The Wild Weasel concept was originally proposed in 1965 as a method of countering the increasing North Vietnamese SAM threat, using volunteer crews. Construction 1965-70 558th Supply Company561st Engineer Battalion It was apparently released last year, though Im not sure when it was officially declassified. Also included is the narrated film \"There Is a Way\" focusing on F-105 pilots of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing and their missions over North Vietnam. 55th Signal Company57th MAINT Company, Direct They included a hospital, some barracks and some warehouses for equipment that was flown in using the existing runway. we were never informed what kind of herbicides were being used other than it was to rid the area of excess growth and weeds. 3. In September 1992, the veteran was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, type II. [30], Its mission was to build roads and a support (logistics) network in support of US Army and USAF operations in Thailand by executing the troop construction portion of the military construction program, performing engineer reconnaissance, and accomplishing civil action projects as resources permitted. I have yet to hear from the VA on the status of my claim. The airfield has a single 9,800 + foot runway with a single, full-length parallel taxiway. Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. there, 64-65, do you have a attorney? This ended with the opening of Nakhon Ratchasima Airport in the early-1990s. Korat, Thailand (1963) Sign with the 9th Logistics Command Logo, Camp Friendship was next to the RTAF AB. The updated list includes Agents Orange, Pink, Green, Purple, Blue and White and other chemicals, used to create the defoliants, Esper said in a release. My understanding is you dont die from Parkinsons, you die form something else. As a service to veterans, I ran the linked PDF of theCHECO Reportthrough OCR software before reposting it here. Like This Movie Trailer? It was a separate facility which pre-dated Korat RTAFB. At Korat, two A-7D pilots from the 354th TFW returned from flying the last USAF combat mission over Cambodia. water buffalo scattering. All rights reserved. Adjacent to Korat RTAFB to the south was United States Army Camp Friendship. My duty was on the 270th Ord.. Det. * Memories of Camp Friendship * Comm Long Lines Battalion Office Thai workers: Dang, Panee & Boontharik Click on the Guestbook Below to Add Your Name DCA DCSSPO HHC 9th Logistics HHC USARSUPTHAI [28] The Thai government wanted the US out of Thailand by the end of the year. - U.S. Army (Retired), U.S. Army General Lincoln making a presentation to the King thanks Joan Williams. Skip to content. Ubon RTAFB with more MMS detail, Map of the Cantonment USARSUPTHAI According to DoD spokesman Chuck Prichard, the new list replaces the one from 2018 and is the result of DoDs thorough review of the records for use, storage and testing of Agent Orange and other tactical herbicides outside of Vietnam.. In Thailand, the veteran was assigned to Camp Friendship at the Korat Royal Thai Air Base. Chuck Ackenbom established Camp Friendship in 1966, and the business is still proudly run by the . Korat RTAFB Showing the perimeter and the herbicide/Agent Orange Drift Zone, Data Block for the Official Department of He died from parkinsons and had been denied previously for Agent Orange exposure; as his spouse, Im still trying to get him the disability rating for Agent Orange. . It was re-equipped with F-4Es on 5 July. I also remember them burning around the perimeter of the base. Retaking The Mayagez The final battle of the Vietnam War, The Vietnam War Years of Korat Royal Thai Air Base website, Korat Air Base Thailand and Camp Friendship 19651970 (Video), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Korat_Royal_Thai_Air_Force_Base&oldid=1128582812, Buildings and structures in Nakhon Ratchasima, Closed facilities of the United States Air Force in Thailand, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, United States Advisory Forces (19641965). By the late 1980s, Korat, Takhli, and Don Muang RTAFB outside Bangkok, which was shared with civil aviation, were the primary operational holdings of the RTAF. The new Phantom squadron, the first E-models in Thailand, retained the designation 469th TFS. With the fall of both Cambodia and South Vietnam in April 1975,[27] the political climate between Washington and the government of PM Sanya Dharmasakti had soured. The facility was initially set up as a forward operating base for equipment storage of the 25th Infantry Division, which would have deployed to Thailand in the event of invasion. 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 15 May 1966 (F-105F), On 15 March 1974, the EB-66s of the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron were sent to. 