Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base
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{{Infobox Airport
| name = Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base
[[Image:Roundel of the Royal Thai Air Force.svg|60px]]
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| image = Takhli-rtafb-image2.jpg
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| caption = Takhli RTAFB, 2008
| image2 = Dotmap-TAKHLI-RTAFB.jpg
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| caption2 = Location of Takhli RTAFB
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| coordinates = {{Coord|15|15|36|N|100|21|0|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}}
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| r1-number = 18/36
| r1-length-f = 9,850
| r1-length-m = 3,000
| r1-surface = [[Concrete]]
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'''Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base''' is a [[Royal Thai Air Force]] facility. It is located in Central Thailand, approximately 144 miles (240 km) northwest of [[Bangkok]] in [[Amphoe Takhli|Takhli district]], [[Nakhon Sawan Province]], near the city of [[Nakhon Sawan]].
== Units ==
Takhli is the home of the Royal Thai Air Force Wing 4, 3d air division. Squadrons assigned are:
* 401 Light Attack Squadron, flying L-39 Albatross
* 402 Reconnaissance Squadron, flying Lear Jet 35A and IAI201
* 403 Fighter Squadron, flying F-16A/B
== USAF use during the Vietnam War ==
[[Image:Usaf roundel.png|left|75px]]
Takhli was a front-line facility of the [[United States Air Force|United States Air Force (USAF)]] during the [[Vietnam War]] from 1961 through 1975. The USAF forces at Takhli were under the command of the United States [[U.S. Pacific Air Forces|Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)]]. Takhli was the location for [[TACAN]] station '''Channel 43''' and was referenced by that identifier in voice communications during air missions.
The APO for Takhli was APO San Francisco, 96273
===Provisional Units===
The initial squadrons and units deployed to Takhli were placed under the command and control of the [[Thirteenth Air Force]], headquartered at [[Clark AB]] in the [[Philippines]]. Thailand-based aircraft flew missions mostly into [[Laos]] until the 1964 [[Gulf of Tonkin Resolution]] which expanded the air war into [[North Vietnam]].
==== 6011th Air Base Squadron====
The first United States Air Force personnel began arriving at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in early 1961 with a detachment of [[F-100 Super Sabre|F-100D "Supersabres"]] from the '''524th Tactical Fighter Squadron''' of the '''[[27th Fighter Wing|27th Tactical Fighter Wing]]''', [[Cannon AFB]], [[New Mexico]] to try and restrain the [[Pathet Lao]] which were busily overrunning most of northwestern [[Laos]].
The first permanent USAF host unit at Takhli was the '''6011th Air Base Squadron''', being activated in July 1962, hosting the deployed F-100Ds from the 27th TFW. The 6011th ABS was under the command of the 35th Tactical Group at [[Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base]] in [[Bangkok]]. During February 1963, the rotational squadrons of F-100's from Cannon was reduced to six aircraft, with the deployments from Cannon ending in March 1964 and the squadrons deploying instead to [[Da Nang Air Base]] in [[South Vietnam]].
On [[11 May]] [[1962]], the '''[[510th Fighter Squadron|510th Tactical Fighter Squadron]]''' of the '''405th Fighter Wing''' from [[Clark Air Base]], [[Philippines]] was deployed to Takhli in response to an increasing threat along the [[Laos|Laotian]] border. This deployment was named '''FIELD GLASS'''. The first recorded combat loss was an F-100D (56-3085), shot down on August 18, 1964 over Laos. The Clark F-100s remained at Takhli until [[20 August]] [[1965]] on a rotating basis.
