Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base: Difference between revisions

Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base is a base of the Royal Thai Air Force. It is the home of the 1st RTAF Wing, consisting of 3 (101, 102, 103) squadrons. The base is located about 5 miles (8 km) south of Nakhon Ratchasima, the third largest city in Thailand, and 157 miles (250 km) northeast of Bangkok.

Korat has a single 9,800 + foot runway with a single, full-length parallel taxiway.

During the Vietnam War, Korat was a front-line facility of the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War from 1962 through 1975. The USAF forces at Korat were under the command of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It was the primarily headquarters for the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. Various parking areas and aprons alternately held both permanent and TDY/transient aircraft of all types.

The mission of the base was to conduct operations in support of U.S. commitments in Southeast Asia (North and South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos). During the Vietnam War, pilots from Korat RTAFB primarily flew interdiction, direct air support, armed reconnaissance and fighter escort missions.

The USAF mission at Korat began in April 1962, when one officer and 14 airmen were temporarily assigned to the base as the joint U.S. Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG). U. S. Army personnel were already stationed at Camp Friendship, a post adjacent south of the air base.

In July, 1964, approximately 500 persons were assigned to Korat to start the beginning of a tactical fighter operation. The construction of essential base facilities were initiated and was completed by October 1964.

In response to the Gulf Of Tonkin Incident on 31 July 1964, the 6441st Tactical Fighter Wing at Yokota AB, Japan deployed 18 F-105D Thunderchiefs" of the 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron to Korat on 11 August and commenced operations the following day.

The 36th TFS remained at Korat until 29 October then returned to Japan. It was replaced by the 469th TFS, also flying F-105D's, which was deployed from the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. then at McConnell AFB, KS.

In December 1964, the 44th TFS deployed to Korat from Kadena AB, Okinawa. The 44th would rotate pilots and personnel to Korat on a TDY (Temporary Duty) basis until 1966.

In April 1965, the 6234th Air Base Squadron was activated at Korat as a permanent unit to support the TDY fighter units (44th and 469th TFS) and their operations. This squadron was in existence until the end of April when it was deactivated and the 6234th Combat Support Group, the 6234th Support Squadron, and the 6234th Material Squadron were designated and organized as a result of a 3 May 65 Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) special order.

The 6234th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) was activated in April 1965 with Colonel William D. Ritchie, Jr. as Commander. The Wing had the responsibility for all Air Force units in Thailand until permanent wings were established at other bases.

The 469th TFS remained on TDY at Korat until 15 November 1965 when it was permanently assigned to the 6234th.

On 25 July 1965, the 68th TFS was deployed to Korat from the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, George AFB, CA. The 68th flew the F-4C "Phantom". It returned back to George on 6 December.

On 20 November 1965, the 421st TFS was permanently assigned to Korat from the 835th Air Division. It was equipped with the F-105D.

In 1965, the 6234th TFW and its subordinate units operating F-105s and F-4Cs flew 10,797 sorties totaling 26,165 hours. The wing's efforts merited the Presidential Unit Citation in March 1968.

On 8 April 1966 the 6234th (P) TFW was redesigned the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. The 388th had deployed the 469th TFS to Korat in 1964 and was deactivated. Upon activation the 388th absorbed the personnel and resources of the 6234th.

The 388th TFW initially consisted of two F-105 Thunderchief squadrons, the 421st and 469th. On 15 May the 44th TFS was redesignated the 18th TFS and was permanently attached to the 388th.

The 421st & 469th flew single-seat F-105D's, while the 18th flew the two-seat F-105F.

Also on 15 May, an F-4C squadron, the 34th TFS was deployed and permanently attached to the 388th from the 347th TFW, Yokota AB, Japan.

Starting in 1967, the 388th's mission was modified to fly missons concentrating on key logistical and industrial targets in North Vietnam. As the war progressed, a variety of other special-purpose aircraft and related missions were flown. This was commonly called "Operation Rolling Thunder"

The operation began primarily as a diplomatic signal to impress Hanoi with America’s determination, essentially a warning that the violence would escalate until Ho Chi Minh "blinked," and secondly it was intended to bolster the sagging morale of the South Vietnamese. The Johnson administration also imposed strict limits on the targets that could be attacked, for China and the Soviet Union were seen as defenders of communism who might intervene if the North Vietnamese faced defeat. Consequently, the administration tried to punish the North without provoking the two nations believed to be its protectors.

By 1967, Korat RTAFB was home to as many as 34 operating units and about 6,500 USAF airmen. Korat also housed components of the Royal Thai Air Force, and a compliment of New Zealand Air Force "Bristols". The annual cost for base operations and maintenance was about $12,000,000. The monthly average expenditure for munitions was on the order of $4,360,000.

