Access to former Udorn RTAFB

[hqarang]

Another (temporary) newbie here............I will be in Udon on 8 and 9 February, visiting for the first time since I left the former US Air Force Base in September 1974. I am anxious to see how the town has changed, but even more anxious to spend a little time at the old air base, which is a major reason that I will be back in Thailand. Can anyone offer any suggestions as to how I can legally get access to what is probably now a Thai military facility? Thanks for any help or suggestions.

[banpaeng]

I am not saying you can or can't. I lived there two years about two years ago. I was not able to gain access. The only time I was able to go was leaving the airport, the driver was in the Thai Air Force so he took me thru the flightline side and out what was called the back gate. I ask him to go on around to the front gate which he said could not do.

Best info I have. By the way worked in POL, how about you. Was on base from 70 to 75

[laphanphon]

when i first got here, an acquaintance did a tour, flashback from his military days, he really enjoyed seeing udon again, with his farang wife, little education trip for her to his past. though discussions of his house maid were kept to a minimum . concerning the tour part of the AFB, he was happy and disappointed, as he was not allowed access to where he had actually stayed and used the base previous, so consider that if paying for or being offered a tour, you will NOT have access to actually military area of the past.

unless things have changed, and i doubt that.

[bigwavedave]

google earth it before you come and you will be able to see whats left of it etc

[wokkawombat]

Take your golf clubs and play a few holes or go to the driving range. You will see a little of the base.

John

[polehawk]

Too late for OP but Children's Day a few weeks ago would have been the opportune time to tour (ok, set foot on) the air base. I thought about kidnapping a couple of the kinfolk's kids from the village and hauling them out there but it was one of those days when I was feeling grumpy and miserable.

I'm sure that a lot of the ex-servicemen would like to be able to see the old air base again and so would I, a former civilian tech rep. We built and maintained tropo and microwave comm sites at Udorn AB (across from the Officer's Club), Ramasun (former US Army site at Nong Soong) and the Thai Army base just south of the air base. I'm sure all of the antiquated communications gear was decomm'd a long time ago but it would be good to walk on the grounds. A lot of good memories from those years for me.

Ah, well. Next January again if Val will be kind enough to post another reminder about the Kid's Day.

[parrot]

Tell the guard you're going to play golf. Bring your passport. No guarantee, but it seems to work for many people. On the downside, the Princess stays on base or in the vicinity and I'd bet they've toughened up access. No harm in trying.

[papaguido]

I was here in 92 (Cobra Gold) working out of a hanger by the flight-line. I had some down time one afternoon and took a walk along the flight line out near the revetment. I noticed some graffiti along the revetment and on closer inspection it turned out to be names and the year of guys that were stationed here when the base was active with US military in the 60's, philosophical quips such as FTA, FTAF and even a "Kilroy was here" cartoon.

[zenas]

Hope I can help you. I am the moderator and owner of Udorn Research Group and currently writing a history of Udorn for publication. I have been working on this for about three years now. One of our members has a son or son-in-law who has a van rental place at Udorn and he goes to the base often. I am not sure what the reason would need to be but I will introduce you to our member and maybe we can get something going on this. Too bad you aren't here right now, our VFW Post at Udorn will be having a joint meeting with the Thais at the base this week or next....Thai Veteran's Day or something. I just received word about that today. I also have a couple friends at Udorn who might be able to help out with finding other locations. Udorn has changed so much and when I was there last time, I hardly recognized anything except the prison, train station, Paradise Pool and Hotel, and the three circles. The circles have changed a lot too. The main gate is where the old back gate was near Mom's place. The old front gate is mostly disregarded. To get to the airport you must enter from the west and you will pass by the old perimeter gate if it is still there. They recently built or rehabilitated the airport terminal so lots of changes have taken place. Also, the guy I am going to put you in touch with took photos he said, out the upper story of the airport terminal and you could view the revetments. I'm not sure if those are in use or not. I hope you will join our research group, it is free and loads of fun. We have lots of photos and files there.

I will contact our member and tell him you might be contacting him soon.

Dave Dwiggins
Moderator, Udorn Research Group
Udorn 1971-72

Contact me through the Udorn Research Group . . . . .

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UdornResearch/

Udorn Research Chatroom – Chatzy
http://www.chatzy.com/928120166106

or

zenas5@yahoo.com

[hqarang]

Thanks for all of the input.......To respond to banpaeng, I was assigned to Udorn Sep Oct 73-Sep 74 as a personnel officer in the CBPO. An interesting year, to say the least.

[snowman]

I was at NKP in '72. But can find nothing much about it except that it is pretty much abandoned. Was in POL. From what I have seen of Udorn there is not much to show.