====331st Air Base Squadron====
[[Image:27tfw-f100d-56-3460.jpg|thumb|North American F-100D-85-NH Super Sabre
Serial 56-3460 of the 27th TFW. On [[9 June]] [[1964]] this aircraft was lost 420 miles West of [[Shannon]] [[Ireland]] ]]
[[Image:563dtfs-61-0169-takhli-1965.jpg|thumb|F-105D Serial 61-0169 of the 563d TFS - 1965]]
'''F-105 Thunderchief'''
In an organizational change, the '''331st Air Base Squadron''' replaced the 6011th ABS at Takhli in July 1963 as the host unit at Takhli. The 331st ABS came under the command and control of [[13th Air Force]] at [[Clark AB]], [[Philippines]]. About a year later, the last rotating F-100 squadron departed Takhli, to be replaced by the [[F-105|Republic F-105D "Thunderchief"]]. The F-105D was destined to become a major participant in the war in Vietnam. The F-105D '''[[36th Fighter Squadron|36th Tactical Fighter Squadron]]''' was deployed to Takhli from the 8th TFW, Itazuke AB, Japan, May 1964-June 1964, [[6 March]]–[[4 May]] [[1965]] and [[26 August]]–[[28 October]] [[1965]].
The '''80th Fighter Squadron''' (F-105D/F) deployed to Takhli between [[27 June]]–[[26 August]] 1965 from the [[8th Tactical Fighter Wing]], Yokota AB, Japan.
'''KB-50 Tankers'''
Also in the early 1960s, [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC) fighter-bombers were equipped with hose-and-drogue tankers such as converted [[B-50 Superfortress|KB-50s]], whereas boom tankers such as [[KC-97]]s and [[KC-135]]s had been assigned to [[Strategic Air Command]]. In August 1964, '''Det 1., 421st Air Refueling Squadron''' was organized at Takhli from [[Yokota Air Base]] [[Japan]]. The 421st flew the K[[B-50 Superfortress|B-50]]J.
In order to make TAC's fleet of fighter-bombers capable of using the boom-equipped KC-97 or KC-135 tankers, last few F-105Ds off the production line (production block -31) were given the capability of refuelling from either a flying boom or a hose-drogue type of tanker. This was done by fitting a flush-mounted retractable door-type receptacle in front of the windshield which could accept a flying-boom type of midair-refuelling probe. Some earlier F-105Ds were retrofitted with these receptacles. The 421st stayed at Takhli until [[15 January]] [[1965]] when it was deactivated. The aerial refueling mission was taken over by a detachment of the '''4252d Strategic Wing''' from [[Misawa Air Base]] with [[KC-135]]s replacing the KB-50s.
'''F-104 Starfighters'''
Fifteen [[F-104 Starfighter|F-104]]C Starfighters arrived in April 1965, with the '''476th Tactical Fighter Squadron''' from the '''479th Tactical Fighter Wing''' at [[George AFB]]. At Takhli they carried out 2,927 missions of machine-gunning, bombing and escorting strike aircraft, sometimes in North Vietnamese air space, before returning to the United States on [[20 November]].
====6441st Tactical Fighter Wing====
In May 1965 the '''6441st TFW (Provisional)''' became the host unit at Takhli and the base became a forward deployment location largely for the '''[[23d Wing|23d Tactical Fighter Wing]]''', based at the time at [[McConnell AFB]] [[Kansas]]. Two squadrons (562d, 563d) from the 23d TFW were deployed to Takhli in April 1965, returning to Kansas on [[15 August]].
An additional F-105 squadron from McConnell, the [[357th Fighter Squadron|357th TFS]], was deployed from the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing on [[12 June]] [[1965]].
On [[8 July]] [[1965]] the '''6235th Tactical Fighter Wing''' was activated to replace the 6441st TFW.
=== 355th Tactical Fighter Wing ===
On [[8 November]] 1965 the '''[[355th Fighter Wing|355th Tactical Fighter Wing]]''' was reassigned to Takhli from McConnell AFB without personnel or equipment as the permanent host unit at the base. The provisional 6235th TFW was de-activated and the equipment and personnel at Takhli were absorbed into the new wing structure. Previously, all of the 355th's squadrons at McConnell had been deployed to various bases in Southeast Asia, two of which were reassigned to Takhli (357th, 354th TFS) and brought back under its control. Squadrons of the 355th were:
* [[357th Fighter Squadron|357th Tactical Fighter]]: [[29 January]] [[1966]] - [[10 December]] [[1970]] F-105D/F/G (Tail Code: RU)
:Reassigned from 6234th TFW, [[Korat RTAFB]].
