Udon Thani Timeudon thani usaf
udon thani usaf
udon thani usaf
Issan and Udon Thani city itself received a massive boost in the 1960s when the United States built — with the Thai government — the Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base.
Udon Thani International Airport
As a joint-force military base during the Vietnam War the base was a front-line facility of the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1964 through 1976. The USAF forces at Udorn were under the command of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Thirteenth Air Force (13th AF). Udorn was the location for TACAN station Channel 31 and was referenced by that identifier in voice communications during air missions.
Udorn RTAFB was also the Asian Headquarters for Air America, an American passenger and cargo airline covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It supplied and supported covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War
The U.S. turned the base over to the Thai military in 1976, but there were three significant after-effects of the base’s US presence. First, a number of the natives in the area were paid well and learned English, which helped them become more marketable to the outside world (a significant percentage of the more educated group now work in the Middle East oilfields). Second, the base created ties, including a US Consulate in Udon which was closed in 1995, and a VFW (veterans of Foreign Wars) Post. Finally, the base and the consulate caused the city to be viewed as a regional hub, and this impression has continued.
From here.
Wikipedia says that the Air America operations at Udorn, Thailand, were closed down on June 30, 1974. Air America’s operating authority had been cancelled by the CAB (Civil Aviation Board) on January 31, 1974.
Even though the U.S. may have turned the base over to the Thai military in 1976, the Americans continue to have an active presence in the area as a result of joint training operations with the Thai military. Even Singapore participates.
The civilian population continues to benefit.
From a 2007 article:
A U.S. Air Force medical and dental team and members from the Royal Thai Air Force participated in a humanitarian mission at Thairat 72 School in Udon Thani, Thailand Feb. 6.
This was the second humanitarian civil action project and the first in northern Thailand conducted during exercise Cope Tiger 2007.
According to Royal Thai Air Force Capt. Mathin Piyaamornmatha, the people here have no chance for medicine because they are in the country far from the city, and they have no money.
“Today they see that the U.S. is friendly, and they have a chance to have medicine,” said Captain Piyaamornmatha.
Not only did the students and local community members get medicine, they were treated to a concert by members of the Royal Thai Air Force’s 23rd Wing, a Tarkaw demonstration – a game that is a cross between volleyball and soccer, foot massages, hair cuts, and amidst all the festivities, the medical teams from Japan performed dental and eye exams.
“We get a chance to take a small child out of pain, which gives them a chance to concentrate on learning,” said Capt. Alan Neal, 35th Dental Squadron, Misawa Air Base Japan.
Captain Neal said this event is more than just pulling teeth or checking eyesight, it is a two-way street of sharing.
“It is about building a relationship of trust,” said Captain Neal.
“This is a chance for the Thais to get a firsthand experience as to what type of people make up the American military,” said Senior Airman Joseph Reed, a satellite technician with the 18th Communications Squadron, Theater Deployable Communications Unit, Kadena Air Base, Japan. “Hopefully, they will know that people from other parts of the world care about them and their future.”
“Who knows? Our visit might inspire them to become dentists or expand their education,” added Captain Neal.
“This was an eye-opening experience,” said Senior Airman Hilary Easkin, dental assistant, 35th Dental Squadron, Misawa, Japan. “I came away with an appreciation for our job and our ability to help these people. They were very appreciative of our help and we were grateful for their hospitality and the chance to help them.”
Lt. Col. Michael Akiona, 13th Air Expeditionary Group commander and KC-135 Detachment Commander, noted that the gifts given to the school are tokens of friendship between the Thailand and the United States.
“We look forward to Cope Tiger to renew our friendship,” he added.
Concerning the original arrival of the Americans, it seems that local Udon officials never had a clue.
U.S. Military lands at Udorn – Thai government authorities in Bangkok did not not brief local officials at Udon Thani that U.S. troops were to arrive at the seldom used airstrip south of the village. Suddenly during the sleepy morning hours of late February 1961, large 4-engine, Hercules C-130 and C-124 Globemasters began stirring up the dust as they touched down on the long concrete runway at Udorn. An embassy officer was dispatched to explain to the local governor why his province was suddenly host to American troops already setting up a base camp at the airfield.
Camp Udorn March 1961 - Larry Simeone photo
An account of those early days:
1st Lt. Bill U’Ren would command 55 Marines in a security detail. “My Bn Commander was Lt. Col. Martin J. Sexton, CO of 3d Bn 3d Marines. I spent most of my time working with Col. Johnson and his small staff going over intelligence reports, photos and maps of the Udorn area. We could only deploy 300 men as specified by the Thai Government.”
Local people sat along the dusty roadway watching as a great number of C-130s and C-124s landed with supplies and equipment. Within a few days the tent camp, the shops, landing control equipment, emergency equipment and fuel farms were operational. “Udorn was a very rural area when we arrived so we were the biggest show in town. There was no fence around the airport which caused us no end of trouble. Civilians and robed Buddhist monks were continually walking across the runway. The local police was suppose to secure our outer perimeter, but they did not seem to have control of civilians. There was a Thai Air Force Major who could speak English and he helped us with some of the problems.” said U’Ren. He added, “I was never really convinced that the Thai police or Army were going to be of great help if we got raided from Laos. We never had a problem, but I had a combat load of a day and a half ammo just in case. The terrain was not very defensible. We were very vulnerable if the bad guys wanted to hit us.”
“Engineers built the permanent camp out of mahogany on the other side of the runway. This was difficult. The camp was built several feet off the ground because the monsoons did leave areas of water all over the airport facilities. The living areas and mess hall were screened off because of the bugs.”
