sattahip, thailand during vietnam war

pullback. Two days later there was an apparent reversal of policy. Because the lease was technically with a private contractor, this allowed "U.S. and Thai officials to insist there's no U.S. 'base' and no inter-governmental basing agreement."[11]. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. The Communist Party of Thailand led an armed revolt in the northeastern provinces of the country. The Khmer Rouge put up a fierce defense, shooting down three CH-53 helicopters and damaging several others which limped back to U-Tapao. Thailand was a member of SEATO. As a result, the "Military Assistance Command, Thailand (MACT)" was set up on 15 May 1962 at Don Muang. The American aid did not go unnoticed by the communist side. [7], From 12 to 20 May, USAID and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) coordinated the delivery of nearly US$1.2million of relief commodities to Yangon on 36 DOD C-130 flights, with supplies sufficient to provide assistance to more than 113,000 beneficiaries. During Vietnam War Marines evacuated Saigon. U-Tapao was initially more of a forward field than it was a main operating base, with responsibility for scheduling missions still remaining at Andersen AFB. Both sides violated the Geneva Accords. The USAF would eventually use 8 airbases in Thailand: Don Muang, Korat, Nakhon Phanom, Nam Phong, Takhli, Ubon, Udorn and U-Tapao. Thailand during the Vietnam War. U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield is a military airfield of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) approximately 140 kilometres (87 mi) southeast of Bangkok in the Ban Chang District of Rayong Province near Sattahip on the Gulf of Thailand. Thai soldiers recall the Vietnam War as a yearlong opportunity to observe the American-style consumerism that would influence Thailand in the 1970s, '80s and '90s. At Don Muang Air Base near Bangkok, the USAF had stationed KC-135 tanker aircraft to refuel combat aircraft over the skies of Indochina. The adjacent parking ramps and grassy areas were being filled to capacity with South Vietnamese helicopters and aircraft. While supposedly maintaining an air of neutrality, it was deeply concerned about the fighting in neighboring Indochina. The Royal Thai government's desire to avoid publicity led to the formation of a policy to downplay the United States' presence and not draw attention to its tactical air units in Thailand. Pilots fly both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat training missions. The end of the war resulted in all US personnel and equipment being removed by 1976 at Thai request. Vietnam and Laos were at war for independence against the French, while in Cambodia, an uprising against the Royals was imminent. 5 (May, 1973) pp. Benner served more than 10 years in the U.S. Army. Asia. It is serves as the home of the RTN First Air Wing. Cambodian bombing raids were initially kept secret, and both SAC and Defense Department records were falsified to report that the targets were in South Vietnam. Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. On 14 October 1973 following the 1973 Thai popular uprising former Supreme Court Judge Sanya Dharmasakti, then chancellor and dean of the faculty of law at Thammasat University, was appointed prime minister by royal decree, replacing the succession of staunchly pro-American and anti-Communist military dictatorships that had ruled Thailand previously. Despite these denials, however, the Secret War was actually the largest U.S. covert operation prior to the Afghan-Soviet War, with areas of Laos controlled by North Vietnam subjected to three million tons of bombing, representing the heaviest U.S.-led bombing campaign since World War II.[1]. By the end of the war, more than 40,000 Thai military personnel had served in Vietnam, suffering losses of 351 killed and 1,358 wounded. The decision was related to the deterioration of security in Laos and Cambodia and the growth of internal insurgency in Thailand, as well as the U.S. ", "Thai airfield is dedicated, built by U.S.", "USAF tanker crashes on way to war planes", "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 48322 22-NOV-1972 Boeing B-52D-65-BO Stratofortress", "Thai leaders protest arrival of U.S. marines", "U.S. to begin pullout of troops from Thailand", "Many Thais saddened by U.S. military withdrawals", USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers1908 to present, Utapao Royal Thai Airbase mid-summer 1971, 635 Supply Chain Operations Wing fact sheet successor to 635 Combat Support Group, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=U-Tapao_Royal_Thai_Navy_Airfield&oldid=1146846936, Strategic Wing (Provisional), 310th (1972), Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Wing (Provisional), 340th (1972), 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (19721976), Air Division (Provisional), 310th (1972). Tensions ramped up when the Pathet Lao attacked in spring 1962 and took control of the Nam Tha river valley in northwestern Thailand. The three LST's Landing Ship, Tank (LSTs) of the Sea Horse unit would be withdrawn in April 1972 and Victory Flight would be pulled out by increments during the period April-December 1971. The intended result was to expose enemy forces who relied on the trees for cover. The 307th SW ended all combat operations on 14 August 1973. One state newspaper during the war had the headline "In 150 Fights, 100 [Thais] Are Dead, 1,000 Viet Cong Are Killed. In September 1966 2 radio relay KC-135A Combat Lightning aircraft and their personnel were ordered to deploy to U-Tapao to support air operations over North Vietnam.