The 388th TFW lost 48 aircraft in combat during 1967. Seven others were lost due to non-combat reasons. 43 pilots and Electronic Warfare Officers (EWO) were listed as killed (KIA) or missing in action (MIA). 15 were rescued.

An expansion of combat operations from Korat initiated with the arrival of EC-121 "Constellations" of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing and Det 1, 552nd Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing. Personnel of the wing's initial support team arrived at Korat on 20 September 1967. Less then a month later, on 19 October the first seven EC-121R aircraft arrived. The EC-121s provided airborne radar coverage and surveillance in support of aircraft flying combat operations.

The EC-121's mission was to interdict and reduce the flow of supplies from North Vietnam down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to the Viet Cong insurgents in South Vietnam. Their primary objective was to create an anti-vehicle barrier. If the vehicles could be stopped, then a major quantity of enemy supplies would be halted.

While enemy vehicle traffic was the primary target, it was also intended to detect individuals walking down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. To assist with detection of individuals, small bomblets were dropped along the trail. When someone stepped on a bomblet it would detonate, and this small explosion was picked up by the sensors.

Combat reconnaissance missions of the 552nd began on November 25, 1967. These missions normally required the aircraft to be on station for 8 hours. Including transit time to and from station, an average flight was typically about 10 « hours.

On 23 April 1967, the 421st TFS was redesignated the 44th TFS. In October 1967 the 44th TFS absorbed the mission and makeup of 13th TFS. The 13th was transferred to Udorn RTAFB to become an F-4D Phantom unit. With these reorganizations, the 44th TFS now possessed both D and F model Thunderchiefs. The squadron's primary mission became one of flying escort to the wing's regular strike force to suppress anti aircraft artillery (AAA) and surface-to-air missiles (SAMs).

By the mid 1960's the Soviet Union and China began arming the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), with advanced Surface to Air missile (SAM) systems. To deal with the new SAM threat, the U.S. Air Force decided to dedicate men and machine exclusively to the SAM's. Thus a new breed of aviator and aircraft were born, the "Wild Weasels."

The purpose of the "Weasels" was to seek out and engage NVA SAM sites, and if possible destroy them. Often times though, the only way the Weasel pilots could locate a SAM site was by getting the NVA to fire a SAM at them, thus revealing their position.

The two-seat F-105F's were utilized primarily for the Weasel role. The AN/APR 25 set was added, and the new AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile was fitted to make it a formidable SAM killer. The Shrike missile was a short range, passive missile, which locked on to the signals emanating from the SAM's radar to guide it to its target.

On 17 November 1968, an F-4E Phantom Squadron from Eglin AFB, Fla., replaced the F-105 Thunderchiefs of the 469th TFS. The new Phantom squadron, the first E-models in Thailand, retained the designation 469th TFS.

On 10 October 1969, the F-105s of the 44th TFS were transferred to Takhli RTAFB. The 44th flew out of Takhli until 10 December 1970 when it was deactivated.

In November 1970, F-105s returned to Korat when the 6010th Wild Weasel Squadron, flying specially equipped Thunderchiefs, was formed. It was redesigned the 17th Wild Weasel Squadron on 1 December 1971. Also in November 1970, the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, which flew EB-66s, transferred to Korat from Takhli.

In April 1972, the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron arrived at Korat from Udorn RTAFB and began flying missions in its C-130 aircraft, which were equipped with command and control capsules.

On 29 September 1972, the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, based at Myrlte Beach AFB, South Carolina, was ordered to deploy 72 A-7D Corsair II aircraft to Korat for a 179-day Temporary Duty (TDY). By mid-October, 1,574 airmen from Myrtle Beach had arrived. The A-7D assumed the SAR (Search and Rescue) role from the propeller-driven A-1 Skyraider. In addition, the 354th deployed some personnel to Ben Hoa, South Vietnam. The 354th generated about 50 sorties each day.

The 354th TFW at Korat was actually a composite wing. Along with the Myrtle Beach personnel, elements of the 23rd TFW from England AFB, Louisiana and 355th TFW from Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona were deployed to support the A-7D aircraft. These airmen rotated on 179-day TDY assignments to Korat from these CONUS bases until early 1974.

Negotiations between the United States and North Vietnam reached an agreement on 23 January 1973. This agreement, the "Paris Peace Accords", effectively ended United States combat operations in North and South Vietnam. Laos and Cambodia, however, were not signatories to the Paris agreement and remained in states of war with their internal rebel forces.

