USARSUPTHAI CE DivisionUSASTRATCOM SIG Battalion After the departure of the 388th TFW, the USAF retained a small flight of security police at Korat to provide base security and to deter theft of equipment until the final return of the base to the Thai Government. Built new barracks fight on the fence line, or 9-10 feet. . It sounds like a uphill battle. 2. More than 1,100 people participate, including approximately 500 US service members and 600 service members from Thailand and Singapore. I could see the farmers looking up and the [4]:154. [30], In 1970, the 44th Engineer Group was inactivated in Thailand as part of the draw down of United States forces in Southeast Asia. The 519th was under the 9 th Logistical Command and had been given the primary mission of delivering all types of military cargo to US Military facilities throughout Thailand. along the perimeter of U-Tapao RTAFB, Map 10 - the Recreation and Beach tlxLastPublishedDate.toLocaleString() : now.toLocaleString(); document.write("Last updated on " + edited); Geographical Location: Camp Friendship is located approximately 125 miles North-East of Bangkok in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima and adjoined The statement is in direct opposition to Defense Department documents that explicitly state herbicides were sprayed in Thailand in the early 1970s to protect bases from counterinsurgency attacks. The mission of the 501 st Field Depot was assigned to Camp Friendship in Korat to assume the supply mission for Thailand, Laos, Cambodia . By mid-October, 1,574 airmen from Myrtle Beach had arrived as part of "Constant Guard IV". The F-4 and A-7 aircraft practiced bombing and intercept missions in western Thailand. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. Go to https://www.militaryvideo.com/ to purchase the. at the Southeast area of U-Tapao RTAFB, Map 8 - the These included a C-130E Hercules from 36 Airlift Squadron, 374 Airlift Wing (based at Yokota AB, Japan) in 2006, and a G-222 and a C-130H from the RTAF in 2007. There are many other CHECO reports, but this is the missing link between use of Agent Orange and Thailand. In February 1972, the 67th TFS returned on temporary duty to Korat from Kadena AB, this time being equipped with the EF-4C aircraft. Ironically it was approved for PTSD, not AO Never received a ruling on that, 100% trumps everything. The EF-4Cs suffered from certain deficiencies which limited their combat effectiveness. The mission of the Wild Weasels was to eliminate SAM sites in North Vietnam. 6,650 views. Company TC In my opinion, VA is improperly concluding herbicides were only used at base perimeters and not throughout the entire base as indicated within the report. Since where he was stationed in Thailand and it was classified he couldnt be sc. HHD B 9th Log CommandHQ 809th Engineer Battalion Are you looking for someone who is or was in THAILAND, CAMP FRIENDSHIP? Ubon RTAFB with more MMS detail, Map of the Cantonment Political considerations with regards to the communist threat led the Thai government to allow the United States to covertly use five Thai bases for the air defense of Thailand and to fly reconnaissance flights over Laos under a "gentleman's agreement" with the United States. I found another version of this report linked at the bottom of this page. R. at 1510, 1642. providing sovereign territory use by our military personnel in support of the Vietnam War 999th Engineer Battalion. In 1985 the United States Congress authorized the sale of the F-16 fighter to Thailand. [2], The United States Army Corps of Engineers were deployed and established a headquarters at the RTAF airfield that later became Korat RTAFB. 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. FYI, here's a photo I took early 1964 before the USAF showed up to fill in the gap between Camp Friendship and the airbase. Find Camp friendship images dated from 1992 to 2020. Detachment one, REDHORSE CES, attached to this thirty plus unit. The Department of Veterans Affairs concluded that only veterans that were by base perimeters should receive acknowledgment of Agent Orange exposure. Army Photo The 9th Logistical Command (B) was inactivated on 12 June 1970 at Camp Samae San, Sattahip. [6] From 30 October through 31 December 1964, F-105s from the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron were deployed from the 41st Air Division, Yokota AB, Japan. The plane landed on the highway between Korat and Khon Kaen, closer to Khon Kaen . [16]:209. On 30 June 1975, the 347th TFW F-111As and the 428th and 429th TFS were inactivated. After the end of the war, the facilities were taken over by the Thai government as a military base. [5]:196, In September 1970, the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, which flew EB-66s, transferred to Korat from Takhli. On 23 December 1975, the 388th TFW and its remaining squadron, the 34th TFS, transferred to Hill AFB, Utah. of Takhli RTAFB, Annotated Google Map Photo of Military Police Support 1967-70 41st ORD Company, Direct Ammunition Support 3/1966-9/1966 44th Engineer Group, HHC/HHD Cat Lover Quote Vietnam War Cat Life Southeast Asia Family History Missions Korat RTAFB Showing the perimeter and the herbicide/Agent Orange Drift Zone, Data Block for the Official Department of Having difficult time finding anything about USMACTHAI/JUSMAGTHAI and agent orange exposure. For example, they were unable to carry the standard ARM. 7th Airlift Platoon7th MAINT Battalion, Direct 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. The 347th became an F-4E wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. With the closure of Takhli RTAFB the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing and 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron and the 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron each equipped with the F-111 were moved to Korat on 12 July 1974. I am one of those veterans who was stationed in Thailand during 1967-68 who was exposed to AO (toxic herbicide). With their return, the 6010th Wild Weasel Squadron was formed. On 23 April 1967, the 421st TFS was re-designated the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron. I was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease (PD) in 2004 and filed my claim in 2005. Skip to content. 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. [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. The 354th TFW Forward Echelon at Korat also became a composite wing. It's why Camp Friendship was founded and what we are all about. 