[12]. Much of that information remains unavailable, being considered sensitive to the Thai government. In 1953, the Viet Minh, the communist-dominated organization fighting at the time for Vietnams independence from France, invaded French-controlled northern and eastern Laos, where the communist Pathet Lao insurgency was emerging, a direct threat to Thailand. On 30 April the South Vietnamese government surrendered. At the height of the war, almost 50,000 American military personnel were stationed in Thailand, mainly airmen. Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) C-47s, C-119s and C-130s filled to capacity with men, women and children, began flying into U-Tapao on 28 April as command and control collapsed, with a total of 123 aircraft arriving at U-Tapao. The Thais understood that the only answer to this problem was to join forces with the United States. The sixth base is located at Takhli, in central plain about 120 miles north of . Thailand's Cold War role is usually seen through the prism of its support for the U.S. wars in Indochina. U-Tapao is the main flying base for the RTN. In June 1965, the B-52 was first used in the Vietnam War. JSTOR: Asian Survey: Vol 13,No. Following the opening of the Cambodian Campaign in late April 1970 the secret Menu bombings came to an end on 26 May and the USAF began overt operations against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces in eastern Cambodia. Xun Lc fell on 20 April and South Vietnamese President Nguyn Vn Thiu resigned the following day, fleeing the country four days later. At the height of the war, some 50,000 American military personnel (mostly Air Force) were stationed throughout Thailand. [26]:2734, In 11 days of concentrated bombing, B-52s had completed 729 sorties and dropped 13,640 tonnes (15,000 tons) of bombs. bombers were not allowed to strike North Vietnam directly. The US, seeking a Southeast Asian B-52 base, reached an agreement with the Thai government to build and operate the base in conjunction with the Royal Thai Navy. Eventually, these countries would fall under communism in 1975. Laos was to become politically neutral and not enter into any military alliance. Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson recommended that Thailand be given US$50 million in military aid. The First National Economic Development Plan (1961-1966) was successfully implemented. In 1968 I was taken on a school trip to visit U Tapao airbase near Sattahip and Pattaya. The U-Tapao-based B-52Ds were able to carry more bombs and perform more sorties than the other units which operated less capable versions and had to fly much further to reach targets in North Vietnam. [3]:2734 About 40,000 Thai military would serve in South Vietnam, with 351 killed in action and 1,358 wounded. Thailand was the third-largest provider of ground forces to South Vietnam, following the Americans and South Koreans. Sattahip . On 23 March 1973 the USAF airlift control center at Tan Son Nhut Air Base moved to U-Tapao becoming the Pacific Transportation Management Agency, Thailand, responsible for all C-130 operations in Southeast Asia. The RTAF command structure consists of headquarters and five groups, which are: command group, combat group, support group, education and training group, and special services group. The instability on the long eastern border also affected Thailands economy. Immediately after the news broke of the use of Thai bases to support the Mayaguez rescue, the Thai government lodged a formal protest with the US and riots broke out outside the US Embassy in Bangkok. An estimated 8,000 U.S. and third-country nationals needed to be evacuated from Saigon and the shrinking government-controlled region of South Vietnam, along with thousands of "at-risk" Vietnamese who had worked for the United States during the war. But North Vietnam continued moving heavy weapons into Laos to support the communist rebel Pathet Lao. In the two years following the Paris Peace Accords, the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) underwent a massive rebuilding to recoup the losses suffered during their failed 1972 Easter Offensive. An optimal solution was to base the B-52s in South Vietnam or Thailand, however base security in South Vietnam was problematic. On 22 July 1966 a 21-man RTAF contingent qualified on the C-123 became operational and were attached to the United States Air Force (USAF) 315th Air Commando Wing, while 5 men remained with the RVNAF where they were assigned to fly C-47 aircraft. Construction began on 15 October 1965 and was completed on 2 June 1966. Luuk Khreung: The Vietnam War's Forgotten Legacy in Thailand In 1954, the war was waging in the Indochina Region. Vietnam was the longest war for Marines. During the Vietnam War, Thailand was one of the