26 thoughts on “Photos – Thailand & Laos”

1. Forrest "tink" Babcock December 13, 2010 at 20:07

   AIM 4’s on a D Mod, I was there when due to a mod problem the missile came off the inner rail, and took out the strut on another F-4 across the ramp. The #3 man lost his arm that day and we stopped flying the AIM 4. 555tfs then 432

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2. Jerry Stout 432 MMS December 14, 2010 at 17:21

   The 3 BLMF’s ( Bomb Loading Mother —— in the pic I remember them but can’t think of their names. I was there from 11/70 to 11/71 painted the bombs on Christmas Eve, Was there for Bombs in the Barrel and loaded more frag then i can remember. I was on a load crew with Joe Stout Crew Chief no relation and cameron Rucks. Had a hootch across from the BX by the services squadron. Anyone who was there during that time with me, send me an e-mail, or you cna visit me on Together We Served Air Force.

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3. John Bemiss 408 MMS April 19, 2011 at 13:48

   F4 FA 795 25th squadron Loaded many bombs on that bird during my 1/70-1/71 tour

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4. Pete Kate June 17, 2011 at 15:02

   Wow, thought I would never see pics of the F-104’s at Udorn. Does anyone remember the incident where a rocket pod on a Starfighter went off at the arm/dearm area at East end of runway?
   I was walking out to a CH-3C parked way down the ramp near west end of taxiway when the rockets exploded down through the area between taxiway and runway. Scared the crap out me. Thought we were being mortered by VC.

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   1. Wayne Ortega October 21, 2013 at 21:24

      My name is Anthony wayne Ortega (Tony) I was airmam stationed at Udorn Thailand with the 435 TFS I was there 66/67 when
      my good friend sgt Raymon Pouch as the lead wepons tech. was working with airman Ruccer at the end of the runway. Sgt Pouch
      was standing behind the F104 prior to tack off, a stray voltage check was not done or done in correctly when the safety pin was
      pulled all 18 3.5 white phosphorus rockets discharged. Sgt Pouch received suffered major burns but survived, a Major at the
      opposite end of the runway in a operations truck was killed, also a few Thai civilians were killed.
      Anthony Ortega
      wayneortega@att.net

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      1. Ray Steinkraus May 19, 2014 at 14:10

         Hi Tony,

         The day the rocket launcher went off, I was in a F-104 weapons maintenance shack not to far from the flight line working on an M-61 Gatling gun. I was a friend with Ray Pouch too.

         I am writing a short story about the accident and was wondering if you could help me with the date the event happened and any other info you may want to share. The best I can recall it was Nov. 1966.

         Thanks,

         Former SSgt. Ray Steinkraus at Udorn in the 435 TFS, June 1966 to July 1967.

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         1. Windell Driskell June 27, 2014 at 17:44

            Ray,
            I remember the accident very well, but as I remember, the F-104 in question, had the right wing replaced by the RAM team because of battle damage. In fact the new wing had not been painted before flight, and from what I understand, two 28 volt wires were crossed in the wing, which caused the pod to be hot at the time the pin was pulled. It was just as if the pilot has the trigger depressed. I don’t remember the exact date.
            Windell

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      2. Tony Cole April 7, 2016 at 10:13

         I remember that day I was on a B-1 stand and had just reached the bottom step and was knocked down, minor injuries. do you by chance know who the crew chief of 57-925 was? col. Finney was the pilot?

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   2. Finn Jensen November 6, 2014 at 21:17

      I was under the wing of an F-104 on the line doing a pre-flight inspection when that tragic accident occurred. I remember it well. Like others, I thought it was a mortar attack.

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5. Roy Newton July 17, 2011 at 12:24

   The picture of the F-4D catching the arresting hook at Udorn with the OZ lettering and red tail tip is clearly an RF-4C from the 14th TRS at Udorn….I worked on 11th and 14th TRS Photo Systems on two tours first was Oct. 67 to Oct. 68 and again from Mar. 69 to Mar. 70…

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6. John J Kuhn Jr {sgt.} Korat 72&73 September 30, 2011 at 13:20

   Got a ticker problem and cancer. Any info on AO and Korat is greatly appreciated. Was in the 561st & 562nd TFS {105’s} and 23rd TFW. Any memories??? THANKS!!!

