The Royal Thai Air Force or RTAF is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand.
Since its establishment in 1913 as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, the
Royal Thai Air Force had engaged in numerous major and minor battles. During
the Vietnam War era, the air force was supplied with USAF-aid equipment.
History In February 1911 the Belgian pilot
Charles Van Den Born displayed the first aircraft in Siam at the Sa Pathum Horse
Racing Course. The Siamese authorities were impressed enough that on 28
February 1912 they dispatched three officers to learn to fly in France, the
main centre of aviation development of the time. After learning to fly, the
three officers returned to Siam in November 1913 with eight aircraft. In
March of the next year they moved from Sa Pathum airfield to Don Muang.
The Ministry of Defence put the Siamese Flying Corps under the control of the
Army Engineer Inspector General Department. Prince Purachatra, Commander
of the Army Engineers, and his brother Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath were
instrumental in the development of the army's Royal Siamese Aeronautical
Service to which it was renamed in 1919. In 1937, the service was again renamed
when it became an independent service, as the Royal Siamese Air Force but the
takeover of the country by the Thai ethnic group meant that name would only
be used until 1939, when it became the Royal Thai Air Force.
During the French-Thai War, the Thai Air Force scored several
air-to-air-victories against the Vichy Armée de l'Air. During World War II the
Thai Air Force supported the Royal Thai Army in its occupation of the Burmese
Shan States as allies of the Japanese in 1942 and defended Bangkok from allied
air raids during the latter part of the war. Some RTAF personnel assisted the
resistance against the Japanese. After World War II, the Thai Air Force sent
three C-47s to support the United Nations in Korean War. The victorious
Wings Unit, operating the C-47, also joined the US Forces in the Vietnam War.
Along the border, the Thai Air Force launched many operations against
communist forces, such as Ban Nam Ta Airfield Raid in Laos, and clashes
occurred between Thai and Vietnamese troops along the Thai-Cambodian border.
When the Cold War ended, the Thai Air Force participated in Operation Border
Post 9631 along the Thai-Burmese border in 1999, and launched the evacuation of
foreigners during the 2003 Phnom Penh riots in Cambodia.
Command and control The Royal Thai Air Force is commanded by
the Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force currently Air Chief Marshal Prajin
Jantong, who was appointed in 2012. The Royal Thai Air Force Headquarters is
located in Don Muang Airbase, Bangkok, Thailand.
Commander-in-Chief: Air Chief Marshal Treetod Sonjance
Deputy Commander-in-Chief: Air Chief Marshal Wattana Maneenai
Chairman of the RTAF Advisory Board: Air Chief Marshal Sutthiphan Kritsanakhup
Assistant Commander-in-Chief: Air Chief Marshal Twidanes Angsusingha
Assistant Commander-in-Chief: Air Chief Marshal Padet Wongpinkaew
Chief of Staff of the Air Force: Air Chief Marshal Johm Rungswang
= List of Commanders= Rank and insignia
Organisation The RTAF command structure consists of
five groups: headquarters, logistics support, education, special services,
and combat forces. The headquarters group in Bangkok
performs the usual general staff functions, including planning and
directing operations of the combat elements.
Combat Group. The support group provides engineering,
communications, ordnance, transportation, quartermaster, and
medical services support. The education group coordinates and
supervises all air force training programmes.
The special service group is responsible for the welfare of air force personnel
and coordinates the activities of Thai civil aviation with those of the air
force. = Bases=
The Royal Thai Air Force maintains a number of modern bases which were
constructed between 1954 and 1968, have permanent buildings and ground support
equipment. All but one were built and used by
United States forces until their withdrawal from Thailand in 1976 when
Thai air force assumed use of the installations at Takhli and Nakhon
Ratchasima. In the late 1980s, these bases and Don Muang Air Base outside
Bangkok, which the air force shares with civil aviation, remain the primary
operational installations. Maintenance of base facilities abandoned
by the United States proved costly and exceeded Thai needs. Nonetheless, all
runways were still available for training and emergency use.
By 2004 the Royal Thai Air Force had its main base at Don Muang airport, adjacent
to Don Mueang International Airport. The RTAF also had large air fields and
facilities at Nakon Ratchasima Ubon Ratchathani, and Takhli.
= Squadrons= The following squadrons are currently
active with the Royal Thai Air Force. Royal Thai Air Force Commando Company
This 100 man unit, part of the Royal Thai Air Force's Special Combat
Operations Squadron, was formed in the late 1970s and are based near Don Muang
Airport and provide anti-hijacking capabilities. They have three assault
platoons, each divided into two sections.
= Wings= The Royal Thai Air Force Combat Group is
divided into 11 wings plus a training school, plus a few direct-reporting
units. Directorate of Air Operations Control,
RTAF RTAF Security Force Command
Flying Training School composed of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Flying
Training Squadrons. Based at RTAFB Kamphang Saen in Nakhon Pathom Province
Wing 1 Interceptor and fighter wing based at
RTAFB Korat in Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
Wing 2 Helicopter wing providing
utility/transport and search and rescue. Normally based at RTAFB Lop Buri in Lop
Buri Province Wing 4
Light attack / Interceptor wing based at RTAFB Takhli in Nakhon Sawan Province.
Wing 5 Transport and special mission wing based
at RTAFB Prachuap Khiri Khan in Ao Manao, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.
Wing 6 Multi-role non-combat wing providing
transport, mapping, communications and surveying. Based at RTAFB Don
Muang/Bangkok. Wing 7
Interceptor and fighter wing based at RTAFB Surat Thani in Surat Thani
Province. Wing 21
Fighter and attack wing based at RTAFB Ubon Ratchathani in Ubon Ratchathani
Province. Wing 23
Light attack wing based at RTAFB Udon in Udon Thani Province.
Wing 41 Light attack wing based at RTAFB Chiang
Mai in Chiang Mai Province. Wing 46
Transport/rainmaking wing based at RTAFB Phitsanulok in Phitsanulok Province.
Wing 56 Frontal operating base at RTAFB Hatyai
in Songkhla Province. Aircraft
= Current inventory= Weaponry
= Service= See also
Royal Thai Air Force Museum Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
Military of Thailand Royal Thai Army
Royal Thai Navy References
Notes Comments
Bibliography External links
RTAF Official website Royal Thai Air Force Whitebook on Gripen
program Royal Thai Air Force Press Release on
Gripen program Royal Thai Air Force VDO on Gripen
program Royal Thai Air Force Museum Many
Historical Aircraft Here Reports with drawings and pictures about
the Royal Thai Air Force Globalsecurity.org
Early history of the Airports of Thailand Authority
Japanese Aircraft In Royal Thai Air Force and Royal Thai Navy Service During
WWII at j-aircraft.com