places where GIs on leave went for a much-welcome break from the fighting. The fifth increment would not be replaced after its return to Thailand in August 1971. Whether they produced battlefield images of the dead or daguerreotype portraits of common soldiers, []. U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield is a military airfield of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) approximately 140 kilometres (87mi) southeast of Bangkok in the Ban Chang District of Rayong Province near Sattahip on the Gulf of Thailand. Holt. Those bombers were not allowed to strike North Vietnam directly. AID (Agency for International Development) Assistance Through FY 1968 (millions of dollars). US grant economic assistance totalled about US$500 million through the end of 1970. All of those groups were a constant threat to the stability of Thailands government, either through terrorist-style attacks or direct confrontation along the border. Throughout the 1950s, Laos had been embroiled in civil war, and by the early 1960s, the conflict was threatening to spread to Thailand. ; Thai: , RTGS: kong thap ruea thai) is the naval warfare force of Thailand.Established in 1906, it was modernised by the Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse (1880-1923) who is known as the father of the Royal Navy. Singapore forces fly Northrop F-5s and F-16 Fighting Falcons. It was decided that, as the base at U-Tapao was being established as a KC-135 tanker base, to move them all out of Don Muang and to also base B-52s at U-Tapao where they could fly without refuelling over both North and South Vietnam. The 9th Logistical Command (B) was inactivated on 12 June 1970 at Camp Samae San, Sattahip. [23], In May 1970 USAF tactical airlift C-130s that had been based at Don Muang Air Base moved their operations to U-Tapao and the 6th Aerial Port Squadron followed in July. The next day, B-52 sorties were flown from U-Tapao. Intelligence estimates indicated 7,000 to 9,000 North Vietnamese Army troops were in Laos. Flying ungainly looking, green and brown HH43 and CH-3 helicopters, or "Jolly Green Giants," and protected by propeller-driven A-1 Sandy ground attack planes, R. &. Steadily progressing and adding to the mission, U-Tapao welcomed its first complement of KC-135 tankers in August 1966. These small detachments received logistical support from their home bases outside of Southeast Asia. By early-April the South Vietnamese made their last stand at Xun Lc on their final defensive line before Saigon. . [24]:6156 The C-130s flew supply missions into Cambodia until May 1974 when these operations were taken over by BirdAir which operated under contract to the US Government. Then in November 1961, four RF-101C reconnaissance aircraft of the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron stationed at Misawa AB, Japan and their photo lab arrived at Don Muang. Realizing this, the Thai government decided to halt its clandestine operations in Laos and asked the United States to remove American forces from Thailand. The first B-52's arrived on 10 April 1967. The operation of Thai troops in South Vietnam is considered more advantageous than withdrawing them. The bombing raids, codenamed Operation Linebacker II, began on 18 December 1972 involving heavy attacks by almost every strike aircraft the US had in theater, with the B-52 playing a prominent role. They hoped to make Thailand an anti-communist stronghold in the region through economic support, military aid and troop training. The USAF implemented Palace Lightning, the plan to withdraw its aircraft and personnel from Thailand. Today, US military units train with other Asian militaries in Thailand. Did you know that more than 40,000 Thai military personnel served in Vietnam? In Thailand, Agent Orange was used to clear the jungle around bases, as a means to enhance security. Western governments recognized different leaders, with military aid being provided to the communist Pathet Lao forces by the Soviet Union. The Korean War saw the Corps expand from 75,000 regulars to a force of 261,000 Marines, mostly reservists. They had lost China to Mao Zedongs communists in 1949 and just narrowly defeated the North Korean/Chinese attempt to conquer democratic South Korea in 1950-53. As a result, the "Military Assistance Command, Thailand (MACT)" was set up on 15 May 1962 at Don Muang. The North Vietnamese claimed that almost 1,400 civilians were killed. They were 281st MP's stationed at Ft. Campbell Kentucky and served at Sattahip Thailand 1966-1967. The next morning, 75 SPs from the 56th boarded helicopters of 21st Special Operations Squadron to proceed to U-Tapao for staging. An alleged attack by North Vietnamese torpedo boats on American destroyer, USS Maddox DD-731]. USS CATSKILL was on passage from Manila Bay (Philippines) to Sattahip in Thailand and on the night of 31 May 69 closed with the coast of Vietnam for a rendezvous with the USS Peacock. [3]:4951, The official American military presence in Thailand started in April 1961 when an advance party of the USAF 6010th Tactical (TAC) Group arrived at Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base at the request of the Thai government to establish an aircraft warning system