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. In Thailand, Agent Orange was used to clear the jungle around bases, as a means to enhance security. By its end, 13,091 had been killed in action, 51,392 had been wounded. And the Thai air force was deployed to support the ground forces. The next morning, 75 SPs from the 56th boarded helicopters of 21st Special Operations Squadron to proceed to U-Tapao for staging. Many American military specialists were assigned to JUSMAG-THAI in Bangkok. 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]. In 1967, guerrillas killed 138 people, including 78 government officials. 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 denials were seen as necessary considering that the US had signed agreements specifying the neutrality of Laos. This made deception easier, as even crew members aboard the bombers did not have to know what country they were bombing. President Johnson used the flawed information about the incident to order additional forces to the area to support the government of South Vietnam. Sattahip (Thai: , pronounced [st.t.hp]) is a district in Chonburi province, Thailand. [3][4] The 11,000-foot (3,400m) runway became operational on 6 July 1966 and U-Tapao received its first complement of United States Air Force (USAF) Strategic Air Command (SAC) KC-135 tankers in August 1966. 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. 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. Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. According to US government statistics, between 1950 and 1987 the US provided Thailand with more than US$2 billion in military assistance. Vietnam War, (1954-75), a protracted conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies in South Vietnam, known as the Viet Cong, against the government of South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. Sattahip Tourism Sattahip Hotels Sattahip Bed and Breakfast. The DOD efforts were under the direction of Joint Task Force Caring Response.[8]. This article about the Vietnam War is a stub. [28]:124. [32]:256 The Thai government wanted the US out of Thailand by the end of the year. 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. Sattahip. [24], On 10 January 1972, three communist sappers attempted to destroy B-52s in a sapper attack using grenades and satchel charges. The Secret Vietnam War: The United States Air Force in Thailand, 19611975. A multinational force headquarters was established at U-Tapao to coordinate humanitarian aid for the Sumatran tsunami of 26 December 2004. In 2014, the district had a population of 157,000 in an area of 348,122 km 2 . [17], In March 1967, the Thai Government approved the stationing of B-52s at U-Tapao;[18] on 10 April 1967, three B-52 bombers landed at U-Tapao following a bombing mission over Vietnam. The first B-52's arrived on 10 April 1967. The Thais believed it was their duty to fight against the communists who were destroying Buddhist temples in their quest for control of Cambodia and Laos. The adjacent parking ramps and grassy areas were being filled to capacity with South Vietnamese helicopters and aircraft. 441457 United States Military Spending and the Economy of Thailand, George J. Viksnins, This page was last edited on 17 March 2023, at 08:39. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [citation needed] Attacks on US bases and personnel were suppressed and any personnel wounded during military action in Thailand did not receive recognition of or awards for their wounds. In July 1968 three groups of Thai special forces were sent into Laos to conduct long-range reconnaissance missions. From Takhli flew EB-66 electronic-warfare jets with special equipment that can detect the "fingerprints" of enemy radar in the sky and then send out a signal that fouls up the screen below. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. . At this time 51 B-52s were based at U-Tapao. US involvement in Laos was considered necessary because North Vietnam had effectively conquered a large part of the country and was equally lying in public about its role in Laos. 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. [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. The First National Economic Development Plan (1961-1966) was successfully implemented. [28]:252 Total US losses were 15 killed in action and three missing in action. The APO for U-Tapao was APO San Francisco, 96330. Thailand also provided boots on the ground to assist the U.S. and its other allies in the fight, which included South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and The Philippines. 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. For the next several years, a minimum of four F-102 interceptors were kept on alert at Don Muang. [7], Over the course of the war, the United States poured $1.1 billion in economic and military aid into Thailand, while USAID poured in another $590 million, both aiding Thailand's economy and indirectly paying for the cost of Thailand's participation and then some. 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. The base was administratively handed over to the RTN on 10 August 1966. Training: 6,300 Thais sent abroad 1951-68 for study in the fields of: agriculture, 1,490; education, 1,341; health, 969; public administration, 824; civil policing, 435; community development, 501; transportation, 287; industry 202; labor, 28; Mekong and Pa Mong projects, 16; general, 218. This is a reading from the book "Sattahip" by Rong Wongsawan, translated by Siamrad Maher, and arranged by Tony Waters. More. B-52 taxiing on the runway in preparation for take off. Small numbers of aircraft were drawn from each SAC B-52D unit to support the effort in Thailand. Four of the intruders were killed, among them a North Vietnamese Army officer. The end of the war resulted in all US personnel and equipment being removed by 1976 at Thai request. Thailand was a member of SEATO. In response, Thailand deployed 30,000 troops, wresting an uneasy control of the area, which lasted throughout the 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. CD-ROM. Return to Article Details A Not So Silent Partner: Thailand's Role in Covert Operations, Counter-Insurgency, and the Wars in Indochina A Not So Silent Partner: Thailand's Role in Covert Operations, Counter-Insurgency, and the Wars in Indochina Dana Benner holds a bachelors degree in U.S. history and Native American culture and a master of education degree in heritage studies. 