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7. Donald "Don" Snider August 5, 2013 at 16:24

   Pete Kate: I was there when the LAU3A rocket launcher went off. I was in the weapons section. SSgt Jonesof was the weapons crew chief in arm dearm that day, one of the members of his crew was A1C Bell, I don’t recall the other members. I was also on the investigating board for that incident because I was the training NCOIC. Rember LtCol. Harris, Chife of Maint, 1st Lt. Carlson was the OIC of weapons, TSgt Coulter was NCOIC of weapons They came with the unit from George AFB. I was assigned from Castle. I’ll never forget that day, not a good one. The 435 was a good unit

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8. Tom Dahlstrom November 4, 2013 at 08:47

   I was at Udorn when they began shut-down in the 70s. The Thai people were so friendly….and happy! Thanks to all of the Thai soldiers and U.S. forces that served there….God bless you all! Sawatdee

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   1. John Van Etten December 6, 2013 at 17:00

      I was a PaveNail FAC and did a lot of flying in the Barrel Roll area. I was based in NKP 1971-1972.
      I killed a T-54 Tank with a 2.75″ rocket by setting the elephant
      grass upwind of it on fire, and when the fire reached the tank it began to smoke then the top blew off in a huge fire ball.

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9. stephen elliott January 9, 2014 at 16:27

   If anyone was at udorn and remembers ltc. fred mellor 1964/1965 f4101 voo doo 363rd tactical recon wing, please email me. he is an uncle of mine that got shot down in 1965.
   still m.i.a.

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   1. stephen elliott January 9, 2014 at 16:28

      my email address for fred mellor is seonecomm@gmail.com

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10. Rick Hebb February 14, 2014 at 21:53

    Was stationed at Udorn RTAFB 74-75 in CES arresting barriers. Anyone there during my tour give me a shout. Left November 75′ just after announced base closing. Sad day. Really loved it there…especially th Golden Palm! Sawadee.

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11. Don Crauswell March 23, 2014 at 19:43

    Crash Recovery/TA 432 FMS anybody here work there 71-72

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    1. jim renken August 29, 2014 at 15:05

       I was in Thailand from 1971 to 1970 with crash recovery and transient alert – need memories of that time

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       1. Randy Herrell April 24, 2016 at 22:44

          Jim,
          I was an air traffic controller, worked in the Rapcon between the taxiway and runway at exit 2.
          Do you have any photos showing the lack of vegetation in the area I worked, would you be willing to write a buddy letter stating that in the area we both worked, I was there in 69-70.
          Thanks,
          Randy Herrell Winchester, TN 931-968-9950

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12. Eric Von Hollen May 1, 2014 at 23:04

    here is a picture of the flag my dad gave me when he came home from Thailand.Enjoy!
    https://imgur.com/gallery/s6sdPBT

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13. Jerry Gilara April 12, 2015 at 11:01

    I was stationed with 602nd Air Commando when rockets fired. We were on the recieving end of the rockets. I was at west end of runway, adjacent to Air America bomb dump. After the rockets hit the ground in front of the F104 they scattered. Several blew adjacent to us. At the same time a couple of Lao T-28’s flew over us. We thought we were being attacked. After my tour was complete I shipped out to Misawa Japan. I ran accross the the guy you loaded the rockets. I believe his name was Ssgt Bell. He told me that a new wing was installed and the wiring was connected wrong. The stray power didn’t show unless the engine was running. He assumed that the arming crew didn’t properly check for power before connecting the rocker pod. Not a good day at Udorn.

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14. james porter February 8, 2016 at 22:51

    I was at udorn 9-1970 -9-1971 432fms jet engine shop worked on j79-15

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15. Bert Gangolf April 11, 2016 at 13:27

    I was with the 14thTRS PPIF Oct 70/Feb 71 we did recon for the SonTay POW raid which was launched at Udorn on 20 Nov 70 .. When the weather was good recon was our job. Feb 71 I was PCS ,d to Tan Son Nhut AFB,RVN 12th RITS and DEROS back to the world Oct71. If someone needs a letter substancating exposure to agent orange between Oct70 /Feb71 same same at Nam unit please contact me. I am appealing VA Decision myself together then together now!! Welcome Home to you all God Bless you !! Bert

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16. Fred Milhous May 9, 2016 at 15:38

    I was stationed at Udorn from 1968-70 and served as a (fireman) rescue specialist on helicopters. I plan to visit Udorn in Feb of 2017. Do any of you know how to contact someone who worked for the Thai Gov on the Air Force Base during the above time frame? The Thai man’s name is (Shorty) Samii Coonpabalee and he worked as a fire protection assistant at the flight line fire station maintenance building.

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17. AuDra Hill September 3, 2016 at 00:41

    I was stationed in Udorn RTAFB in 1972-1973. I worked in vehicle maintenance. I am looking for pictures of the area to show we our location to the flight line. I remember they used a truck to spray for mosquitoes which was a herbicide.

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