at Don Muang. They often dressed like and lived with the ethnic Lao and Hmong populations. With much of the training and logistics coming from the CIA, the new forces were prepared to battle the enemy through covert action. The USAF bases were closed and the last USAF personnel left Thailand in June 1976. The handful of RVNAF planes that had been performing last-ditch air strikes completed their missions and flew to U-Tapao. [28]:23942, At dawn on 15 May the assault on Koh Tang began. Thai operatives, trained by the CIA and U.S. Special Forces, entered Laos and engaged Pathet Lao units, driving them back and securing the northern part of the country against further encroachments. The withdrawal plans were confirmed and even elaborated upon through a Royal Thai government announcement to the United States and South Vietnam on 26 March 1971. US grant economic assistance totalled about US$500 million through the end of 1970. Hi Everyone, This is the story of what 2nd platoon and later all of the 697th had to endure at wonderful sunny Samae San. From Sattahip (south of Bangkok) to Korat and Takhli to the north, the roads were primarily 2 lanes with hard surfaces. . The USAF presence grew rapidly with the expansion of the Laotian Civil War and the Vietnam War.[6]. port, which was built at Sattahip in southeast Thailand. The fighting in Laos was of great concern to the Thai government. The other being a joint communication from Secretary 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 aggression and subversion". B-52 taxiing on the runway in preparation for take off. On 19 January 1961, PACAF had identified 25 airfields, 49 communications routes, and 19 urban targets. That changed after the Gulf of Tonkin incident in August 1964, when North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked an American destroyer, and President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered retaliatory airstrikes on North Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, about 80% of all USAF air strikes over North Vietnam originated from air bases in Thailand. Sattahip Thailand 1966-1967. : r/VietnamWar hope34 Do you know these guys? This system, approved by the Department of Defense in February 1966, comprised six links, capable of sixty voice channels each, connected to the major communications sites at DA Nang, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh Bay, and Vung Tau in Vietnam, and Sattahip, south of Bangkok in Thailand. More. [8] The Thai government wanted the US out of Thailand by the end of the year. In a meeting with the U.S. Known squadrons which deployed B-52 and KC-135 aircraft and crews to U-Tapao were: These units deployed usually on 90 days tours. Although the existence of the so-called "Secret War" was sometimes reported in the U.S., details were largely unavailable due to official government denials that the war even existed. Thailand was a constitutional monarchy and traditionally maintained a pro-western stance in foreign affairs. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. Udorn Royal Thai Air Base was hit by a guerrilla attack in July 1968. Military information officers were instructed that no mention was to be made of operations from Thai facilities, no names of bases were to be mentioned and no mention of operational activities were to be released. All foreign troops, paramilitary forces and foreign military personnel would be removed from Laos in the "shortest possible time". The Kingdom of Thailand, under the administration of military dictator Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, took an active role in the Vietnam War. [24], On 10 January 1972, three communist sappers attempted to destroy B-52s in a sapper attack using grenades and satchel charges. Several aircraft were lost, and five American and Thai personnel were injured. This made deception easier, as even crew members aboard the bombers did not have to know what country they were bombing. This page is not available in other languages. B-52 lifts off the field. The C-130s were withdrawn in late-1971 but returned in April 1972. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his successor, John F. Kennedy, would not allow Laos to fall to communists, and their administrations realized that Thailands active cooperation was vital in that effort. The missions flown over Laos are today referred to as the Secret War. From Korat, Takhli and Ubon came the Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs and F-4C and F-4D Phantoms that actually delivered the bombs and also General Dynamics F-111s with terrain-following radar from Takhli. But Thailand's multifaceted support for U.S. combat operations in IndochinaVietnam, Cambodia and Laos was a far more important contribution. Like the U.S., Thailand was concerned with events in Laos, which had been its buffer against intervention from both China and Vietnam. Some 80 percent of the American airstrikes launched against North Vietnam and its guerrilla camps in the region came from those air bases. In addition, U-Tapao may be where Al Qaeda operatives have been interrogated, according to some retired American intelligence officials. This Thailand-related article is a stub. The Nixon Administration had approved this expansion of the war not long after entering office in the spring of 1969. The United States had welcomed the decision of the Thai government to contribute troops to South Vietnam and was willing to compensate it by logistical support and payment of certain allowances to Thai forces for duty out of the country. Sattahip. U-Tapao was the primary Southeast Asian airfield for US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers, called "Bee-hasip-sawng" (B-52) by the local Thais. