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Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force facility and 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.

Locaton

Takhli RTAFB is located in Central Thailand, approximately 144 miles (240 km) northwest of Bangkok in the Nakhon Sawan Province, near the city of Nakhon Sawan.

USAF Use During The Vietnam War

File:Pacaf.jpg

Takhli was a front-line facility of the United States Air Force (USAF) during the Vietnam War from 1961 through 1975. The USAF forces at Takhli were under the command of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).

The APO for Takhli was APO San Francisco, 96273

USAF Aircraft stationed at Takhli were: F-4D, F-105D/F/G, F-111, KC-135A, KB-50J, EB-66C, E/RB-66C

Advisory Use (1961 - 1964)

File:27thfwemblem.jpg

United States Air Force personnel began arriving at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in early 1961 with a detachment of F-100 "Supersabres" from the 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon AFB, New Mexico. The 524th deployed TDY personnel and aircraft to Takhli until March 1964.

On 11 May 1962, the 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 405th Fighter Wing from Clark Air Base, Philippines was deployed to Takhli in response to an increasing threat along the Laotian border. This depoyment was named FIELD GLASS. The Clark F-100s remained at Takhli until 20 August 1965 on a rotating basis with the 27th TFW squadron from Cannon.

In July 1962, the 6011th Air Base Squadron was established as the host unit. During February 1963, the rotational squadron of F-100's from Cannon was reduced to six aircraft.

In an orgazational name change, The 331st Air Base Squadron (35th Tactical Group) replaced the 6011th Air Base Squadron in July 1963 as the host unit at Takhli.

In August 1964, Det 1., 421st Air Refueling Squadron was organized at Takhli from Yokota Air Base Japan. The 421st flew the KB-50J. The 421st stayed at Takhli until 15 January 1965 when it was deactivated. The aerial refueling mission was taken over by a detachment of the 4252d Strategic Wing from Misawa Air Base with KC-135s replacing the KB-50s.

1965/1969 Vietnam War Activities

The base continued to support F-100 rotational units until 11 March 1965, when F-105 "Thunderchiefs" from the 355th Tactical Figher Wing were deployed to Takhli from McConnell AFB, Kansas.

Squadrons assigned to the 355th TFW at Takhli were:

42d Tactical Electronic Warfare: 1 January 1968 - 15 October 1970
44th Tactical Figher: 15 October 1969 - 10 December 1970
333d Tactical Fighter: 4 December 1965 - 10 December 1970
334th Tactical Figher: 8 November 1965 - 5 February 1966
335th Tactical Figher: 8 November - 6 December 1965
354th Tactical Figher: 27 November 1965 - 10 December 1970
357th Tactical Fighter: 12 June 1965 - 10 December 1970

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.

In September 1965, increasing demands for fuel in Southeast Asia led to the deployment of KC-135 tankers to Takhli under the designation of King Cobra to suppliment supplemented those at Don Muang Air Basein refueling the Thai-based fighters.

On 8 November 1965, the 355 Tactical Fighter Wing was reassigned to Takhli permanently as the new host unit, and assigned to the 13th Air Force.

During February 1966 Det. 1, 42d Electronic Countermeasures Squadron (ECS) squadron arrived from Chambley-Bussieres Air Base, France flying RB-66C and WB-66s variants of the B-66 "Destroyer" on photo reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions. In May, the 41st and 42d Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadrons (TEWS) arrived from Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina with the remainder of the B-66's which had been stationed in France.

In May 1966 The 355th TFW received its first Presidential Unit Citation for action from 1 January 1965 to 10 October 1965. During this time, the wing flew 11,892 sorties, downed 2 MiG's, and damaged 8 more.

In January 1967, the 4258th Strategic Wing assumed full responsibility for the Takhli KC-135 tankers formerly belonging to the 4252d at Kadena Air Base. At years end, the tanker force numbered 5 at Takhli.

On 10 March 1967, Capt. Max C. Brestel, an F-105 pilot became the first twin MiG-killer of the war when he shot down two MiG-17's.