* [[354th Fighter Squadron|354th Tactical Fighter]]: [[28 November]] [[1965]] - [[10 December]] [[1970]] F-105D/F (Tail Code: RM)
:Reassigned from 8th TFW, [[Kadena AB]], [[Okinawa]].
* [[333d Fighter Squadron|333d Tactical Fighter]]: [[8 December]] [[1965]] - [[15 October]] [[1970]] F-105D/F (Tail Code: RK)
:Reassigned from 4485th Composite Wing, [[Eglin AFB]], [[Florida]].
* [[334th Fighter Squadron|334th Tactical Fighter]]: [[2 September]] [[1965]] - [[5 February]] [[1966]] F-105D/F)
:Temporarily attached from 4th TFW, [[Seymour Johnson AFB]], [[North Carolina]]
:Inactivated in place, 5 Feb 1966, aircraft reassigned to 354th TFS.
* [[335th Fighter Squadron|335th Tactical Fighter]]: [[6 November]] 1965 - [[8 December]] [[1965]] F-105D/F)
:Temporarily attached from 6441st TFW, [[Yokota AB]], [[Japan]].
:Inactivated in place, 8 Dec 1965, aircraft reassigned to 333d TFS.
* Det. 1, 12th Tactical Fighter: June 1967 - September 1970 F-105G (Tail code: ZB)
:Wild Weasel Squadron from Korat RTAFB.
* [[44th Fighter Squadron|44th Tactical Fighter]]: [[15 October]] [[1969]] - [[10 December]] [[1970]] F-105D/F (Tail code: RE)
:Wild Weasel Squadron reassigned from Korat RTAFB.
* 41st Tactical Electronic Warfare: [[1 October]] [[1965]] - [[15 October]] [[1970]] EB-66B/C (Tail Code: RC)
:Deployed from Shaw AFB, South Carolina after withdrawn from [[10th Air Base Wing|10th TRW]] detachment at [[Toul-Rosières Air Base]], [[France]]
* 42d Tactical Electronic Warfare: [[1 January]] [[1966]] - [[15 October]] [[1970]] EB-66B/C/E (Tail Code: RH)
:Deployed from Shaw AFB, South Carolina after withdrawn from 25th TRW at [[Chambley-Bussieres Air Base]], [[France]]
* Det. 1, [[428th Fighter Squadron|428th Tactical Fighter]]: [[17 March]] [[1968]] - [[19 November]] [[1968]] F-111A
:TDY Squadron of F-111As from Nellis AFB.
====F-105 Tactical Operations====
[[Image:F-105Ds 4TFW Takhli Dec1965.jpg|thumb|4th TFW F-105Ds at Takhli in 1965]]
The 355th TFW participated in major strikes against [[North Vietnam]]ese logistical areas. Among the targets hit by the 355th were the [[Yen Bay]] Arsenal and storage complex, [[Viet Tri]] Railroad and highway bridge, [[Hanoi]] petroleum storage complex, [[Dap Cau]] railroad and highway bridge, [[Phuc Yen]] petroleum storage and [[Thai Nguyen]] railroad station and yard.
In May 1967, the 355th TFW received its first [[Presidential Unit Citation (US)|Presidential Unit Citation]] for action from [[1 January]] [[1966]] to [[10 October]] [[1966]]. During this time, the wing flew 11,892 sorties, downed 2 MiGs, and damaged 8 more.
On [[10 March]] [[1967]], Capt. Max C. Brestel, an [[F-105 Thunderchief|F-105]] pilot became the first twin MiG-killer of the war when he shot down two [[MiG-17]]'s.
Also on [[10 March]], Capt [[Merlyn H. Dethlefsen]] won the [[Medal of Honor]]. The target was the steel works at Thai Nguyen 50 miles north of [[Hanoi]]. After the flight leader was shot down and his wingman forced to leave the area due to battle damage, Major Dethlefsen took command of the flight and pressed the attack on the defensive positions around the target. While evading several MiGs and being hit by AAA, Major Dethlefsen took out 2 SAM sites to clear the way for the main strike force.
