Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base: Difference between revisions
→Vietnam War: added 1969 org list and aircraft |
→Takhli RTAFB Today: added USAF exerises with TAF |
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* 402 Light Attack Squadron, flying L-39 Albatros |
* 402 Light Attack Squadron, flying L-39 Albatros |
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* 403 Fighter Squadron, flying F-16A/B |
* 403 Fighter Squadron, flying F-16A/B |
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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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Revision as of 13:48, 31 May 2006
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force facility. It is located near the city of Nakhon Sawan, about 144 miles (240 km) north of Bangkok in the Nakhon Sawan Province.
Currently Takhli RTAFB is the home of the RTAF Wing 4, 401, 402, 403 squadrons. During the Vietnam War it was a front-line base of the United States Air Force.
Vietnam War
United States Air Force personnel began arriving at Takhli in early 1961 to support a detachment of F-100 "Supersabres" from the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon AFB, New Mexico. The base continued to support F-100 rotational units until March 1965, when F-105 "Thunderchiefs" arrived from the United States and replaced the F-100s on a rotational deployment basis.
The rotational Thunderchief units were replaced in late 1965, when the F-105 equipped 355th Tactical Figher Wing was deployed permanently to Takhli from McConnell AFB, Kansas. Assigned to the wing were the 333rd, 354th and 357th Tactical Fighter Squadrons.
From March 1965 until April 1971 the 355th TFW participated in all the major strikes against North Vietnamese logistical areas. Among the targets hit by the 355th were the Yen Bay Arsenal and storage complex, Viet Tri Railroad and highway bridge, Hanoi petroleum storage complex, Dap Cau railroad and highway bridge, Phuc Yen petroleum storage. and Thai Nguyen railroad station and yard.
At the peak of operations in 1969, the units assigned to Takhli RTAFB were the following:
- Host Unit - 355th Tactical Fighter Wing
- 41st, 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (TEWS) - 31 EB-66B/C/Es
- 333rd, 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron - 40 F-105Ds
- 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron - 17 F-105F/Gs
- Det 2, 38th Air Rescue And Recovery Squadron (ARRS) - 2 HH-43s
As part of the drawdown of US Forces in Southeast Asia, all USAF units left Takhli RTAFB by April 1971.
However, as a response to the invasion of South Vietnam by the North Vietnamese army in April 1972, on 5 May about 35 members of the PACAF advance party returned to prepare for the arrival of the F-4 "Phantoms"s of the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing from Holloman AFB, New Mexico and and the KC-135's of the 11th Air Refueling Squadron from Altus AFB, Oklahoma.
USAF Withdrawl
With the Paris Peace Accord of 1973 ending the war in Vietnam, the need for large numbers of USAF aircraft in Thailand was reduced. In 1974 the AC-130 gunships and F-111's were transferred to Korat RTAFB and the base was closed for good on 31 July 1974 and the facility turned over to the Thai government.
Major Units
- 27th USAF Dispensary
- 49th Tactical Fighter Wing
- 11th Air Refueling Squadron
- 6499th Combat Support Group
- 2083rd Communications Squadron
- Det. 8, 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group
Takhli RTAFB Today
Takhli is an active Royal Thai Air Force base, home of Wing 4, 3rd Air Division.
- 401 Light Attack Squadron, flying L-39 Albatros
- 402 Light Attack Squadron, flying L-39 Albatros
- 403 Fighter Squadron, flying F-16A/B
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.