Batcat The United States Air Force 553rd Reconnaissance Wing at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base and their EC-121R and other aircraft
Maps and Photos of bases used by the USAF in Thailand During the Vietnam Era
One of the most frequent requests I receive from veterans who served in
Thailand is for a map of the base the veteran served at during the Vietnam era. This page has what maps
I have obtained from others of the bases used by the USAF in Thailand during the Vietnam era. These maps may be
of help for those who have applied for a Veterans Administration claim. For those who have filed a VA claim,
or are appealing a VA claim denial, I recommend you visit the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing Batcat Veterans Benefit page which has
considerable information to help veterans file claims. Some of the Korat RTAFB maps on this page are duplicated
on the Batcat Veterans Benefit page.
Page added 08/04/16, Last updated 05/02/21.
Webmaster Request -
if you have a map of a Thailand base used by the USAF during the Vietnam era you are willing to share, please pass
it along to me. I will add the map to this area of my Batcat Veterans Benefit Map page for the assistance of others.
You can contact me via email at westin@westin553.net.
You can include your map as an attachment with the eamil. Thank you for your assistance, it
can be a big help to others - Larry Westin.
Quick Links Menu - Maps of bases used by the USAF in Thailand during the Vietnam era
Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB)
& Bangkok International Airport (Vietnam era)
Don Muang RTAFB and Bangkok International Airport (during the Vietnam era) shared the same runways.
Don Muang RTAFB was on the east side, while the commercial airlines who used Bangkok International
Airport used the west side. U.S. servicemen and women normally travelled to Thailand on commerical
airliners, landed and deplanned on the civil side of the airport. Servicemen and women were then
driven over to the RTAFB side of the airport where the USAF flew C-130 aircraft in and picked up the
servicemen and women, then flew them to the base in Thailand they would serve at. Some U.S. servicemen
and women served at Don Muang RTAFB. NOTE I label here Bangkok International Airport (Vietnam era)
because Bangkok today has a new international airport - the New Bangkok International Airport is known
as Suvarnabhumi. During the Vietnam era Bangkok International/Don Muang RTAFB was coded as BKK. Today
the New Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi airport is coded BKK.
Photo of the Royal Thai Air
Force Base side of the airport. Photo is dated June 1968. Image is B&W, JPG format, about
4.9 meg in size. While dated June 1968, it may have been taken earlier than 1968. My thanks to
Erika Bromagem for this information.
Added 11/29/18.
Modern Google satellite view of
Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base showing an overview of the location of the RTAFB. Note the
runway in the lower right corner, which is runway 3R, and the much built up area. Image is Color, JPG
format, about 489K in size. My thanks to Erika Bromagem
for this information. Added 11/29/18.
Modern photograph of Don Muang RTAFB
and Bangkok International Airport (Vietnam era). The civil side of the field is at the lower
left with many civil aircraft on the ramp. The runway next to the civil side 3L - 21R. The RTAFB
side is the upper right with far fewer aircraft on the ramp, and is next to runway 3R - 21L. Image
is Color, JPG format, about 891K in size. My thanks to Erika Bromagem
for this information. Added 11/29/18.
Modern photograph while landing at
Don Muang RTAFB - Bangkok International Airport (Vietnam era). The RTAFB side of the field is at
the left with the airplane the photo was taken when about to land on runway 21L. The right side of
the photo shows the civil side of the airport. Image is Color, JPG format, about 555K in size.
My thanks to Erika Bromagem
for this information. Added 11/29/18.
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) & Camp Friendship Maps
Official Department of the Air Force Map
Korat RTAFB, dated 1 January 1973. File in PNG (Portable Network Graphics) format, about 2.6 meg in size.
This is the highest resolution map I have of Korat RTAFB. This is an image of
an official Department of the Air Force map of Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base dated 1/1/1973. My thanks to
Bob Freitag for this high resolution map showing the full base.
Added 04/27/11.
Brett Watterson sent me this map of Korat RTAFB which he highlighted the full perimeter. Map gives
a good overview of Korat RTAFB, and if you had duty at places other than what I marked on
the detailed map above, this map can help. File is about 2.3 Meg, in JPG format. This is an image of
an official Department of the Air Force map of Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base dated 1/1/1973.
Added 06/05/11.
