnamese gunboats on two American destroyers, the USS Maddox and the USS C. Turner Joy, off the North Vietnamese coast in the Gulf of Tonkin. As a result, President Johnson would order more forces to support the west-allied South Vietnam government, and additional USAF forces were dispatched to Thailand, beginning a large scale United States military presence in Southeast Asia.

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 the 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

External links

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@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 During the [[Vietnam War]], Dong Muang was used as a major command and logistics hub of the [[United States Air Force]].
+=== Laotian Civil War ===
-=== Origins Of US Military Presence In Thailand ===
 [[Image:Pacaf.jpg|left|100px| ]]
+Throughout the 1950's [[Laos]] had been embroiled in Civil War, and by the early 1960's the conflict was threatening to spread into [[Thailand]].  Major fighting broke out in [[December]] [[1960]] and spread far enough to cause casulaties amoung Thai civilians living along the [[Mekong River]].  The United States Embassy in [[Vientiane]] was burned to the ground and fighting raged in and around the city.  Western governments recognized different leaders, with military aid being provided to the communist [[Pathet Lao]] forces by the [[Soviet Union]].  In [[December]], the U.S. Air Attache photographed a Soviet [[Il-14]] cargo plane transporting supplies to communist forces near Van Vieng.    On [[23 December]], communist forces fired on an American VC-47 passenger transport.  The plane, which was carrying the Air Attache, was stuck by .50 caliber rounds but was able to land safely.
+It was the first American aircraft in Southeast Asia to be fired upon.
+Thailand was a constutional monarchy and traditionally maintaned a pro-western stance in foreign affairs.  The fighting in Laos was of great concern to the Thai government and feared if Laos would fall to the communists, the "[[Domino Theory]]" would place the entire region, including Thailand in jeapordy.   Northeast Thailand housed a community of Vietnamese mixed in with Chinese throughout the country.  Some of the Vietnamese wanted to move to communist [[North Vietnam]], but they were not necessarily communist sympathisers.  Indeed, attempts by North Vietnamese communists to organize the Vietnamese in Thailand were dealt with strongly by the Thai government.
+The Royal Thai Government began flying reconnasance missions over Laos on [[19 December]] [[1960]] with some RT-33 photo jets.   [[CINCPAC]] ordered American technicians to assist the Royal Thai Air Force in processing and analyzing the film.  On [[19 January]], PACAF had identified 25 airfields, 49 lines of communication routes and 19 urban targets. A few weeks later, HQ USAF authroized the release of these photographs to the governments of Laos and Thailand.
+On [[23 March]] Pathet Lao Anti-aircraft Artillery opened fire on an American C-47 as it flew over the eastern portion of the Plaines des Jarres, shooting the plane down. It was one of the first USAF aircraft shot down over Indochina, and marked the beginning of combat action by the USAF from bases in Thailand.
+=== Origins Of US Military Presence In Thailand ===
 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.