Another Service member, Larry Simeone, who was deployed to Udorn from Okinawa, Japan, remembers:
“We didn’t have the slightest idea where we were going. Some thought Africa and others speculated Indochina. No one had a clue except for a few Marines who managed to pull one last liberty before deploying. When they came from town where they had told the girls that they were deploying.” The men all had the same story; the bar girls all said in fractured English, “I think you go Thailand.” Operational security kept the enlisted men out of the loop, but the bar girls knew the scoop as their loose-lip customers let them in on the TOP SECRET.
Simeone continued, “When we arrived at the Udorn airstrip there was nothing in the area but a single concrete airstrip and an abandoned air traffic control tower. Our first work detail was to open the air traffic control tower and make it habitable. Years of neglect had made the structure home to many of northern Thailand’s prolific insects. Cleaning out years of spider and bug infestation was not a typical Marine combat engineer mission, but Marines pride themselves on innovation and adaptability. There were no landing lights on the runway; we used smudge pots, lamps fueled by diesel fuel to light up the runway in the event of an emergency night landing.”
Larry Simeone and the group of combat engineers worked 10 to 12 hours a day to get the base built. Only after housing had been provided did they get to go on liberty. “We had to get the tents up off the ground because of the local snake population and the intense rainy season. We had to build platforms about four feet high and on them build strong-backed tents supported by a lumber frame. We worked ten hours a day, 7 days a week for about two months. Only after the camp was established were we able to have liberty in Udorn.”
“Before going on liberty we were briefed by the local U.S. Informational Service (USIS) official on cost of beers, women and transportation. We were stationed adjacent to a Thai Army base and made more money than they did. We were advised not to inflate the local economy and price our Thai Army allies out of te market: 3 baht for a pedicab ride into town, 5 baht for a beer, and 20 baht for a bar girl. At that time the conversion rate was 1 baht = 5 cents.”
“Liberty in Udorn in 1961 was a unique experience. Locals were unfamiliar with Westerners. We’d be sitting in a restaurant having a few beers and enjoying a civilian meal, and a crowd would gather outside to watch us. Thais were great! They were friendly, happy, attractive people and a joy to meet. We would be walking down the street and they would approach us and shake our hands and practice their English. However, some of the black Marines had a different story. They complained that Thais would not wait on them or serve them.”
Simeone’s memory is still quite vivid of those early days. “Udorn was pretty provincial. I think there was one bar on town which was owned by the local police chief, but you could purchase beer at most restaurants. By the time I rotated back to the States a few months later, there were four or five bars complete with loud music, floor shows and bar girls to accommodate Marines and Air America personnel on liberty.”
There were actually some attacks on the base by infiltrators known as sappers. Here is an account of the first-ever attack:
Sapper Attack 26 July 1968
The first attack on a U.S. Air Force Base in Thailand took place Friday evening, July 26, 1968 at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base. Security was routine except for precautionary support of a C-141 medical transport standing by for possible evacuation of three prisoners of war who had been released by Hanoi. Security for the aircraft included placing a sentry team close-in and a quick reaction team nearby. At 10:25 pm, approximately 25 attackers from four locations opened fire with automatic weapons against the northwest corner of the base.
You can continue with the account here.
Wikipedia has an informative entry for Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base with lots of links.
Of course, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) base that was heavily dicussed earlier in this post is now the Udon Thani International Airport; yet it is still active as a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) base, and the home of Wing 23, 2nd Air Division Air Combat Command.
Buddhist temple in Nong Sung. Undated Ramasun-era photo.
Evidently there are at least three temples in Nong Soong, so I cannot say if the temple above is the one nearest to my wife’s family home. She has gone off to work at her restaurant, and I cannot ask her.
Of all things, I have found a collection of monthly historical weather charts for UDORN AB (USAF), Thailand, covering April/1973 through to May/1976.
The Gecko Villa Thailand Travel Blog has a short entry titled Udon Thani: Runways to War:
The Air Force base at Udon Thani (or Udorn) has a colourful past. During World War II, it served as an air force base for the Japanese, and was later home to the headquarters of Air America during the Vietnam War, as well as to the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.
The base was closer to the enemy’s command center in Hanoi than any U.S. base in Southeast Asia, and tactical aircraft could quickly fly to Hanoi or targets in northern Laos or along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. It was home to 6,500 American personnel and 3,500 Thais. This covert cargo airline, controlled and owned by the CIA, was later the subject of an eponymous film starring Mel Gibson. The base was eventually handed over to the Thai military in 1976, and the US Consulate in Udon Thani closed in 1995.
The 13th Air Force’s “Directorate of Information” presented all arriving personnel with a booklet outlining the facilities on base, the type of fatigues most suited to the tropics, and details of entertainment, shopping and recreational facilities in Udon Thani, also illustrating the various insignia for Thai Air Force and Army personnel so that the local ranks could more readily be established by newcomers. The pamphlet exhorted American forces to “Be an Ambassador” amongst their “intelligent and friendly” hosts, and encouraged them to study the Thai customs and language.
The tactical map of the landing routes for Air America clearly shows the alignments that flights to Udon Thani airport used, flying very close to Um Chan village, where the family that looks after Gecko Villa spent their childhood. Memories of the vast influx of Americans are still commonplace in and around Udon Thani, and many villagers can tell tales of their experiences during this tumultuous period in SE Asian history.
My wife’s family was one of those having just such experiences. Her father — deceased now since she was a girl of about 12 — drove a truck for the Americans in some capacity that I should try to learn more about. He often brought home foodstuffs and other things the family would not have otherwise had.
Udorn Reunion Northville 2009 1
Udorn RTAFB reunion Northville – Novi, Michigan 2009 hosted by Rick O’Hare, USMC Udorn 1961.
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