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. "Why Thailand Takes Pride in the Vietnam War", "Guerrilla Attack Reported on a U.S. Base in Thailand, 2nd in 24 Hours", "Many Thais saddened by U.S. military withdrawals", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thailand_in_the_Vietnam_War&oldid=1122364262, Military history of Thailand during the Vietnam War, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 November 2022, at 05:42. Some 80 percent of the American airstrikes launched against North Vietnam and its guerrilla camps in the region came from those air bases. Name [ edit] The removal of U.S. military forces was accomplished by United States Marine Detachment BLT 1/9 out of Okinawa, Japan. The 307th was under the command and control of Eighth Air Force, based at Andersen AFB, Guam. During the 1960s Thailand experienced one of the most rapid growth rates among developing countries: more than 10% per year in GNP, and about 8% per year in real output. CD-ROM. A token Thai force of a non-combatant nature was under consideration. See all photos. [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. Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. He teaches history, political science and sociology on the university level. [3]:49, In December 1969 the effects of the withdrawal of the Philippine Civic Action Group, Vietnam, and antiwar sentiment in the US were felt in Thailand as elsewhere. The expansion of U-Tapao RTN airfield began in October 1965. After July 1971 the Headquarters, Royal Thai Forces, Vietnam, would be reduced to 204 men. An estimated 21,000 Thais were operating in Laos by 1973. 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. With Thailand facing threats on all fronts, the U.S. increased the military and economic aid being sent. An optimal solution was to base the B-52s in South Vietnam or Thailand, however base security in South Vietnam was problematic. In 1953, Eisenhowers selection for a new ambassador to Thailand was William Donovan, who had led the World War II spy agency, the Office of Strategic Services, forerunner of the CIA, created in 1947. The remaining members of the flight had jobs on the ground in intelligence, communications, flight engineering, loading and operations. 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. pullback. The government feared that should Laos fall to the communists, the "Domino Theory" would place the entire region, including Thailand, in jeopardy. The North Vietnamese offensive was crushed, but the strikes on North Vietnam continued, only winding down in October, ahead of the 1972 United States presidential election, which resulted in Richard Nixon being re-elected and the attacks quickly ramped up again in November. Add a Place. On 23 December, communist forces fired on an American VC-47 passenger transport. The report "Snakes in the Eagles Nest" gives a partial account of combat operations in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Martin, Patrick (1994). On April 20, 1961 a detachment of six F100 Super Sabres from the 510TFS/405TFW based at Clark AB, Philippines deployed to Don Muang Airport as part of Operation Bell Tone. If Laos fell, the door was wide open for communism to infiltrate Thailand. Despite Thailand's neutrality on the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Thai government allowed U-Tapao to be used by American warplanes flying into combat in Iraq, as it had earlier done during the war in Afghanistan. Ambassador to Thailand Kenneth Young Jr. and U.S. Army Col. William McKean, commander of the 27th Infantry Regiment near Korat, Thailand, in June 1962. Evacuation by civil and military fixed-wing aircraft from Tan Son Nhat International Airport had been taking place since early-March and continued until 28 April when PAVN artillery fire rendered the runways unusable. He also stated that the subject had been discussed with South Vietnamese Foreign Minister Tran Chan Thanh, and had been under consideration for some time. [22], Detachment 12 of the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron operating 2 HH-43s provided search and rescue at the base. (https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2008/february/truth-about-tonkin) USAF forces were dispatched to Thailand. But Thailand's multifaceted support for U.S. combat operations in IndochinaVietnam, Cambodia and Laos was a far more important contribution. Benner served more than 10 years in the U.S. Army. It is serves as the home of the RTN First Air Wing. Thai entrepreneurs built scores of new hotels, restaurants and bars to serve the waves of free-spending American G.I.s, causing foreign funding to flow into the country. Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. The Thais understood that the only answer to this problem was to join forces with the United States. [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. A few weeks later, HQ USAF authorized the release of these photographs to the governments of Laos and Thailand. [6][non-primary source needed]. 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.
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