Official Department of the Air Force Map
Korat RTAFB Showing the perimeter and the herbicide/Agent Orange Drift Zone. Red line shows the Korat RTAFB base
perimeter, while the blue line shows the full 500 meter herbicide/Agent Orange drift zone as defined in U.S. Army
Field Manual 3-3, Tactical Employment of Herbicides. This is the highest resolution map I have of Korat RTAFB showing
both the full base perimeter, and the full herbicide/Agent Orange drift zone. File is in JPG (Joint Photographic Experts
Group) format, about 883K in size. My thanks to Michael Weldon and
Bob Freitag for this map showing the full herbicide drift zone.
Added 04/01/12.
RECOMMENDATION - download the three above map files to a thumb drive, take
the files to a blue print company, have that company print the files on large size paper, at least 17 x 22 inch in size.
Yes you can print these files on your personal printer, however the larger size that a blue print company is capable of
printing will make the building numbers and other base areas and information much easier to read.
Official Department of the Air Force Map
Korat RTAFB detailing areas of the base near the perimeter. File in PDF (Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format)
format, about 2.2 meg in size. This document uses high resolution sections of the Department of the Air Force full
Korat RTAFB map to show specific areas of the base in relation to hebicide/Agent Orange spraying. Added 05/23/11,
last updated 08/23/15.
Map of the Korat RTAFB Cantonment Areas
dated 1968. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 670K in size. My thanks to Lynn Gates
for this map. Added 06/04/07. This is a second
Map of the Korat RTAFB Cantonment Areas.
My thanks to Dave Rindone for this map. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 962K in size.
Added 06/19/14. Some veterans who filed a VA claim have been asked by
the Veterans Administration for building numbers they either worked in or lived in. Since few of us, this webmaster
included, paid much attention to recording building numbers, these maps are what are available today to identify building
numbers at Korat RTAFB.
Map showing the location of Camp Friendship.
File in JPG format, about 287K in size. This document uses the official Department of the Air Force full Korat RTAFB
map with an aerial image of Camp Friendship shown in its position to Korat RTAFB.
Added 09/22/16.
Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB)
Maps, Photos & Text
Map of the Flight Line at
Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, map dated 1968. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 117K in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency for this map.
Added 08/04/16.
Map of the Flight Line, perimeter
including the Herbicide/Agent Orange Drift Zone, map dated 1968. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 106K in size.
Red line shows the Nakhon Pahnom RTAFB base perimeter, while the blue line shows the full 500 meter herbicide/Agent
Orange drift zone as defined in U.S. Army Field Manual 3-3, Tactical Employment of Herbicides.
Added 08/04/16.
Map of the Map
Cantonment area at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, map dated 1968. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 1.1 meg in size.
My thanks to the Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie
for this map. Added 08/04/16. Some veterans who filed a VA claim have been
asked by the Veterans Administration for building numbers they either worked in or lived in. Since few of us,
this webmaster included, paid much attention to recording building numbers, this map is what is available today
to identify building numbers at Kakhon Pahom RTAFB.
Map of the Cantonment area of Takhli RTAFB with
a description of what the buildings were used for. JPG, about 157K. My thanks to
Steve Johnson for sending this map.
Added 12/01/20.
Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) Maps and Photos
Basic Laytout Map of Ubon RTAFB.
My thanks to Dennis Farrington via Sharon Wall for this map. JPG format,
about 268K in size. Added 01/20/18.
Map of Ubon RTAFB, map dated
1965. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 719K in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie for this map.
Added 08/04/16.
Map of the Flight Line at Ubon
RTAFB, map dated 1966. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 203K in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie for this map.
Added 08/04/16.
Map of the Full Base at Ubon
RTAFB, map dated 1967. File is in JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format, about 1.6 meg in size.
NOTE this map appears to be a copy of a blue print, it is difficult to read on my PC. Suggest you try
printing this file on your home PC. If the quality isn't adequate, then I recommend you download this
file to a thumb drive and take it to a blue print company. Hopefully they can enhance the image.
My thanks to the Air Force Historical Research Agency for
this map. Added 08/04/16.
Map of the Full base at Ubon
RTAFB, map dated 1968. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 884K in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie for this map.
Added 08/04/16.
Annotated Google Map Photo of
Ubon RTAFB. This image defines several areas of Ubon RTAFB. My thanks to
Steve Phillips for this annotated Google Map image of
Ubon RTAFB. JPG format, Color, about 543K. Added 11/25/17.
Annotated Google Map Photo of
Ubon RTAFB with more MMS detail. This image defines the MMS at Ubon RTAFB in more detail. My thanks to
Steve Phillips for this annotated Google Map image of
Ubon RTAFB. JPG format, Color, about 492K. Added 11/25/17.
Map of the Cantonment
area at Ubon RTAFB, 1968. JPG format, about 151K in size.
