Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (Udon Thani International Airport)
Summary
| Operating Country | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
| Location | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
| Status | ◉ Active |
| Usage | Dual |
| Year built | 1950 |
| Operating Organization | Royal Thai Air Force |
| Units |
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Description
Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base is located in the city of Udon Thani in northeastern Thailand and serves as the main airport for the province. Established in the 1950s, the facility began hosting United States flight operations in 1961. Under an agreement between the two nations, the base was commanded by Royal Thai Air Force officers, with Thai air police and United States Air Force Security Police providing base defense.
From 1955 to 1974, the base served as the Asian headquarters for Air America, an airline operated by the Central Intelligence Agency. In May 1962, the United States Marine Corps deployed squadrons of A-4 Skyhawks and transport helicopters to the base during the Laotian Crisis, withdrawing them by July of the same year. Between 1964 and 1976, the base functioned as a front-line United States Air Force facility. The 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was activated in September 1966, operating RF-101 Voodoo and RF-4C Phantom II aircraft. The wing also conducted fighter operations using F-4 Phantom II and F-104C Starfighter aircraft. Other assigned units operated AC-47D gunships and C-130 aircraft used for command and control and weather modification missions. In 1972, the base hosted additional F-4 squadrons during the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive. Following the withdrawal of United States forces, the facility was transferred to Thai authorities in January 1976. Reports indicate the base was the location of a Central Intelligence Agency interrogation facility until 2002.
The Royal Thai Air Force currently operates the base as the home of the 23rd Wing Air Command. It hosts the 231 Squadron "Hunter," which operates Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet-A aircraft. Infrastructure includes the TACAN station Channel 31 and the former site of Headquarters 333. The facility supports both military operations and civilian aviation for the region.