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.. On 23 July 1962 fourteen nations signed the Geneva Accords of 1962 which contained the following provisions: Laos was to become politically neutral and not enter into any military alliance. If Laos fell, the door was wide open for communism to infiltrate Thailand. After the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975, relations between Washington and Bangkok turned sour. [28]:252 Total US losses were 15 killed in action and three missing in action. Unlike other countries in the region, Thailand, known as Siam until 1939, had never been under the control of a European colonial power, a source of great pride in the country. Martin, Patrick (1994). As many as 45,000 US military personnel were stationed in Thailand. The installation was completed in May 1967. U.S. instructors and advisers were sent to Thailand to bolster the countrys military. (During the deployment of the F-111s three crashed soon after arriving at Takhli and the F-111 fleet was grounded to investigate the problem). Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. [17]:256, In early-October 1968, a KC-135A tanker (55-3138)[19] lost power in the outside right engine (#4) on takeoff at U-Tapao and crashed, killing all four crew members.[20][21]. To counter the Pathet Lao, the CIA developed an anti-communist paramilitary force in Laos and trained Thai army and police units in guerrilla warfare. 30,544 Marines were killed or wounded during the war. Major fighting broke out in December 1960 and spread far enough to cause casualties among Thai civilians living along the Mekong River. In May 1962, Kennedy deployed 6,500 Marines to bolster the Thai forces (although he decided in July to withdraw them because of concerns about establishing a long-term commitment). RLTrader udonmap.com Posts: 1994 Joined: June 3 . Having the aircraft based in South Vietnam made them vulnerable to attack. In May 1975, the Royal Thai Government asked the United States to remove all of its combat forces (27,000 troops, 300 aircraft) by 1976. [2][4][5], Thai morale was generally high, with Thai troops taking pride in their roles as "defenders of Thailand from communism" and as Buddhists. The story is about US airmen who were based in Thailand in 1972, and the bars they habituated The story is told from the perspective of Rong who was a Thai journalist trying to describe to a Thai audience life in the bars that popped up around the airbases. Of the 10,000 North Vietnamese troops in Laos at the time of the agreement, 6,000 remained in the country in violation of the accords. By 1965, the increasing number of American aircraft deployments to Thailand was jeopardizing policy. To subscribe, clickhere. USARSUPTHAI On 25 April 1966 the United States Army Support Command, Thailand was activated on Okinawa and elements began deploying to Thailand on 17 October with the rear detachment closing on Camp Friendship on 15 November 1966. U-Tapao based B-52s flew in support of US Marines in the Battle of Khe Sanh in early-1968. Although there had been no campaign of strikes into North Vietnam since the end of Rolling Thunder, the Nixon Administration ordered a new air offensive, initially code named Freedom Train, later becoming Operation Linebacker, with relatively few restrictions on targets that could be hit.[26]. 2nd Platoon, 697th Engr Co (Pipeline) Camp Samae San 1968 - 69. Many American military specialists were assigned to JUSMAG-THAI in Bangkok. "[3]:489, The subject of a Thai troop withdrawal came up again in March 1970. Under Operation "Tight Reign," LORAN stations were established at Con Son Island and Tan My, in Vietnam, and at Lampang, Sattahip and Udorn in Thailand. [24]:6279, On the afternoon of 12 April 1975, following the completion of Operation Eagle Pull, the evacuation of US nationals and allied Cambodians from Phnom Penh, an HMH-462 CH-53 carried Ambassador John Gunther Dean from USSOkinawa to U-Tapao. This was one of the key USAF bases used for the B52 bombing raids in Vietnam. Thailand was the third-largest provider of ground forces to South Vietnam, following the Americans and South Koreans. Immediately upon arrival, two of these planes were loaded with a full load (800 rnds) of 20mm ammunition and 4 x GAR-8s (AIM-9Bs) and placed on 5 minute alert. Other Republic of Singapore Air Force aircraft types used on Cope Tiger include AS-532 Cougar and CH-47 Chinook helicopters Grumman E-2 Hawkeye AEW aircraft, and Lockheed C-130 Hercules tanker aircraft. In early 1966, Thailand openly pledged to send combat troops to Vietnam (in addition to the Thai soldiers already placed into Laos for covert operations).

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