Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base
Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base
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| Part of Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) | |
| Coordinates | 13°54′45″N 100°36′24″E / 13.91250°N 100.60667°E |
| Type | Air Force Base |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Military Air Force Base |
| Site history | |
| Battles/wars |
 Vietnam War |
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| Elevation AMSL | 9 ft / 3 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 13°54′45″N 100°36′24″E / 13.91250°N 100.60667°ECoordinates: 13°54′45″N 100°36′24″E / 13.91250°N 100.60667°E | ||||||||||||||
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Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base is approximately 40 kilometres north of central Bangkok and is the main operating and command base for the Royal Thai Air Force. In addition, units of the Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Police have personnel located there.
The first flights to Don Muang were made on 8 March 1914 and involved the transfer of aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force. Three years earlier, Thailand had sent three army officers to France to train as pilots. On completion of their training in 1911, the pilots were authorized to purchase four Breguets and four Nieuports, which formed the basis of the Royal Thai Air Force.
Don Muang RTAFB It is an active Royal Thai Air Force base, the home of the 1st Air Division, and consists primarily of non-combat aircraft.
During the Japanese invasion of Thailand on 8 December, Don Muang was the site of dogfights between Japanese and Thai aircraft; the outnumbered Thais lost six planes to the Japanese.
During the early years of the Vietnam War (1961–1966), Don Muang was used as a major command and logistics hub of the United States Air Force. The USAF forces at Don Muang were under the command of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Thirteenth Air Force.
After the expansion of U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield in 1966, most American units and personnel were transferred from Don Muang, however a small USAF liaison office remained at the base until 1975. The APO for Don Muang was APO San Francisco, 96303
In April 1961 an advanced party of the 6010th Tactical Group, USAF, arrived at Don Muang at the request of the Royal Thai government to establish an aircraft warning system. Also in April 1961, a small detachment of Convair F-102 Delta Daggers from the 509th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, based at Clark AB, Philippines were sent to Don Muang under Operation Bell Tone. Their mission was to bolster the defense capabilities of the Royal Thai Air Force. For the next several years, a minimum of four F-102 interceptors were kept on alert at Don Muang.
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Wikipedia