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. We lived in severe poverty because dad was so sick and couldnt work. Ammunition Depot which was a few miles from the base, it also was sprayed Activist. Some TDY personnel from the 354th TFW were assigned to the 388th and placed on permanent party status. The DRO who reviewed by claim has acknowledged that I was working with barrels of some substance. Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Google Map Photo of Korat RTAFB, Brett Watterson sent me this map of Korat RTAFB which he highlighted the full perimeter, Official Department of the Air Force Map Present and Future Facilities at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB 30 June 1968, Department of the Air Force Master Base Plan Map This is the highest resolution map I have of Korat RTAFB. The wing's efforts merited the Presidential Unit Citation in March 1968. As a service to veterans, I ran the linked PDF of theCHECO Reportthrough OCR software before reposting it here. The conversion of USAFE units to the F-4D Phantom enabled some of the European-based F-105Ds to be transferred to Southeast Asia, but this was not sufficient to offset the heavy attrition rate. Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base is a base of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) in northeast Thailand, approximately 200 km (125 mi) northeast of Bangkok and about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the centre of the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in the Nakhon Ratchasima Province (also known as "Khorat" or "Korat"), the largest province in Thailand . In late 1975, there were only three combat squadrons at Korat, consisting of 24 F-4Ds of the 34th TFS, 24 A-7Ds of the 3rd TFS, and six AC-130H "Spectre" aircraft of the 16th Special Operations Squadron. [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 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. It was replaced by the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron, also flying F-105Ds, which was deployed from the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. 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. USASCCCCA With the GAO report, DoD compelled to come up with a more comprehensive list, not go back and revise what they already confirmed.. On 17 April, the USAF flew its last mission over Laos, attacking a handful of targets requested by the Laotian government. U.S. Army Veteranswho provided perimeter security on RTAF bases in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975. [5] The 36th TFS remained at Korat until 29 October then returned to Japan. USARSUPTHAI Go to https://www.militaryvideo.com/ to purchase the. With these re-organizations, the 44th TFS possessed both D and F model Thunderchiefs. 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. It was re-equipped with F-4Es on 5 July. Maintenance of the facilities at other bases abandoned by the United States (Ubon, Udorn) proved too costly and exceeded Thai needs and were turned over to the Department of Civil Aviation for civil use. He is author of the guideVoc Rehab Survival Guide for Veterans and chief editor of DisabledVeterans.org. [3], The 6234th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) was activated in April 1965 as part of the 2d AD with Colonel William D. Ritchie, Jr. as commander. R. at 996. Consequently, the EF-4C was seen only as an interim Wild Weasel aircraft, pending the introduction of a more suitable type. EB-66s were transferred to Takhli RTAFB in late November 1965 and were used as electronic warfare aircraft, joining strike aircraft during their missions over North Vietnam to jam enemy radar installations. 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. Join Your Unit Today Join VetFriends To: Reunite with Unit Buddies Browse Military Units Post Unit Messages Singaporean forces fly F-5Es, F-16C/D Fighting Falcons, KC-130B Hercules, E-2C Hawkeye, CH-47SD Chinooks and AS-532UL Cougars. HHD B 9th Log CommandHQ 809th Engineer Battalion In March 1973 A-7D aircraft were drawn from the deployed 354th TFW squadrons and assigned to the 388th TFW as the 3d Tactical Fighter Squadron. 28th Signal Company31st MED Field Hospital 1962-70 [3][16], Also on 15 May, an F-4C Phantom II squadron, the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron[17] and an F-105F squadron, the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron[18] were deployed and permanently attached to the 388th from the 347th TFW, Yokota AB, Japan and Kadena AB, Okinawa. Our platoon from the 720th MP Bn in In general, the F-100 would identify the SAM site and the F-105Ds would fly the strike. in Thailand. The high loss rate of the F-105s in the two combat wings at Korat and Takhli RTAFB required the squadron to send its aircraft to Thailand as replacement aircraft. In addition to the F-5E and F-5F fighter-bombers, OV-10C counter-insurgency aircraft, transports, and helicopters were added to the RTAF inventory. water