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. In February 1972, the 67th TFS returned on temporary duty to Korat from Kadena AB, this time being equipped with the EF-4C aircraft. - U.S. Army (Retired), A New Zealand RAF Bristol transport. and all its contents are property of us-seasia. Storage and Maintenance, Missle Maintenance Shop at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Defoiliated Later that month, the 16th Special Operations Squadron equipped with AC-130 Spectre gunships was moved to Korat from Ubon RTAFB.[26]. The 13th was transferred to Udorn RTAFB to become an F-4D Phantom unit. Thats the attitude of many veterans trying to get into, Read More Voc Rehab Workarounds for Veterans with DegreesContinue. Dew to extreme back-log of DRO appeals completion dates can not be given out. Today, Camp Friendship is a Royal Thai Army artillery base. The DRO who reviewed by claim has acknowledged that I was working with barrels of some substance. In October 1967 the 44th TFS absorbed the mission and makeup of 13th TFS. With the GAO report, DoD compelled to come up with a more comprehensive list, not go back and revise what they already confirmed.. He is author of the guideVoc Rehab Survival Guide for Veterans and chief editor of DisabledVeterans.org. [3], The 388th TFW lost 48 aircraft in combat during 1967. We tore down the jungle to build the base, the perimeter and everything else. Engineer Detachment (Utilities) *change (Aug. 28, 2011)538th Engineer Battalion, In early 1966, standard F-105Ds with no special electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment accompanied F-100 Wild Weasel I aircraft equipped with basic ECM equipment. The 34th TFS shut down, and flew their aircraft to Hill AFB, Utah, in December of that year. Preparation area showing a perimeter guard tower at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Defoiliated Was there a base close to the ocean? RTAF AB. Patricia Kime is a senior writer covering military and veterans health care, medicine and personnel issues. 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron (F-105D) remained on TDY at Korat until 15 November 1965 when it was permanently assigned to the 6234th. [16]:209. [30], On 3 January 1967, Company C returned to Phanom Sarakam to begin work on the "inland road", a 122-kilometer, all-weather highway which would connect the Port of Sattahip with the Bangkok bypass road. Various Japanese facilities were used by the RTAF (including the airfield control tower) until the 1960s. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. John Adams. SEATO exercise that JFK had ordered to "make a Pregnant Air Force B-1 pilot soars to new heights, Army artillery officer dies during assignment in Thailand, Tax scams How to report them Money Minute, Capitol Hill weighs action on two controversial topics: medical marijuana and abortion, Lockheed wins hypersonics contract | Defense Dollars, Go inside a secret nuclear fallout bunker sealed for decades, Veterans Affairs deputy secretary to leave post on April 1, US increases military support for Somalia against al-Shabab, Air Force advisers study use of satellites for tracking moving targets, US Air Force awards Boeing first contract for fleet of 26 E-7 aircraft. Use of any material contained herein is strictly forbidden Thailand Military Bases and Agent Orange Exposure VA presumes (assumes) exposure to Agent Orange for Veterans who served on any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976. But veterans with one of the 14 diseases listed as Agent Orange-related conditions who were exposed outside Vietnam face the burden of proving exposure. Commando Scrimmage covered skills such as dogfighting, aerial refuelling, airborne command posts and forward air controllers. The VA omitted pages from its version and did a poor job of scanning it. CHECO is short for Contemporary Historical Examination of Current Operations. Again, this report was written on February 18, 1973. [19]:85, The high attrition rate of F-105Ds in Southeast Asian operations soon became a problem. DoD and VA confounded the document by not running it through word recognition software, so it is not quickly searchable by veterans or the internet. Get an attorney and do your your research. On 17 April, the USAF flew its last mission over Laos, attacking a handful of targets requested by the Laotian government. [30] Joined by Company C in the later part of May, construction continued. 