On [[19 April]] [[1967]], Major [[Leo K. Thorsness]] won the [[Medal of Honor]].
On [[11 August]] [[1967]], the 355th conducted a raid on the Hanoi railroad and highway bridge. Thirty-six strike aircraft led by the 355th dropped 94 tons of bombs and destroyed one rail span and two highway spans on the northeast side of the bridge. The superstructure was damaged and the highway portion on the north side of the bridge, where it crossed the island in the river, was cut. This stopped the movement of an average of 26 trains per day with an estimated capacity of 5,950 short tons. Two aircraft were damaged, but no pilots were lost. The heart of the North Vietnamese transportation system had been dealt a severe blow.
[[Image:F-105s-takhli-1964.jpg|thumb|F-105Ds from the 334th TFS at Takhli, 1966]]
On [[8 October]] [[1967]], a flight of F-105's from the 355th TFW attacked and destroyed, on the ground, 2 [[Mil Mi-6]] and 4 [[Mil Mi-4]] Soviet built helicopters. On [[24 October]], The 355th lead a strike against the Phuc Yen airfield 18 miles north of Hanoi and the largest in North Vietnam. The airfield, which had been untouched prior to the raid, was left unserviceable. On [[14 December]], under heavy anti aircraft fire, the Wing attacked the Paul Doumer bridge, a vital link between Hanoi and Red China. For the third time, the bridge comes down.
In January 1970, the 355th TFW received its 2nd [[Presidential Unit Citation (US)|Presidential Unit Citation]] for action from [[11 August]]-[[12 August]] [[1967]] and [[24 October]]-[[28 October]] [[1967]].
In July, the 355th TFW received its record 3rd [[Presidential Unit Citation (US)|Presidential Unit Citation]] for action from [[12 April]] [[1968]] through [[30 April]] [[1969]]. During this time frame, the wing dropped 32,000 tons of ordinance on 2,100 targets while flying 17,000 combat sorties.
====F-105G Wild Weasels====
{{details|Wild Weasel}}
[[Image:355tfw-f105g.jpg|thumb|Republic F-105F-1-RE Thunderchief Serial 63-8319
from the 44th TFS Later, this aircraft was reconfigured to the F-105G "Wild Weasel" configuration.]]
The Wild Weasel concept was originally proposed in 1965 as a method of countering the increasing North Vietnamese SAM threat, using volunteer crews. The mission of the Wild Weasels was to eliminate Communist Surface to Air Missile sites in North Vietnam.
On a Wild Weasel mission, an F-100 or F-4 would identify the SAM site and be targeted by the SAM, and then the F-105D's would fly the actual attack strike against the SAM Site. The F-105G was the designation given to Wild Weasel F-105Fs which were fitted with greatly improved avionics. The designation EF-105F was temporarily applied to these aircraft, but their designation was eventually changed to F-105G.
The first F-105Gs went to the 357th TFS at Tahkli RTAFB during the second half of 1967.
The 12th Tactical Fighter squadron of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, which had been detached to Korat RTAFB from Okinawa, was also equipped with the F-105G and was temporarily reassigned to Takhli in June 1967. A third Wild Weasel squadron, the 44th TFS was reassigned to the 355th from Korat when the decision was made in October 1969 to make the 388th TFW at Korat an all F-4 wing.
The Detachment from the 12th TFS 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.
====Air Refueling Mission====
[[Image:F-105-354-333tfs-kc135-takhli.jpg|thumb|F-105s from the 354th and 333d TFS refueling with a KC-135 from Takhli Air Base]]
In September 1965, increasing demands for aerial refueling in [[Southeast Asia]] led to the deployment of [[Strategic Air Command]] [[KC-135]] tankers to Takhli under the designation of King Cobra to supplement supplemented those at [[Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base|Don Muang Air Base]] in refueling the Thai-based fighters.