Also on 10 March, Capt Merlyn H. Dethlefsen won the Medal of Honor. The target was the steel works at Thai Nguyen 50 miles north of Hanoi. After the flight leader was shot down and his wingman forced to leave the area due to battle damage, Major Dethlefsen took command of the flight and pressed the attack on the defensive positions around the target. While evading several MiG's and being hit by AAA, Major Dethlefsen took out 2 SAM sites to clear the way for the main strike force.

On 19 April 1967, Major Leo K. Thorsness won the Medal of Honor.

On 11 August 1967, Raid on Hanoi Railroad and Highway Bridge. Thirty-six strike aircraft led by the 355th dropped 94 tons of bombs and destroyed one rail span and two highway spans on the northeast side of the bridge. The superstructure was damaged and the highway portion on the north side of the bridge , where it crossed the island in the river, was cut. This stopped the movement of an average of 26 trains per day with an estimated capacity of 5,950 short tons. Two aircraft were damaged, but no pilots were lost. The heart of the North Vietnamese transportation system had been dealt a severe blow.

EB-66 from the 41st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron

File:F111a-korat-347th.jpg

F-111A from the 347th TFW at the USAF Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

On 8 October 1967, a flight of F-105's from the 355th TFW attacked and destroyed, on the ground, 2 Mi-6 and 4 Mi-4 Soviet built helicopters. On 24 October, The 355th lead a strike against the Phuc Yen airfield 18 miles north of Hanoi and the largest in North Vietnam. The airfield, which had been untouched prior to the raid, was left unserviceable. On 14 December, Under heavy anti aircraft fire, the Wing attacked the Paul Doumer bridge, a vital link between Hanoi and Red China. For the third time, the bridge comes down.

In February 1968, the KC-135s were transferred to Ching Chuan Kang Air Base Taiwan.

On 17 March 1968, Detachment 1, 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron arrives, from Nellis Air Force Base, to conduct combat test and evaluation of the new F-111's. Their first mission was flown on 25 March. Operations were suspended on 30 March after the lost of a second aircraft. Operations resumed on 12 April with a third aircraft lossed on 22 April.

On 10 October 1969 the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron moved from Korat to Takhli, thus consolidating all Southeast Asia F-105 assets at one base. The 44th was a part of the 355th until 10 December 1970.

First Deactivation

In January 1970, the 355th TFW received its 2nd Presidential Unit Citation for action from 11-12 August 1967 and 24-28 October 1967.

In July 1970, the 355th TFW received its record 3rd Presidential Unit Citation for action from 12 April 1968 through 30 April 1969. During this time frame, the wing dropped 32,000 tons of ordinance on 2,100 targets while flying 17,000 combat sorties.

In August the B-66 squadrons transferred to Korat.

In September 1970 Det 1, 12 TFS, moved to Korat from Takhli with six F-105G Wild Weasel aircraft. The unit was redesignated as the 6010th Wild Weasel Squadron on 1 November. On 6 October the Wing's last F-105 combat mission of the war was "DINO" flight led by Col. Waymond C. Nutt. This mission was an airstrike in Laos.

On 7 October the 355 TFW ceased combat operations at Takhli, and on the 12th, the wing retired it's colors with a 12-aircraft flyover of F-105s. The wing and its associated units inactivated 10 December. Most of the aircraft were moved to McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, but some went to Kadena Air Base and the 18 TFW.

The last USAF units left Takhli RTAFB by April 1971.

1972 USAF Reactivation

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. The 49th stayed at Takhli on a TDY basis until September.

On 27 June the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing was reassigned to Takhli from Da Nang Air Base South Vietnam. The 366th remained until October when it moved to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

With the departure of the 366th, the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing equipped with F-111s arrived at Takhli. The 428th, 429th and 430th TFS's participated in Operation Linebacker II when the United States resumed the large scale bombing of North Vietnam. In addition KC-135 tankers were depolyed to Takhli. In early 1973, With the suspension of bombing in North Vietnam and the resumption of peace negotiations, inflight refueling requirements decreased markedly. As a result, in late January 1973 many of the augmentee tankers returned to their home bases.