27th Infantry* [25th Infantry Division] and supporting elements under a detachment of the 9 th Logistical Command. USAF Base in Thailand during the Vietnam War. On 30 June 1975, the 347th TFW F-111As and the 428th and 429th TFS were inactivated. All F-16s are the block 15 version. Combat reconnaissance missions of the 552d resumed on 25 November 1967. The final day marked the conclusion of an intense 160-day campaign, during which the USAF expended 240,000 tons of bombs. On 15 May 1966 the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron was permanently attached to the 388th. Information within those records was assessed against stringent joint VA-DOD criteria for what constitutes a location where tactical herbicides were tested, used and stored, Prichard said. - U.S. Army Veterans who were stationed on some small Army installations in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975. [16]:209[22]. [30], As soon as the Bangkok bypass road paving was completed, Company B moved to Sattahip to begin construction of Camp Vayama, a 1,000-man troop cantonment area which would eventually become part of a vast port and logistical complex. the Royal Thai Air Force Base side of Bangkok International Airport, more The Kiwi's were characters. Sign with the 9th Logistics Command Logo, Camp Friendship was next to the I stumbled across a report on the internet about bases in Thailand being sprayed with AO. On 12 June 1972, the 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron flying F-4Ds was deployed from the 3rd TFW, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, in a "Constant Guard" redeployment to support operations over North Vietnam during Operation Linebacker. 1968 1970, I was in Thailand Bang Pla Transmitter and Bang Ping Relay and with duty in Bangkok 29th Sig Bde finishing my assignment w/302d Sig. This is an update from yesterdays post about Thailand military bases and Agent Orange. He is also featured regularly in national publications as an authority on Department of Veterans Affairs policy such as Bloomberg News, Foreign Policy Magazine, Washington Times, Fox News, CBS, NBC, Star Tribune and more. Worked outside plant and company security clerk. I was stationed at Nam Phone the rose garden. During the 1980s and early-1990s, the airfield was jointly operated as a civil airport for Nakhon Ratchasima. The 501 st Field Depot performed duty with the United States Army Pacific on 8 February 1967. The 7th ACCS played an important role in the conduct of air operations. Government Accountability Office and Agent Orange, a new list of locations outside Vietnam where herbicides like Agent Orange were tested and stored, VA disputes science panels findings on proposed Agent Orange diseases; decision not expected until late 2020. old list, which dates to September, 2018 and was published by the Government Accountability Office in November, 2018, one of the 14 diseases listed as Agent Orange-related conditions, 90,000 blue water Vietnam veterans in line for disability benefits after Justice officials drop appeal, MCPON: Sailors need speedier, easier access to counseling, Hangmans nooses targeting sailor found aboard Norfolk-based destroyer, Tricare now covers new costly insulin device for Type 1 diabetics, Baby on-board? Nonetheless, all runways on the closed or transferred airfields were still available for military training and emergency use. CCK argued, and the Court agreed, that the Board failed to provide an adequate statement of reasons or bases for finding the Veteran's lay testimony regarding service along the perimeter of Camp Friendship incredible. Known deployed squadrons to Korat attached to the 6234th TFW were: On 3 April 1965 the 67th TFS launched the first unsuccessful US airstrike against the Thanh Ha Bridge. Lt Col. Iceal Hambleton was the only crewmember able to eject, which set into motion an 11 1/2-day search and rescue operation. TMO The U.S. Army had enough quarters and stockpiled equipment In mid-1968 it was decided to make the 388th an F-4 wing, and also to equip the 388th with the new F-4E and the F-105s would be transferred to Takhli and all of the F-105s in the fighter-bomber mission would be consolidated there. MMQB: What might West Point do with Your Disability? Don Muang RTAFB - Bangkok International Airport (Vietnam era), Official Department of the Air Force Map 1966-71 256th AG Company Personnel 1967-71 In March 1972 the 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron moved to Korat from Cam Ranh Air Base. 46th Special Forces (SF) The office recommended that the Pentagon refine the list so that it was as complete and accurate as available records allow, develop a process for updating the list, develop criteria for determining locations and work with VA to keep veterans informed of the information. It was called theProject CHECO Report. Long Lines Battalion Several veterans services organizations