In January 1967, the SAC '''4258th Strategic Wing''' assumed full responsibility for the Takhli KC-135 tankers formerly belonging to the 4252d SW at [[Kadena AB]], [[Okinawa]]. At years end, the tanker force numbered 5 at Takhli. In February 1968, the KC-135s were transferred to [[Ching Chuan Kang Air Base]] [[Taiwan]].
====Electronic Warfare Mission====
[[Image:41tews-eb66.jpg|thumb|Douglas E/RB-66B-DL Destroyer Serial 54-440 from the 42d Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron.]]
[[Image:F-105-b66-takhli.jpg|thumb|F-105s with a EB-66 from the 355th TFW on a bomb run over enemy territory]]
As part of the Electronic Countermeasure (ECM) weaponry that the USAF employed against [[North Vietnam]]ese air defenses, variants of the [[B-66 Destroyer|Douglas B-66]] were adapted to serve in the electronic countermeasures role as radar jamming aircraft. They were redesignated EB-66B.
All of the bombing equipment was removed and replaced by electronic jamming equipment. The tail turret was removed, and automatic jamming equipment was fitted in its place. Numerous antennae protruded from the aircraft, and chaff dispensing pods were carried. They were used during the Vietnam War as electronic warfare aircraft, joining strike aircraft during their missions over North Vietnam to jam enemy radar installations. They were not "Wild Weasel" aircraft, since they did not have provisions to attack the radar installations directly.
On [[1 October]] [[1965]], the '''41st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (TEWS)''' arrived from [[Shaw Air Force Base]] [[South Carolina]] with a squadron of EB-66s that had been stationed in [[France]] as part of the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at [[RAF Alconbury]].
During January 1966 the 42d Electronic Countermeasures Squadron (ECS) squadron arrived from [[Chambley-Bussieres Air Base]], [[France]] flying RB-66C and WB-66s variants of the B-66 on photo reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions.
The B-66s were used to locate and identify North Vietnamese radar sites that directed missiles and AAA fire, so that strike aircraft could avoid them. The RB-66C had no offensive capability, so it could not attack the radar sites directly.
====F-111A COMBAT LANCER====
The [[F-111|General Dynamics F-111]] was one of the most controversial aircraft that ever flew. Perhaps no other aircraft before or since has been so bitterly criticized in the media. The first production F-111A deliveries to the Air Force took place on 18 July 1967 to the [[428th Fighter Squadron|428th]], 492nd and 430th Tactical Fighter Squadrons of the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing based at [[Cannon AFB]], [[New Mexico]]. In early 1968, the squadron was reassigned to [[Nellis AFB]], [[Nevada]].
[[Image:F-111As Combat Lancer 1968.jpg|thumb|left|428th TFS F-111As in 1968]]
Shortly thereafter, the Air Force decided to rush a small detachment of F-111As to [[Southeast Asia]] under a program known as '''Combat Lancer'''. Six 428th TFS F-111As were allocated to the Combat Lancer program, and departed Nellis AFB for Takhli on 15 March 1968. By the end of that month, 55 night missions had been flown against targets in [[North Vietnam]], but two aircraft had been lost. 66-0022 had been lost on March 28, and 66-0017 on March 30. Replacement aircraft had left Nellis, but the loss of a third F-111A (66-0024) on April 22 halted F-111A combat operations. However, the aircraft remained poised for combat, but they saw little action before their return to the United States in November.
It turned out that the three F-111A losses were not due to enemy action but were caused by wing and tail structural defects. One of the Combat Lancer crashes had been traced to a malfunction of the aircraft's tail servo actuator. The USAF later discovered (as a later returning prisoner of war would confirm) that a tailplane problem could cause a sudden and uncontrollable pitch-up and roll. This failure in the flying controls system caused the aircraft to break up in flight. The other two crashes in Vietnam were traced to poor mounting of the M61A1 cannon and to pilot error.
=== First withdrawal of US units===
A phasing down of Takhli began in 1970 as part of the general American withdrawal from [[Southeast Asia]]
* In August 1970 the 42d TEWS (B-66) squadron were transferred to Korat. (The 41st TEWS had been deactivated October 31, 1969.)
