U-Tapao International Airport (บ้าน กม.16)

Thailand / Rayong / Ban Chang / บ้าน กม.16
U-Tapao (Thai: อู่ตะเภา; also spelt Utapao and U-Taphao) (IATA: UTP, ICAO: VTBU)

Runway 18/36
Dimensions: 11,500 x 200ft (3,505 x 60m)

Is both an active civil airport (U-Tapao International Airport) and home of the Royal Thai Navy First Air Wing (U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield). During the Vietnam War it was a front-line base of the United States Air Force.

U.S. Air Force aircraft stationed at U-Tapao during the Viet Nam era included: B-52D bombers, KC-135 aerial refueling tankers, P-3 patrol aircraft, and Lockheed's U-2 and SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft.

The Thai government allowed U-Tapao to be used by American warplanes flying into combat in Iraq, as it had earlier done during the war in Afghanistan.

Military part of U-tapao
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-Tapao_Royal_Thai_Navy_Airfield

www.utapao.com/index.htm
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-Tapao_International_Airport
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   12°40'41"N   100°59'46"E

Comments

  • I was USAF SPS in 1975 & 1976. Patrolled the base at night with Tiger Flight. During the evac vietnamese refugees were crammed into the aircraft hangars and cambodian refugees on a tent city out near the beach. I lived in Banchang for much of my time there. Being 21 yrs. old I spent a good deal of time at the NCO club,Kilo sip,& Newland. I went to Bangkok many times. Singha,mekong,girls,& doobie. Before & after the evac this place was paridise for a kid my age.
  • I was there 74 - 75 as a weapons loader. Did you happen to get any pictures of the bomb dump area My e mail is ronaldmead64@gmail.com
  • Anyone who has been to Newland remember a bar called "Paradise Bar"? My birth mother was a bar girl there between 1973-1980s. Her name was "Daeng" and she was very petite, 4'9", long black hair and long narrow face. Been searching for her hoping for anyone who would have remembered.
This article was last modified 11 years ago