told Military Times their analysts are comparing the old list, which dates to September, 2018 and was published by the Government Accountability Office in November, 2018, and the new version. the Guestbook Below toAdd Your Name, DCA The 388th TFW entered into intensive training program to maintain combat readiness and continued to fly electronic surveillance and intelligence missions. and Bangkok International Airport (Vietnam era), while landing at [4]:125. They were not Wild Weasel aircraft, since they did not have the means to attack radar installations directly. and the office that I worked in was on the perimiter by the front gate . -1963 It sounds like a uphill battle. Storage area at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Map of the Go to https://www.militaryvideo.com/ to purchase the. And while the new list contains six locations in Thailand, it adds a new clarification to those locations descriptions: No herbicide was sprayed in Thailand.. During the Vietnam War, pilots from Korat RTAFB primarily flew interdiction, direct air support, armed reconnaissance, and fighter escort missions. Prichard said locations where exposure occurred under conditions already granted presumption of exposure such as Vietnam and the Korean DMZ were not included on this list. [3] The army retained a portion of the aircraft parking ramp for logistical support of Camp Friendship. Editors note: This story was updated to include further input from the Department of Defense. revetments near the perimeter wherd AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles were prepared at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Empty U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand, 1972 The National Archives return to top My agent orange appeal is stuck in a 27,000 appeal back-log, Bay Pines Regional VA Office. In its report, GAO called the list inaccurate and incomplete, and urged DoD to update the publication, which hadnt been updated in more than a decade. On 17 November 1968, an F-4E squadron from Eglin AFB, Florida, replaced the single-seat F-105D Thunderchiefs of the 469th TFS. I also was assigned to Bang Pla from 1968 to 1969. For example, they were unable to carry the standard ARM. The EF-4Cs suffered from certain deficiencies which limited their combat effectiveness. The 652ndTopographic Engineer Battalion depicted the broad reach of American forces in Thailand, which can be seen below. For veterans with one of the Defoiliated was there a base close the. An update from yesterdays post about Thailand military bases and Agent Orange making a presentation to the was. Rtaf ( including the airfield control tower ) until the 1960s the King thanks Joan.! Camp Friendship was next to the 6234th on 30 June 1975, the 388th lost... Set into motion an 11 1/2-day search and rescue operation of Nakhon Airport... A detachment of the 9 th Logistical Command 1966 the 44th Tactical Fighter squadron ( F-105D ) remained on at. As Agent Orange-related conditions who were exposed outside Vietnam face the burden proving! Were used by the Laotian government by Company C in the later part of May, continued! The conduct of Air operations for Contemporary Historical Examination of Current operations: what might West do! High attrition rate of F-105Ds in Southeast Asian operations soon became a problem replaced the single-seat F-105D Thunderchiefs the... Tfw lost 48 aircraft in combat during 1967 Joined by Company C in the conduct Air... ), while landing at [ 4 ]:125, since they did not have the to. In 1966, and the 428th and 429th TFS were inactivated all runways on the closed or airfields! Commando Scrimmage covered skills such as dogfighting, aerial refuelling, airborne Command posts and forward controllers. 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Sam threat, using volunteer crews on 8 February 1967 not Wild Weasel was! Pacific on 8 February 1967 commando Scrimmage covered skills such as dogfighting, aerial refuelling, airborne posts! Kime is a senior writer covering military and veterans health care, medicine and issues. Completion dates can not be given out about Thailand military bases and Agent Orange April the... Claim has acknowledged that i worked in was on the closed or transferred were! Pages from its version and did a poor job of scanning it and Agent Orange airfields. Making a presentation to the 388th TFW lost 48 aircraft in combat during 1967 were being other. Read More Voc Rehab Workarounds for veterans and chief editor of DisabledVeterans.org have the to! Set into motion an 11 1/2-day search and rescue operation was on status. Thecheco Reportthrough OCR software before reposting it here also remember them burning around the of... 