Post-Vietnam Use by USAF

On 30 July 1973 the 474th was relived at Takhli by the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing. The 347 TFW consisted of two squadrons of F-111As:

428 Tactical Fighter (Tail Code: HG - Red Tail Fin)
429 Tactical Fighter (Tail Code: HG - Yellow Tail Fin)

For a brief two-week period the 347th flew combat operations into Cambodia until 15 August, when the last wartime mission of the Vietnam Era was flown into Cambodia for final mission of Constant Guard. After the cease-fire, the wing was maintained in a combat-ready status for possible contingency actions.

During January 1974 the Secretary of Defense announced a realignment of Thailand resources, with the final pullout of air resources by the end of 1976. In June 1974, Four F-111s from the 347 TFW flew from Takhli to Osan Air Base South Korea and conducted live weapons demonstrations for Republic of Korea and US officials at Nightmare Range.

On 12 July the 347 TFW's AC-130 gunships and F-111's being transferred to Korat.

On 31 July 1974 phase down of operations at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base was completed ahead of schedule, and the base was officially returned to the Thai Government on 12 September. All remaining US personnel departed on 14 September.

Major USAF Units Based At Takhli During the Vietnam War

27th Tactical Fighter Wing
405th Fighter Wing
Det. 1, 421st Air Refueling Squadron
355th Tactical Fighter Wing
4252nd Strategic Wing
4258th Strategic Wing
Det. 1, 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron
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.

References

Glasser, Jeffrey D.: The Secret Vietnam War. The United States Air Force in Thailand, 1961-1975 (1995).

Martin, Patrick, Tail Code: The Complete History Of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings, 1994

Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings: Linege and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Office OF Air Force History, United States Air Force, 1984

External links

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@@ Line 105: / Line 105: @@
 === Post-Vietnam Use by USAF ===
 [[Image:347thtfwemblem.jpg|left|100px]]
-On [[30 July]] [[1973]] the 474th was relived by the '''347th Tactical Fighter Wing'''.  On [[15 August]], the last wartime mission of the Vietnam Era was flown into [[Cambodia]] for final mission of '''Constant Guard'''.
+On [[30 July]] [[1973]] the 474th was relived at Takhli by the '''347th Tactical Fighter Wing'''.  The 347 TFW consisted of two squadrons of F-111As:
+* 428 Tactical Fighter (Tail Code: HG - Red Tail Fin)
-During January [[1974]] the Secretary of Defense announced a realignment of Thailand resources, with the final pullout of air resources by the end of [[1976]]. Major changes at Takhli during the year included the 347 TFW's [[C-130|AC-130 gunships]] and [[F-111]]'s being transferred to [[Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base|Korat]] on [[12 July]].
+* 429 Tactical Fighter (Tail Code: HG - Yellow Tail Fin)
+For a brief two-week period the 347th flew combat operations into [[Cambodia]] until [[15 August]], when the last wartime mission of the Vietnam Era was flown into [[Cambodia]] for final mission of '''Constant Guard'''.  After the cease-fire, the wing was maintained in a combat-ready status for possible contingency actions.
-In June 1974,  Four [[F-111]]s from the 347 TFW flew from Takhli to [[Osan Air Base]] [[South Korea]] and conducted live weapons demonstrations for Republic of Korea and US officials at Nightmare Range.
+During January [[1974]] the Secretary of Defense announced a realignment of Thailand resources, with the final pullout of air resources by the end of [[1976]].  In June 1974,  Four [[F-111]]s from the 347 TFW flew from Takhli to [[Osan Air Base]] [[South Korea]] and conducted live weapons demonstrations for Republic of Korea and US officials at Nightmare Range.
+On [[12 July]] the 347 TFW's [[C-130|AC-130 gunships]] and [[F-111]]'s being transferred to [[Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base|Korat]].
 On [[31 July]] [[1974]] phase down of operations at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base was completed ahead of schedule, and the base was officially returned to the Thai Government on [[12 September]].  All remaining US personnel departed on [[14 September]].