Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base: Difference between revisions

Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force facility, which is also being used as a civil airport. It is located near the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in the Ubon Ratchathani Province, about 250 miles northeast of Bangkok.

Ubon RTAFB is currently the home of Wing 21 of the RTAF 2nd Air Division. During the Vietnam War it was a front-line base of the United States Air Force.

The host wing at Ubon was the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, arriving in December 1965. In Thailand, operations included bombardment, ground support, air defense, interdiction, and armed reconnaissance.

Upon arrival at Ubon RTAFB the wing was composed of the 433rd and 497th TFS, with the 8th Field Maintenance Squadron (FMS), 8th Organizational Maintenance Squadron (OMS), 8th Armament and Electronics Maintenance Squadron (AEMS) and the 408th Munitions Maintenance Squadron (MMS) as supporting units.

In February 1966, the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, also equipped with F-4Cs, became part of the wing. (Tail code of the 555th was "FY".) As a side note, 12th TFW Combat squadrons initially scheduled for deployment to Vietnam were the 555th, 557th and 558th TFS. Ultimatly, the 559th TFS took the place of the 555th when the "Triple Nickel" was diverted to a second TDY with the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Naha AB in the Ryuku Islands followed by a re-assignment to the 8th TFW at Ubon AB in Thailand. Still later the 555th was assigned to the 432d TFRW at Udorn AB in Thailand.

On 23 April 1966, the 8th TFW scored its first MiG kills of the Vietnam War, shooting down two MiG-17 fighters.

In July 1966, the 435th TFS from Eglin AFB, FL, equipped with F-104s, was added to the wing structure -- although still operating from Udorn RTAFB. In June 1967, the 435th TFS deployed to Ubon. (The tail code of the 435th was "FP".) By the end of June 1966, after only six months in the theater, the wing had flown more than 10,000 combat sorties, achieving a 99 per cent sortie rate for which they received many commendations.

More than 13,809 aircraft sorties were recorded by December 1966, and the 555th "Triple Nickel" squadron became the first squadron with five MIGs kills to its credit to achieve "ace" status since the Korean War.

The wing flew mainly air-to-air missions against MiG aircraft over North Vietnam. Starting the year in January 1967 with Operation Bolo, the 8th TFW downed seven MiG-21s in one day, and two more, 2 days later. For the mission, the F-4 aircraft of the wing flew in a way that simulated an F-105 strike, thus drawing enemy MiGs into a trap. The trick was that the F-4s would pretend to be F-105s using their ECM pod "signatures" -- and using F-105 tankers and even following F-105 routes and duplicating their airspeed. The 8th scored seven MiG kills on this mission, and began referring to itself as the "Wolf Pack." From this action, Bob Hope called the 8th TFW, "the leading MiG parts distributor in Asia."

Twenty new F-4D aircraft arrived at Ubon in May 1967. This gave the wing the distinction of being the first in Southeast Asia to be operationally equipped with F-4Ds. Using these aircraft, Wolfpack pilots struck the previously untouched Canal des Rapides Bridge and the Paul Doumer bridge, near Hanoi plus many other strategic military and industrial targets. The final phase out of the F-4C was completed by the end of 1967 and the wing became fully equipped with the F-4D.

By the end of August the wing logged more than 50,000 combat sorties since its arrival in Southeast Asia. These sorties ran the gamut from MIGs combat air patrol to interdiction missions. The wing's flexibility in response to mission changes also added immeasurably to its effectiveness in interdicting movement of enemy supplies, manpower and equipment into South Vietnam.

At the end of December 1967, the 555th TFS had 18 MIGs kills while its sister squadron, the 433rd TFS, had 12 MIG's on its records. The wing, chalking up a total of 30 MIG's, emerged as the top MiG-killing unit as 1967 ended. Significant events occurred in 1967, which resulted In the 8th TFW becoming the first Air Force fighter unit to bomb an enemy airfield. Major Thomas D. Hirsch, 555th TFS, was credited with destroying five enemy MIG's on the ground during the attack.

On 21 January 1968 the wing began flying missions to support the defense of Khe Sanh, hitting infiltration routes to slow the deployment of North Vietnamese troops to the area and attacking trucks to deny supplies to the enemy.

On 23 May 1968, the wing made its first combat use of the Paveway laser guided bomb. To drop the new weapon, the 8th had to modify some of its F-4D aircraft with laser illuminators to designate the targets.

On 28 May 1968, the 555th TFS departed Ubon for the 432d TFW at Udorn RTAFB where it would bring the unit up to strength (joining the 13th TFS and 14th TRS). The 25th TFS, formerly with the 33rd TFW, Eglin AFB, Fla., replaced the "Triple Nickel" as the fourth F-4D fighter-bomber squadron at Ubon. (The tail code of the 25th TFS aircraft was "FA".) By the end of May, eight and a half MIG's added to the wing's roll of kills. The total of 38 1/2 insured retention of its title of top MIG-killer of the Vietnam War.

