UDORN ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE
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- click on the bottom row, third map to see the actual base location.
MAJOR UNITS:
Det 1,
39th ARRS
Det 5, 38th ARRS
Deputy Chief, JUSMAG
10th Weather Squadron
1974th Communications Group
621st Tactical Control Squadron
Det 1, 56th Special Operations Wing
432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
50th Tactical Control Maintenance Squadron
- AIRCRAFT ASSIGNED: F-102, RF-4C, F-4D, HC-130, C-130E, C-130B, C-47, HH-43, C-54 and T-28.
- RUNWAY LENGTH: 10,000-feet
- HOSPITAL FACILITIES: 50-bed modular type hospital.
- MILES FROM BANGKOK. 248 air miles northeast
- WING MOTTO: "Victory through science"
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HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AT UDORN ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE:
The first unit assigned at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force was the 333d
Air Base Squadron. The. formation of this unit took place in October
1964. The squadron was subordinate to the 35th Tactical Group, Don
Muang Air Port. Prior to the formation on of the squadron, support
personnel were provided by temporary duty personnel from the 35th
Tactical Group. On 18 July 1965, the 333rd Air Base Squadron was redesignated
the 6232nd Combat Support Group (CSG). This unit reported directly
to the Commander, 13th Air Force and to the 6234th Tactical Fighter
Wing (TFW) at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, at that time the only
tactical wing in Thailand. The formation of the group at Udorn RTAFB
was brought about because of expanding Air Force programs., an increase
in assigned personnel and increased base support requirements. The
majority of personnel at Udorn RTAFB, prior, to the formation of the
group, were temporary duty assignments. Shortly before the group was
activated a gradual input of permanent party personnel was made to
replace those on temporary duty.
In 1965 a program of building a cantonment area for U.S. Air Force
personnel was underway. The area was to be completed as soon as possible
and to be comprised of office buildings, a supply area and billets.
Personnel, prior to moving into this area, were billeted in the Thai
area of the base.
On 15 November 1965 the 6232nd CSG was given the responsibility of reporting directly to the Deputy Commander 2nd Air Division/13th Air Force rather than directly to the Commander, 13th Air Force. The 6232nd CSG was redesignated the 630th CSG on 8 April 1966, with a reporting responsibility to the Deputy Commander, 7th Air Force/13th Air Force (7/13AF), headquartered at Udorn.
On 18 September 1966, the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW) was organized and the 630th CSG was placed under the new wing and redesignated the 432nd CSG. The 432nd wing originally had two tactical reconnaissance squadrons (TRS), the 11th and 20th, flying the RF-4C and RF-101 respectively. On 30 October 1967, the RF-101 squadron was deactivated and replaced by another RF-4C squadron, the 14th TRS. These two squadrons accounted for more than 80 percent of all reconnaissance activity over North Vietnam. In addition to the two RF-4 squadrons, the wing also had a tactical fighter squadron (TFS), the 13th. This squadron employed the F-4D fighter-bomber aircraft on strike missions over North Vietnam. The 13th TFS was credited with two MIGs kills.
On 25 April 1968, Lieutenant General Benjamin O. Davis Jr., Commander of 13th Air Force, presented the 432nd TRW the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device for meritorious achievements during the period 18 September 1966 to 18 September 1967. On 28 May 1968, the 555th TFS arrived at Udorn from Ubon RTAFB, adding to the 432nd TRW's distinction of being an Air Force wing with a dual reconnaissance- fighter mission. The 555th, better known as the Triple Nickel was credited with 27 MIG kills, the last seven victories scored while at Udorn.
On 31 October 1968, the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, which had been assigned to the base as a temporary duty unit, became part of the 432nd wing.. With the addition of this C-130 squadron, the 432nd TRW became the most diversified unit of its size in the Air Force. At the end of 1968, Udorn housed 14 different combat flying units, representing every phase of tactical air power. On 25 February 1970, Major General Robert L. Petit, Deputy Commander, 7/13 Air Force, presented the 432nd TRW the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary gallantry in connection with military operations from 19 September 1967 to 1 November 1968.
On 10 November 1970, the 11th TRS was deployed to Shaw AFB, S.C. ending. a distinguished tour of service with the 432nd TRW. The departure of the 11th left the wing with two fighter squadrons, one reconnaissance squadron and the airborne command and control squadron. On 1 April 1972 the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron was deployed to Korat RTAFB. The mission of the wing is to provide intelligence information about hostile forces through tactical reconnaissance and use its fighter elements to destroy the targets earmarked by the intelligence data provided. The wing has numerous missions in the support area also. As the command base for 7/13AF in Thailand, Udorn RTAFB plays a lead role in accomplishing the objectives of the United States in fulfilling its policy in Southeast Asia.
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