The United States was helping the Royal Laotian government achieve whatever advantage possible before working out a settlement with the Laotian Communists and their allies.

The USAF flew 386 combat sorties over Laos during January and 1,449 in February 1973. On 17 April, the USAF flew its last mission over Laos, working a handful of targets requested by the Laotian government.

In Cambodia there was no peace in 1973. Local Communist insurgents of the Khmer Rouge kept up their attacks on Phnom Penh, so the Cambodian Government urgently called upon the U.S. for help and the Air Force was ordered to carry out a massive bombing campaign against the insurgents on the outskirts of the capital.

The Cambodian army would attempt to attack Khmer Rouge forces, however the rebels would move somewhere else. This tactic effectively succeeded in wearing down the government forces. In July and August 1973, the Khmer Rouge focused on taking Phanom Penh and other major cities. In addition, it was reported that the Khmer Rouge was utilizing tear gas in it's attacks.

Congressional pressure in Washington grew against these bombings, and on 30 June 1973, the United States Congress passed PL 93-50 and 93-52, which cut off all funds for combat in Cambodia and all of Indochina effective 15 August 1973. Air strikes by the USAF peaked just before the deadline, as the Cambodian Army engaged a force of about 10,000 Khmer Rouge rebels that encircled Phnom Penh.

At 1100 hours (local), 15 August 1973, the congressionally mandated cutoff went into effect, bringing combat activities over the skies of Cambodia to an end. A-7 and F-4's from Korat flew strike missions sometimes less than 10 miles (16 km) from Phnom Penh that morning before the cutoff. The final day marked the conclusion of an intense 160-day campaign, during which the USAF expended 240,000 tons of bombs.

At Korat, two A-7D pilots from the 354th TFW returned from flying the last USAF combat mission over Cambodia. Members of the news media had arrived at the base earlier to mark this auspicious occasion. However, the A-7 pilots did not display the excitement that the journalists were expecting.

The Cambodian people did not understand why the United States would, on this arbitrary date, leave, especially after their request for assistance. Without American airpower, there was no reason for the Khmer Rouge rebels to negotiate a peaceful settlement. In a French-language broadcast, the rebels claimed that the bombing halt was a victory for them.

The actions by the USAF helped motivate the Cambodian forces to the point where they were able to force the Khemer Rouge forces to retreat from some of their positions, however the net result was that the rebels were able to regroup in 1974 and resume their offensive.

After the end of combat operations in August 1973, the 388th TFW entered into intensive training program to maintain combat readiness and continued to fly electronic surveillance and intelligence missions. Also, it was announced by the United States and Thailand that of the 43,000 Americans and 500 aircraft stationed in Thailand, about 3,500 men and 100 aircraft would be withdrawn.

The F-4 and A-7 aircraft practiced bombing and intercept missions in western Thailand. A large exercise was held on the first Monday of every month, involving all USAF units in Thailand. "Commando Scrimmage" covered skills such as dogfighting, aerial refueling, airborne command posts and forward air controllers. These exercises were taken very seriously. The A-7D aircraft were pitted against the F-4 aircraft in dissimilar air combat exercises.

In May 1974, the 354th TFW ended it's rotating deployments to Korat and returned to Myrtle Beach SC.

In March and April 1975, aircraft of the 388th TFW provided air cover and escort during the evacuation of Americans from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and of Americans and selected Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam.

In May 1975, the 388th participated in the rescue of the crew and recovery of the SS Mayaguez from the Khmer Rouge Cambodians.

The United States ended it's involvement in Southeast Asia by treaty and disengagement rather than by military victory. After the fall of Saigon, relations between Washington and Bangkok turned sour. In May 1975, the Royal Thai Government asked the United States to remove all of it's combat forces (27,000 troops, 300 aircraft) by 1976.

Several acts of violence marred the drawdown from Korat. The most serious incident was the murder of a Lieutenant Colonel in his trailer. He was disemboweled, castrated and his throat was cut. The official story was that he surprised a thief, but this was not the act of a startled burglar. He appeared to be killed as a result of a contract killing. Off-base, there were clashes between right-wing groups and anti-American groups. The rioting resulted in several injuries and two deaths. In response, the bar girls in Korat city held a pro-American rally on 4 July 1975. To ensure their saftey, airmen were restricted to base during this period.

The drawdown at Korat RTAFB began in March 1975, when EB-66's of the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron were reassigned to Clark AB, Philippines. Other units were withdrawn throughout 1975.

At the end of 1975, there were only three combat squadrons at Korat, consisting of 24 F-4D's of the 34th TFS, 24 A-7D's of the 3rd TFS, and 6 AC-130 "Spectre" aircraft of the 16th Special Operations Squadron. These were withdrawn by 23 December when the 388th TFW made a name-only transfer to Hill AFB, Utah.

