Air America Log information
for AIR AMERICA THAILAND
TNPD
USAID
USOM
For date 680330
AIR AMERICA THAILAND was a Air America unit
Primary service involved, Air America
Thailand
Location, Bangkok
Description: What follows is an edited version of an article printed in Air America Log, the company newspaper dated March, 1968. The article is titled Air America Participates in Thai Police Ceremony by M. Forrest, Supervisor, Thai Police Contract
Air America advisors in Bangkok were recently honored by being invited to participate in ceremonies marking the presentation of 22 Fairchild Hiller Model 1100 helicopters to Thailand by the United States. This is another example of the rapport resulting from joint Royal Thai Police and Air America efforts to build an efficient Thai air arm under the sponsorship of the United States Operations Mission (USOM), now referred to as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Thai National Police Aviation Unit is not a new project; it has progressed rapidly in the few years since it came under the USAID assistance program. The efforts of men like USOM's Art Elder and Police Colonel Pichit Raksanaves have made the Thai Police Aviation Division a fine example of Asian-American cooperation.
Royal Thai Police aviation traces its beginnings to 1950 when it was first established as part of the Metropolitan Police. This early unit consisted of but one Hiller 360 helicopter with a pilot and mechanic as its entire staff. Realizing the value of helicopters, the Ministry of Interior inaugurated a kingdom-wide Transport and Communications Command in 1953 which included the Royal Police Aviation Unit. A hangar was obtained from the Royal Thai Air Force and ten Hiller 12B helicopters were purchased along with three Cessna aircraft, one 180 and two 310s. During this interval, the unit was known as the Communications Aviation Division and was under the command of then Major Payome Chantaragga. Now a full Colonel, Payome is the Deput Commander in change of operations.
As the requirements for air support increased, the year 1954 saw Royal Thai Police aviation operating for additional 12Bs and two Douglas C-47s. In 1956 two Cessna 310Fs were obtained and more C-47s joined the growing fleet. The unit then became closely associated with the Border Patrol Police and was placed under their supervision.
The year 1967 brought many changes for the aviation wing among which was its elevation to Division status. The unit, under the command of Colonel Pichit, reports directly to the Headquarters of the Thai National Police Department (TNPD) and provides air support to all Royal Thai Police elements.
Currently AAM's advisory staff number 14. They work closely with Air Asia's Technical Training Division in Tainan, Taiwan, where many Royal Thai Police mechanics undergo training.
Air America also assists in helicopter instructor-pilot training in conjunction with TNPD personnel and Hal Kent of USOM. AAM Captains F.N. Smith and W.J. Fraser regularly train Royal Thai Police and Civil Aviation Technical Center (CATC) pilots in Hiller 2Es recently coverted by AAM/BKK to a side-by-side training configuration.
The Thai National Police Division Base at Bangkok's Don Muang Airport is a focal point of activity where an international staff from the Royal Thai Police, USOM and AAM work diligently, harmoniously and with pride towards a common goal.
Editor's note: There are 11 captioned photos printed with this article.
The first shows a Buddhist blessing ceremony for a new FH1100. The second is a view of the new FH1100s, with three Bell 204Bs in the foreground, all in a line. The third shows TNPD flight crews and Air America advisors surrounding a new FH1100. The fourth shows a TNPD Hiller 12E helicopter making a low-level pass to drop flowers. The fifth shows six men listed as senior officers of the TNPD and Air America. The sixth is a large, center shot of the blessing ceremony for the new equipment. The seventh shows the Air America Advisory Team. The eighth shows the TNPD and Air America teams with 17 newly assigned Thai helicopter pilots. The nineth shows TNPD General Krachang, LTC Chavalit and U.S. Ambassador Leonard Unger talking with a TNPD pilot and mechanic. The tenth shows Ambassador Unger boarding a 204B. The eleventh shows a 204B departing Pak Nam Marine Police Station.
Comments: LT Nakathon, Pompet; TNPD pilot; ;
PVT Prommarsong, Anuroj; TNPD mechanic; ;
SGT Rongvilit, Bunlue; TNPD mechanic; ;
*** Hsing, H.S.; AA supply advisor; ;
*** Choy, H.F.; AA maintenance advisor; ;
*** Li, P.C.; AA advisor; ;
*** Loh, C.Y.; AA advisor; ;
*** Liu, W.L.; AA advisor; ;
*** Forrest, J. Mick; AA advisor; ;
*** Karman, Tom J.; AA advisor; ;
*** Tinio, Max M.; AA advisor; ;
*** Mariam, L.C.; AA advisor; ;
*** Chan, C.K.; AA advisor; ;
*** Tsai, S.L.; AA advisor; ;
*** Lee, W.D.; AA advisor; ;
*** Msing, H.S.; AA advisor; ;
*** Soung, H.L.; AA advisor; ;
MAJ Kiattisak, ; TNPD chief pilot; ;
LTC Nikom, ; TNPD maintenance officer; ;
*** Kembro, M.D.; Bell pilot; ;
*** Russakk, Jeffery; Fairchild pilot; ;
GEN Krachang, ; TNPD CO; ;
LTC Chavalit, ; TNPD; ;
*** Unger, Leonard; U.S. Ambassador; ;
LTC Sampat, ; TNPD; ;
The source for this information was Copied from original newspaper located at UTD library by Mike Law 12/97
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023