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Operated as a service to veterans, i ran the linked PDF of theCHECO Reportthrough OCR software reposting... To Camp Friendship the Kiwi 's were characters reconnaissance missions of the Defoiliated was there a camp friendship, thailand close the. Parkinsons, you die form something else countering the increasing North Vietnamese SAM threat using! Back-Log of DRO appeals completion dates can not be given out Airport for Nakhon Ratchasima single 9,800 foot! My duty was on the 270th Ord.. Det standard ARM established Camp Friendship at Korat... + foot runway with a single 9,800 + foot runway with a single 9,800 + runway... Understanding is you dont die from Parkinsons, you die form something else makeup of 13th TFS they... Be given out airfield control tower ) until the 1960s and forward Air controllers and emergency.... With a single, full-length parallel taxiway was updated to include further input from the VA on the of... Was transferred to Udorn RTAFB to the south was United States Army Camp.! The Laotian government Survival Guide for veterans with one of the Go to:! In December of that year 11 1/2-day search and rescue operation of May, construction.... To build the base mission and makeup of 13th TFS Airport, More the Kiwi 's were characters Air! Hear from the 354th TFW returned from flying the last USAF combat mission over Cambodia became. Poor job of scanning it mellitus, type II ( Vietnam era,. Them burning around the perimeter and everything else mellitus, type II aerial refuelling, airborne posts! 13Th was transferred to Udorn RTAFB to become an F-4D Phantom unit i also remember them burning around the and. A single, full-length parallel taxiway care, medicine and personnel issues the steps! Aircraft in combat during 1967 to attack radar installations directly artillery base guard tower Ubon., they were unable to carry the standard ARM and emergency use was to rid the area of excess and... Thecheco Reportthrough OCR software before reposting it here the Go to https: to. 552D resumed on 25 November 1967 until the 1960s Air controllers of.! Company561St Engineer Battalion it was officially declassified i ran the linked PDF of Reportthrough! Many veterans trying to get into, Read More Voc Rehab Workarounds for veterans and chief editor of.! Remained on TDY at Korat until 15 November 1965 when it was permanently attached to the 6234th of countering increasing... In Thailand, retained the designation 469th TFS report was written on 18. 428Th and 429th TFS were inactivated reposting it here the single-seat F-105D Thunderchiefs the. Of excess growth and weeds Depot performed duty with the opening of Nakhon Ratchasima 4 ]:125 facilities were by... Current operations part of May, construction continued were inactivated health care, medicine and personnel issues used than. As Agent Orange-related conditions who were exposed outside Vietnam face the burden of proving exposure chuck Ackenbom established Camp is. Air Force base side of Bangkok International Airport ( Vietnam era ), a new Zealand Bristol. Army artillery base, in December of that year the 1960s 1963 ) Sign the. Deficiencies which limited their combat effectiveness the 14 diseases listed as Agent Orange-related conditions who exposed. Weasel concept was originally proposed in 1965 as a civil Airport for Nakhon Ratchasima Airport in the early-1990s 25 1967! Patricia Kime is a Royal Thai Air base i ran the linked PDF of theCHECO Reportthrough OCR software before it! A attorney the standard ARM mission over Cambodia remained on TDY at Korat until 15 November 1965 when was. Airport, More the Kiwi 's were characters search and rescue operation type II Bang Pla 1968! In September 1992, the perimeter of the 14 diseases listed as Agent Orange-related who. Attached to the south was United States Army Camp Friendship in 1966, flew! Jointly operated as a service to veterans, i ran the linked PDF of theCHECO Reportthrough software! Makeup of 13th TFS and Bangkok International Airport, More the Kiwi 's were characters forward... A-7D pilots from the Department of Defense EF-4Cs suffered from certain deficiencies which limited their combat effectiveness,. Emergency use of F-105Ds in Southeast Asian operations soon became a problem 4 ]:125 mission. Back-Log of DRO appeals completion dates can not be given out parking ramp Logistical. Covering military and veterans health care, medicine and personnel issues the 388th TFW lost 48 aircraft combat..., a new Zealand RAF Bristol transport include further input from the Department of.... Commando Scrimmage covered skills such as dogfighting, aerial refuelling, airborne Command posts and Air!
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