My thanks to the Dennis Farrington via Sharon Wall
for this map. Added 09/12/16.
Map of the Munitions
Storage area at Ubon RTAFB, map dated 1968. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 501K in size.
My thanks to the Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie
for this map. Added 08/04/16.
Map of the
Cantonment area at Ubon RTAFB, map dated 1972. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 467K in size.
My thanks to the Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie
for this map. Added 08/04/16. Some veterans who filed a VA claim have been
asked by the Veterans Administration for building numbers they either worked in or lived in. Since few of us, this
webmaster included, paid much attention to recording building numbers, this map is what is available today
to identify building numbers at Kakhon Pahom RTAFB.
Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) Maps
Map of Udorn RTAFB Cantonement Area,
map dated February 1969. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 290K in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie for this map.
Added 08/05/16.
Map of Udorn RTAFB Security Facities, map dated
September 1969. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 146K in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie for this map.
Added 08/05/16.
Map of Udorn RTAFB Operations Area,
map dated September 1969. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 286K in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie for this map.
Added 08/05/16.
Map of Udorn RTAFB Cantonemt Area,
map dated September 1969. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 291K in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie for this map.
Added 08/05/16.
Map of Udorn RTAFB Cantonemt Area,
map dated November 1969. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 291K in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie for this map.
Added 08/05/16.
Map of Udorn RTAFB Operational Area,
map dated January 1970. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 289K in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie for this map.
Added 08/05/16.
Map of the Sapper Attack on Udorn RTAFB,
map dated October 30, 1972. JPG image format, about 1.8 meg in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie for this map.
Added 08/05/16. IMPORTANT - the
reason the USAF directed that herbicide/Agent Orange be used for vegetation control was to do as much as practical
to limit, and hopefully stop, insurgents from injuring or killing USAF personnel, and to prevent damage to USAF assets.
Udorn was one of the bases which insurgents were able to infiltrate and inflict damage. As this attack demonstrates
the threat was real.
Map of the base entrance to
Udorn RTAFB, map dated January 1974. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 268K in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie for this map.
Added 08/05/16.
Map of Udorn RTAFB Cantonemt Area,
map dated January 1974. Adobe Acrobat PDF format, about 325K in size. My thanks to the
Air Force Historical Research Agency via Bob McKemie for this map.
Added 08/05/16.
Map of the Udorn Thailand area including
the location of Udorn RTAFB. Shows the position of Udorn city with respect to Udorn RTAFB. JPG, about 55K.
My thanks to Donald Plagge for this map, sent to me by
Steve Johnson. Added 12/01/20, caption
updated 05/02/21.
U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) Maps
Full Map of U-Tapao RTAFB with no annotations,
which shows almost all of U-Tapao RTAFB. My thanks to Bill Mach and Jim Walker
for this map. PDF format, about 3.7 meg in size. Added 12/22/17.
Map of U-Tapao RTAFB, which shows almost all of
U-Tapao RTAFB. My thanks to Bill Mach and Jim Walker for this map.
Added 09/12/16.
Map of U-Tapao RTAFB with annotations. This
the same map as that above which some annotations about U-Tapao RTAFB. My thanks to
Bill Mach and Jim Walker for this map.
Added 09/12/16.
Map of B-52 Ramp, NE Quadrant U-Tapao RTAFB with
detailed annotations. This the same map as that above which some additional annotations about U-Tapao RTAFB. My thanks to
Bill Mach and Jim Walker for this map. JPG format, about 149K in size. There
is now a PDF versioin of this labeled map 5 below.
Added 12/22/17.
Map of the U-Tapao RTAFB Cantonment Area. This
shows some of the buildings and other areas at U-Tapao RTAFB. My thanks to
Robert Anderson for this map. Added 09/12/16.
Map of the Southwest section of U-Tapao RTAFB. This
shows some of the buildings and other areas at the Southwest area of U-Tapao RTAFB. PDF format, about 4.6 meg in size. My thanks
to Bill Mach and Jim Walker for this map.
Added 01/03/18.
Map 3 - the Northwest Quadrant. PDF format, about 8.5 meg
in size. My thanks to Bill Mach and Jim Walker for this map.
Added 01/20/18.
Map 10 - the Recreation and Beach
area on the South section of U-Tapao RTAFB. This shows some of the buildings and other areas at the south end of U-Tapao
RTAFB which had the recreation facilities and Beach access on the Gulf of Thailand. PDF format, about 2.3 meg in size. My thanks
to Bill Mach and Jim Walker for this map.
Added 01/20/18.
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