buffalo scattering. Defense Secretary Mark Esper added that the new list will be updated as verifiable information becomes available.. the Air Force Map Korat RTAFB above, Official Department of the Air Force Map Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base - Wikipedia, Bob Freitag's "The Vietnam War Years of Korat Royal Thai Air Base" Website, USAF units in Thailand during the Vietnam (American) War - A History Lesson, Top Attractions in Korat City Centre: Tourist Guide to The Gateway to Isaan, Ubon RTAFB - U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War & Today. The 652ndTopographic Engineer Battalion depicted the broad reach of American forces in Thailand, which can be seen below. perimeter near the Weapons Storage and Maintenance facility at Ubon RTAFB, Annotated Photo of the Munitions [2], The host unit was the 44th Engineer Group (Construction), part of the 9th Logistics Command. This is an update from yesterdays post about Thailand military bases and Agent Orange. VA depends on DOD to provide information regarding in-service environmental exposure for disability claims based on exposure to herbicides outside of Vietnam, Wilkie said in a statement. Come camp with us! The wars in Cambodia and Laos, however continued. Korat also housed components of the RTAF and a detachment of No. Its aircraft and personnel were absorbed by the 44th TFS. Korat RTAFB is a major facility for the Cope Tiger exercises, an annual, multinational exercise conducted in two phases in the Asia-Pacific region. Please Phillip, Google the bn, you might get lucky and find that they have a web site and might be able to help you. The only missions flown were aircraft of the 388th TFW providing air cover and escort during Operation Eagle Pull, the evacuation of Americans from Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Operation Frequent Wind the evacuation of Americans and at-risk Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam. [4]:115. Also an Army Vet from Korat Thailand 68-69 who has been denied compensation by our VA. The initial College Eye support team personnel arrived at Korat on 20 September 1967. 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. However, the Army Veteran must have been a member of a. [16]:210. (DS) 1964-65 593rd EN Company, Construction 6/1963-8/1963 597th MAINT Company, Direct Support 1966-69 697th EN [4]:154. [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. F-105F/G Wild Weasel SAM Anti-Radar squadrons assigned to the 388th TFW were: The tactics employed on the Iron Hand missions were primarily designed to suppress the SA-2 SAM and gun-laying radar defenses of North Vietnam during the ingress, attack, and egress of the main strike force. All photos received after January 2000 were put in the Photo Annex. I was in the USB Seabees mcb-5 may 1972 we built the rose garden for the Marines. I stumbled across a report on the internet about bases in Thailand being sprayed with AO. 720th MP Battalion The location must have been a DoD installation, land under control of DoD or a non-DoD location where service members were present during testing, application, transportation or storage. 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. [28] The Thai government wanted the US out of Thailand by the end of the year. Office of Accountability & Whistleblower Protection, Training - Exposure - Experience (TEE) Tournament, Military Exposure Related Health Concerns, War Related Illness & Injury Study Center, Clinical Trainees (Academic Affiliations), benefits related to Agent Orange exposure, Call TTY if you Also important are the camouflaged Lockheed EC-121R aircraft on the ramp immediately behind. Cantonment area at Ubon RTAFB, Udorn Thailand area including MMQB: What might West Point do with Your Disability? * 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 VA OIG Cries Foul, Agency Duped by a Gun-Toting, Felon, Sex Offender, Only VA Impressed With VA Restructuring Plan. The army was engaged in the construction of Camp Friendship. The detachment returned to its main unit at Korat and the 44th TFS was returned to Korat in September 1970 from the 355th TFW to the 388th TFW when the decision was made to consolidate the units of the Wild Weasel mission. 6,650 views. and defense of Thailand. Construction 1962-70 Built on dreams over 50 years ago, Camp Friendship is one of those places that lets you forget about the problems of the world. All my pictures melted ( polaroid), had some great ones. The EC-130s and personnel of 7th ACCS were transferred to the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing at Clark Air Base, Philippines on 22 May 1974. The 44th would rotate pilots and personnel to Korat on a Temporary duty assignment (TDY) basis from 18 December 1964 25 February 1965, 21 April22 June 1965 and 1029 October 1965.[3][8]. Radio call signs for these missions were Moonbeam, Alleycat, Hillsboro and Cricket. Any help on this?? 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