The USAF officially turned Korat over to the Royal Thai Government on 26 February 1976.

Korat is an active Thai Air Force Base. Currently, it is the home of the 1st RTAF Wing, consisting of 3 (101, 102, 103) squadrons, flying F-16A/B Fighting Falcons.

After the US withdrawl in 1976, the Thai Air Force consolidated the equipment left by the departing USAF units in accordance with government-to-government agreements, and the RTAF assumed use of the base at Korat. The American withdrawal had quickly revealed to the Thai government the inadequacy of its air force in the event of a conventional war in Southeast Asia. Accordingly, in the 1980s the government allotted large amounts of money for the purchase of modern aircraft and spare parts.

Thirty-eight F-5E and F-5F fighter-bombers purchased from the Northrop Corporation formed the nucleus of the Thai air force's defense and tactical firepower. The F-5Es were accompanied by training teams of American civilian and military technicians, who worked with members of the Thai air force.

In addition to the F-5E and F-5F fighter-bombers, OV-10C aircraft, transports, and helicopters were added to the air force equipment inventory. In 1985 the United States Congress authorized the sale of the F-16 fighter to Thailand.

By the late 1980s, Korat, Ta Khli, and Don Muang Air Base outside Bangkok, which the air force shared with civil aviation, were the primary operational holdings of the RTAF. Maintenance of the facilities at other bases abandoned by the United States proved too costly and exceeded Thai needs and were largely abandoned. Nonetheless, all runways were still available for training and emergency use.

Starting in 1998, the USAF returned to Korat for "Cope Tiger", an annual, multinational exercise conducted in two phases in the asia-pacific region.

Cope Tiger involves air forces from the United States, Thailand and Singapore, as well as U.S. Marines deployed from Japan. The flying training portion of the exercise promotes closer relations and enables air force units in the region to sharpen air combat skills and practice interoperability with U.S. Forces. Pilots fly both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat training missions.

American pilots fly F-15C/D Eagles, F/A-18C Hornets, F-16C Fighting Falcons, E-3B Sentry Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS), and KC-135 Stratotankers.

Thai Forces fly F-16A/B Fighting Falcons, F-5E Tigers and Ground Attack L-39's

Singapore forces fly F-5E and F-16A/B Fighting Falcons.

More than 1,100 people participate, including approximately 500 U.S. servicemembers and 600 servicemembers from Thailand and Singapore.

USAF Aircraft Assigned To Korat RTAFB

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• 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron: 4/15/1972 (388th Tactical Fighter Wing, 30 Apr 1972 (remained attached to Seventh Air Force to 15 Aug 1973)

• 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron, multiple deployments: 2/8/1965 - 3/15/1965; 6/15/1965 - 8/25/1965.

• 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron (attached to 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 May 1966–17 Oct 1967 while under the 18th TFW).

• 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 13 Jun–c. 12 Oct 1972 while assigned to the 3d Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Republic of South Korea.

• 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (TEWS) flew variations of the Douglas B-66 Destroyer. The EB-66C and E (JW tail code) flew radar and communications jamming missions to disrupt enemy defenses and early warning capabilities.

• 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, multiple deployments:12/18/1964 - 2/25/1965; 4/21/1965 - 6/22/1965; 10/19/1965 - 10/29/1965.

• 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Fighting Cocks" (1) with F-105s: 2/18/1965 - 4/26/1965; 8/16/1965 - 10/23/1965; (2) TDY 1973 with 12 F-4C Wild Weasels.

• 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Lightning Lancers" : 27 Aug - 6 Dec, 1965 (while assigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, which was attached to the 6234th Tactical Fighter Wing).

• 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Headhunters": 10/30/1964 - 12/29/1964.

• 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Dragons": 12 Jun. - 8 Nov 1965 (attached to the 6234th TFW)

• 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron flew the F-105 Thunderchief from April 1966 to April 24, 1967 under the 388th TFW.

• 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron flew the A-7D Corsair II From Septeber 1973 to May 1974 under the 354th TFW

• 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron flew the A-7D Corsair II From Septeber 1973 to May 1974 under the 354th TFW

• 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron flew the A-7D Corsair II From Janurary 1973 to December 1975 under the 388th TFW

• 552nd AEW&CW (Airborne Early Warning & Control Wing) EC-121 Lockheed L-749 Super Constellations

• The 347th TFW - Black Knights - F-111's

• 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron - Mar 72: 39 ARRS transferred to Korat RTAFB. 30 Apr 72

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