* In September, Det 1, 12 TFS was deactivated and the aircraft rejoined the rest of the squadron at Korat with their F-105G [[Wild Weasel]] aircraft.
* On [[6 October]] the Wing's last F-105 combat mission of the war was "DINO" flight led by Col. Waymond C. Nutt. This mission was an airstrike in [[Laos]]. On [[7 October]] the 355 TFW ceased combat operations at Takhli, and on the 12th, the wing retired its colors with a 12-aircraft flyover of F-105s.
* The F-105 squadrons (357th and 333d) were sent to the 23d Tactical Fighter Wing at [[McConnell Air Force Base]], [[Kansas]]. The 354th TFS was deactivated in place, then reactivated without equipment or personnel at [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]] [[Arizona]].
* The 44th TFS was reassigned to the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing at [[Kadena Air Base]], [[Okinawa]].
The 355th Tactical Fighter Wing was inactivated on [[10 December]]. It was reactivated on [[1 July]] [[1971]] at [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]] [[Arizona]]. The last USAF personnel left Takhli RTAFB by April 1971.
=== 1972 return of USAF ===
In response to the [[Easter Offensive|1972 North Vietnamese Easter Offensive]] and invasion of [[South Vietnam]] by its regular armed forces, the United States launched '''Operation Linebacker''', the first sustained bombing of North Vietnam by the U.S. since November 1968.
==== 49th Tactical Fighter Wing====
On [[5 May]] about 35 members of an PACAF advance party returned to Takhli to prepare the facility for the arrival of the [[F-4 Phantom II|F-4D "Phantoms"]]s of the [[49th Fighter Wing|49th Tactical Fighter Wing]] from [[Holloman AFB]], [[New Mexico]].
Squadrons from Holloman deployed to Takhli were:
* [[7th Fighter Squadron|7th Tactical Fighter]] (Tail Code: HO - blue stripe)
* [[8th Fighter Squadron|8th Tactical Fighter]] (Tail Code: HO - yellow stripe)
* [[9th Fighter Squadron|9th Tactical Fighter]] (Tail Code: HO - red stripe)
During this deployment the 49th flew more than 21,000 combat hours over just about every battle zone from An Loc to vital installations in the Hanoi vicinity. During five months of combat, the wing did not lose any aircraft or personnel -- a testament to the outstanding training and proficiency of all members of the 49th. The unit received an [[Air Force Outstanding Unit Award]] with Combat "V" Device for its participation.
Along with the F-4s, [[KC-135]]'s of the '''11th Air Refueling Squadron''' from [[Altus Air Force Base]], [[Oklahoma]] were also deployed.
==== 366th Tactical Fighter Wing====
On [[30 June]] the '''[[366th Fighter Wing|366th Tactical Fighter Wing]]''' was reassigned to Takhli from [[Da Nang Air Base]] [[South Vietnam]], taking over host unit responsibilities from the 49th TFW. Its operational squadrons were:
* [[7th Fighter Squadron|7th Tactical Fighter]] (Tail Code: HO - blue stripe) (F-4D)
* [[8th Fighter Squadron|8th Tactical Fighter]] (Tail Code: HO - yellow stripe) (F-4D)
* [[9th Fighter Squadron|9th Tactical Fighter]] (Tail Code: HO - red stripe) (F-4D)
* [[4th Fighter Squadron|4th Tactical Fighter]] (Tail Code: LA) (F-4E)
* [[421st Fighter Squadron|421st Tactical Fighter]] (Tail Code: LC) (F-4E)
From Takhli 366th TFW aircrews flew air superiority missions over [[Vietnam]]. In addition several [[C-130 Hercules|AC-130 gunships]] were deployed to Takhli from the 8th TFW at Ubon. These AC-130s were assigned to '''Det 1., 16th Special Operations Squadron'''.
The Holloman-based TDY squadrons returned to New Mexico on [[27 October]] [[1972]].
The 4th and 421st TFSs were transferred to the 432d TRW at [[Udon Thani International Airport|Udon RTAFB]] on [[31 October]] [[1972]].