With the arrival of the 16th Special Operations Squadron in October 1968 flying the AC-130 gun ships ("Spectre") the wing's mission was greatly enhanced. When the bombing of North Vietnam was halted in November 1968, the wing's mission turned to interdiction missions against the flow of supplies down the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

The squadron also flew the AC-123 from 1969-1970, but little is written about them. During 1970 the wing recorded destroying nearly 15,000 trucks, earning them a new title of "top truck killers". The 16th SOS was with the 8th from 30 Oct 1968 through 8 December 1975.

Note that in 1968, a group of Satan's Angels (433rd TFS) volunteered to fly night-cap duty to interdict enemy trucks and babysit the AC-130 Spectres. The title of this group was the "Sewer Doers" because one flyer, Lt. Col. Bill Stroud, commented that "flying at night was like being in a sewer." The Satan's Angels had probably the catchiest of slogans: "Yea, we fly through the valley of death, but we fear no evil for we are the meanest son-of-a-bitches in the valley."

At the peak of operations, the units assigned to Ubon RTAFB were the following:

• Host Unit - 8th Tactical Fighter Wing
  • 13th Bombardment: attached 1–30 Oct 1970, assigned 31 Oct 1970–24 Dec 1972.
  • 16th Special Operations: 30 Oct 1968–8 Dec 1975 (detached 19 Jul 1974–8 Dec 1975).
  • 25th: 28 May 1968– 5 Jul 1974.
  • 58th: attached Jun–11 Sep 1973.
  • 308th: attached Dec 1972–Jun 1973.
  • 334th: attached 11 Apr–8 Jul 1972 and 25 Sep 1972–Mar 1973.
  • 335th: attached 8 Jul–Dec 1972.
  • 336th: attached 12 Apr–25 Sep 1972 and Mar–7 Sep 1973.
  • 431st: 25 Jul 1964–6 Dec 1965 (detached 26 Aug–6 Dec 1965).
  • 433d: 25 Jul 1964–23 Jul 1974.
  • 435th: attached 5 Jun–23 Jul 1966, assigned 24 Jul 1966–8 Aug 1974.
  • 497th: 25 Jul 1964–6 Dec 1965; 8 Dec 1965– 16 Sep 1974; 1 Oct 1978–1 Jan 1982.
  • 555th: attached c. 25 Feb–24 Mar 1966, assigned 25 Mar 1966–1 Jun 1968.

The 8th TFW also possessed some special purpose EC-47 of 360 TEWSq that flew between 1970-1972. (The aircraft tail code was "AJ".)

The 13th Bomb Squadron was assigned from September 1970 until April 1972, flying the B-57G The 13th flew mostly night interdiction missions against North Vietnamese truck traffic on the Ho Chi Minh trail. using AC–130 gunships for ground support and armed reconnaissance, and F–4s for fast-forward air control, interdiction, escort, armed reconnaissance, and other special missions.

After North Vietnam invaded the Republic of Vietnam in March 1972, the 8th Wing was augmented by additional F–4 units from the United States. To make room for these forces, the B–57 squadron moved to the Philippines.

On 10 May 1972, the wing destroyed the Paul Doumer Bridge near Hanoi. Using laser-guided bombs, the wing was able to put the bridge out of commission. On 13 May 1972 the wing using laser-guided bombs, attacked the Thanh Hoa Bridge, destroying this vital supply line of the North Vietnamese.

Tenant units at Ubon RTAFB included the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron flying the OV-10. The 23rd's "Rustic FAC's" flew missions in support of ground forces, interdiction missions and armed convoy support. Another tenant, the 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group performed a vital support role in crash rescue, aircrew recovery and evacuation missions.

The 222nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Thai Air Force, performed their mission with T-28, C-47 and HH-34 helicopters.

With the Paris Peace Accord of 1973 ending the war in Vietnam, the need for large numbers of USAF aircraft in Thailand was reduced. The wing continued combat in Laos until 22 February 1973, and in Cambodia until 15 August 1973. F–4 augmentation forces were released in September 1973.

In mid-1974 the wing began to lose personnel, aircraft, and units.The last scheduled F–4 training flight occurred on 16 July l974, and on 16 September the wing and most of its components moved without personnel or equipment to Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, where the wing absorbed resources of the 3d TFW that had moved without personnel or equipment to the Philippines

On 31 July 1974 the base was closed for good and the facility turned over to the Thai government.

Presidential Unit Citation: 16 Dec 1966–2 Jan 1967; 1 Mar 1967–31 Mar 1968; 1 Jan–1 Apr 1971.

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 16 Dec 1965–15 Dec 1966; 1 Apr–30 Sep 1968; 1 Jan–31 Dec 1970; 1 Oct 1971–31 Mar 1972; 1 Apr–22 Oct 1972; 18 Dec 1972–15 Aug 1973.

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 12 May 1963– 21 Mar 1964; 1 Apr 1977–31 Mar 1978; 1 Jun 1986–31 May 1988.

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966– 28 Jan 1973.

Ubon is an active Royal Thai Air Force base, the home of Wing 21, 2nd Air Division Air Combat Command.

• 211 Squadron flies Northrup F-5E/F "Freedom Fighers".
• 231 Squadron Dassault-Breguet-Dornier Alpha Jet.

• United States Air Force In Thailand

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

• Template:WAD

Template:Geolinks-US-cityscale