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 the location of Udorn RTAFB, Map of B-52 Ramp, NE Quadrant U-Tapao RTAFB with During the 1980s and early-1990s, the airfield was jointly operated as a civil airport for Nakhon Ratchasima. For their performance in the construction of this road (now Route 303), the 809th Engineer Battalion (Construction) and the 561st Engineer Company (Construction) were awarded Meritorious Unit Commendations. Do a search for herbicides be pressing Control+F and then typing in the word. Learn more about benefits related to Agent Orange exposure. Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base is a base of the Royal Thai Air Force in northeast Thailand, approximately 200 km northeast of Bangkok and about 4 km south of the centre of the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in the Nakhon Ratchasima Province , the largest province in Thailand. 4 Photo Credits: MSG Otto Uebel, 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. Includes silent and narrated film footage. With the GAO report, DoD compelled to come up with a more comprehensive list, not go back and revise what they already confirmed.. Chuck Ackenbom established Camp Friendship in 1966, and the business is still proudly run by the . Worked on flight line. my husband was Yeoman,First Class (US Navy) was stationed in Bangkok, (USMACTHAI/JUSMAGTHAI), 1968-70; he worked with ALL military (joint command); one of his duties was courier and frequently met with high ranking officials, probably went to bases, shipsno record of his daily travels; only evidence I have is that courier duty was mentioned in one of his evaluations and I dont know how to get in touch with person who signed eval (cant make signature out). [4]:70, In response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident on 31 July 1964, the 6441st Tactical Fighter Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan deployed 8 F-105D Thunderchiefs of the 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron to Korat on 9 August and commenced operations the following day. In February 2003, the veteran married the . B-52 Ramp and Asset Perimeter Wires at U-Tapao RTAFB, Map 9 - driving These airplanes were acquired under the code name "Peace Naresuan IV". 720th MP Battalion US naval aircraft have also been involved in Cope Tiger. With the political changes in the US during 1974, and the resignation of President Nixon, the air power of the United States at its Thailand bases did not respond to the collapse of the Lon Nol government to the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia during April 1975 nor to the takeover of Laos by the Pathet Lao. statement" to the Thai Communists and Pathet It is also missing many pages. I have provided letters to this affect to several former buddies who have been approved for exposure to Agent Orange. Thanks for everyone's support, hope this change will be an enhancement to the site. 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 . I have skin cancer and have been under treatment for basil cell to melanoma skin cancer. Please view the image below showing positively that barrels of Agent Orange were stored at Korat RTAFB. File in PNG (Portable Network Graphics) format, about 2.6 meg in size. Ft Hood had made the 4 day flight (with one the Royal Thai Air Force Base side of Bangkok International Airport, more The 501 st Field Depot performed duty with the United States Army Pacific on 8 February 1967. The Daily Reporter mistakenly concluded the DoD declassified the document recently when it was actually declassified in 1989 but only released recently by the agency. TMO The final day marked the conclusion of an intense 160-day campaign, during which the USAF expended 240,000 tons of bombs. [29][31] The group constructed the Bangkok By-Pass Road, a 95km asphalt highway between Chachoengsao and Kabin Buri, which was opened in February 1966. Long Lines Battalion US Embassy Attache Office This is the highest resolution map I have of Korat RTAFB. It was apparently released last year, though Im not sure when it was officially declassified. U.S. Army Camp Friendship, Korat Royal Thai Air Force base, ThailandAugust 1969 Lawn PlantingU.S. Once completed, army forces moved into Camp Friendship, turning the facilities north of the Korat RTAFB runway over to the Thai armed forces. - U.S. Army Veterans who were stationed on some small Army installations in Thailand anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975. The squadron's primary mission became one of flying escort to the wing's regular strike force to suppress anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) and surface-to-air missile (SAM). Celebrating Christmas with our house girls and their children/families. 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron (F-105D) remained on TDY at Korat until 15 November 1965 when it was permanently assigned to the 6234th. The Japanese Army established facilities on the land later used to build Korat Air Base, and a small support airfield was established there for logistics support of the facility and for the Japanese occupation forces in the area. In case VA ever decides to remove the page, I made a PDF copy of it here, as well: VA Public Health Thailand Military Bases and Agent Orange Exposure. Learn more about benefits related to Agent Orange exposure. details of the RTAFB side of the field, details This article incorporates public domain material from the .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}Air Force Historical Research Agency. All F-16s are the block 15 version. 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. 3. The USAF officially turned Korat over to the Thai Government on 26 February 1976. Korat Air Base Thailand and Camp Friendship 1965-1970 militaryvideocom 40.5K subscribers 43K views 15 years ago Like This Movie Trailer? Many others werent that fortunate. Come camp with us! Their primary objective was to create an anti-vehicle barrier. With the end of active combat in Indochina on 15 August 1973, the USAF began drawing down its Thailand-based units and closing its bases. [4]:70, In December 1964, the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed to Korat from Kadena AB, Okinawa. But the list, published Jan. 27 by the Department of Veterans Affairs, omits more than 40 locations previously noted as exposure sites by DoD in 2018 deletions that could undermine other veterans pending claims.