The 366th TFW was deactivated in place on [[31 October]] [[1972]], being reactivated the same day without personnel or equipment at [[Mountain Home Air Force Base]], [[Idaho]].
==== 474th Tactical Fighter Wing====
[[Image:F-111a-67-081-429tfs-takhli.jpg|thumb|General Dynamics F-111A
Serial 67-081 of the 429th TFS/347th TFW taken at Nellis AFB Nevada in 1975 still showing its 347th TFW tail code (HG). With its return from its three years deployment to Thailand the aircraft was reassigned to the 474th TFW, staying at Nellis until 1977, when all the F-111s were transferred to the 366th TFW at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. It remained in service with the 366th TFW until being retired to AMARC on [[21 June]] [[1991]].]]
With the departure of the 366th, the '''[[474th Tactical Fighter Wing]] (Deployed)''' equipped with [[General Dynamics F-111|F-111]]s arrived at Takhli on Temporary Duty from [[Nellis Air Force Base]] [[Nevada]] on [[27 September]] [[1972]].
The 474th TFW flew F-111As. Operational fighter squadrons of the 474th were:
* [[428th Fighter Squadron|428th Tactical Fighter]]
* 429th Tactical Fighter
* 430th Tactical Fighter
All F-111As of the 474th carried the tail code NA. From Takhli, the 474th participated in [[Operation Linebacker II]] when the United States resumed the large scale bombing of [[North Vietnam]].
In early 1973, With the suspension of bombing in North Vietnam and the resumption of peace negotiations, inflight refueling requirements decreased markedly. As a result, in late January 1973 many of the augmented tankers of the '''11th Air Refueling Squadron''', which has been rotating aircraft and aircrews from Altus AFB, returned to Oklahoma.
The 430th TFS returned to the 474th TFW Nellis on [[22 March]] 1973, while the 428th and 429th were assigned to the newly transferred '''347th Tactical Fighter Wing''' from [[Mountain Home Air Force Base]] [[Idaho]] on [[30 July]] [[1973]].
==== 347th Tactical Fighter Wing====
[[Image:F-111-f-4-kc135-takhli-1974.jpg|thumb|1974 photo of F-111A Serial 67-0102 from the 428th TFS refueling from a KC-135 tanker. Also shown is an F-4E (67-368) of the 58th TFS/8th TFW at Ubon RTAFB (ED) (TDY from Kunsan AB, South Korea) and two F-4Es from the 336th TFW also from Ubon (SJ) (TDY from Seymour-Johnson AFB, North Carolina)]]
On [[30 July]] [[1973]] the TDY of the 474th TFW ended. The wing was replaced at Takhli by the '''347th Tactical Fighter Wing''' which was transferred from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, retaining two squadrons of F-111As of the 474th. These were:
* [[428th Fighter Squadron|428 Tactical Fighter]] (Tail Code: HG - Red Tail Fin)
* 429 Tactical Fighter (Tail Code: HG - Yellow Tail Fin)
For a brief two-week period the 347th flew combat operations into [[Cambodia]] until [[15 August]], when the last wartime mission of the Vietnam Era was flown into [[Cambodia]] for final mission of '''Constant Guard'''. After the cease-fire, the wing was maintained in a combat-ready status for possible contingency actions.
=== Final USAF withdrawal from Takhli ===
During January 1974 the Secretary of Defense announced a realignment of Thailand resources, with the final pullout of air resources by the end of 1976. In June 1974, Four [[General Dynamics F-111|F-111]]s from the 347 TFW flew from Takhli to [[Osan Air Base]] [[South Korea]] and conducted live weapons demonstrations for Republic of Korea and US officials at Nightmare Range.
On [[12 July]] the 347 TFW's [[General Dynamics F-111|F-111]]'s and the [[C-130 Hercules|AC-130 gunships]] from the 16th SOS were transferred to [[Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base|Korat]].
On [[31 July]] [[1974]] phase down of operations at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base was completed ahead of schedule, and the base was officially returned to the Thai Government on [[12 September]]. All remaining US personnel departed on [[14 September]].
===Major Aircraft Types Assigned To Takhli===
* [[F-100 Super Sabre]] (1961-1963)
* [[F-105 Thunderchief]] (1963-1970)
* [[Boeing KB-50]] (1964-1965)
* [[F-104 Starfighter]] (1965)
* [[B-66 Destroyer|Douglas EB-66 Destroyer]] (1965-1970)
* [[KC-135 Stratotanker]] (1967-1968)
* [[General Dynamics F-111]] (1967, 1972-1974)
* [[F-4 Phantom II]] (1972)
===Takhli USAF Unit Emblem Gallery===
<center>
<gallery>
Image:Pacific Air Forces.png|USAF Pacific Air Forces<BR>1964-1976
Image:Shield Strategic Air Command.png|Strategic Air Command<BR>1967-1968
Image:3d Air Division crest.jpg|3d Air Division<BR>1967-1968
</gallery>
<gallery>
Image:13th Air Force.png|13th Air Force<BR>1964-1966
Image:7-13-airforce-patch.jpg|7/13 Air Force<BR>1966-1973
Image:7th Air Force.png|7th Air Force<BR>1973-1974
</gallery>
<gallery>
Image:524thfs.jpg|524th Tactical Fighter Squadron<BR>1961
Image:510-fighter-squadron.jpeg|510th Tactical Fighter squadron<BR>1962
Image:35thfs.jpg|35th Tactical Fighter Squadron<BR>1964-1965
Image:355th Wing.png|355th Tactical Fighter Wing<BR>1965-1970
</gallery>
<gallery>
Image:49th Fighter Wing.png|49th Tactical Fighter Wing<BR>1972
Image:366th Fighter Wing.png|366th Tactical Fighter Wing<BR>1972
Image:474thtfwemblem.jpg|474th Tactical Fighter Wing<BR>1972-1973
Image:347thtfwemblem.jpg|347th Tactical Fighter Wing<BR>1973-1974
</gallery>
</center>
== Post-Vietnam Deployments by USAF to Takhli ==
From 13 - [[17 December]] [[1982]] '''Commando West V''' was held. This marked the first visit of a PACAF tactical unit to Thailand since the early 1970s.
The '''90th Tactical Fighter Squadron''' from [[Elmendorf AFB]] [[Alaska]] deployed six F-4Es to Takhli, flying a total of 55 sorties with the Royal Thai Air Force.
Also on [[25 November]] [[1983]] six F-4Es from the '''3d Tactical Fighter Wing''''s 3TFS deployed to Takhli for dissimilar air combat tactics training with the Royal Thai Air Force. The group returned to [[Clark Air Base]] on 5 December.
==See also==
* [[United States Air Force In Thailand]]
* [[United States Pacific Air Forces]]
* [[Seventh Air Force]]
* [[Thirteenth Air Force]]
== References ==
* Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. CD-ROM.
* Glasser, Jeffrey D. (1998). The Secret Vietnam War: The United States Air Force in Thailand, 1961-1975. McFarland & Company. ISBN 0786400846.
* Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0887405134.
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
* [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present]
* [http://www.rtaf.mi.th/eng The Royal Thai Air Force (English Pages)]
* [http://www.scramble.nl/th.htm Royal Thai Air Force - Overview]
== External links ==
* [http://www.baytownbert.us/Takhli_RTAFB_Thailand/index.html Takhli Photos 72-74]
* [http://www.takhli.org www.Takhli RTAFB.org]
* [http://home.att.net/~bkkbob/Index.htm Takhli RTAFB, Thailand – 355th TFW Days]
* [http://b66.info/takhli-hootch-photos.htm Takhli RTAFB Hootchs]
* [http://members4.boardhost.com/TakhliRTAFB Takhli Message Board]
* [http://amer-thai2001.tripod.com/id9.html Takhli Air Base - APO 96273]
* {{WAD|VTPI}}
{{USAF Vietnam War}}
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[[Category:Closed facilities of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Royal Thai Air Force bases]]
[[Category:United States military bases of the Vietnam War]]
[[th:ท่าอากาศยานนครสวรรค์]]