Chiang Klang Airport

Chiang Klang Airport
สนามบินเชียงกลาง
Chiang Klang district, Nan province in Thailand
Chiang Klang Airport Shown within Thailand
Coordinates	19°18′00″N 100°51′00″E
Type	Military airstrip
Site information
Operator	United States Air Force Royal Thai Air Force
Condition	Decommissioned, now managed by Wat Phra That Cho Hae
Site history
Built	1957 (1957)
Built by	United States with Thai support
In use	1957 - August 1, 1976 (1976)
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Events	CIA operations in the Cold War
Airfield information
Identifiers	ICAO: VTCD
Runways Direction Length and surface 01/19  Marston Matting

Chiang Klang Airport (ICAO: VTCD) is a former military airport located in Chiang Klang district, Thailand.

History

In 1957, Chiang Klang Airport was established to support transportation for operations of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during the Cold War. Afterwards, it served as a small airstrip for military and transport. In 1962, the airport was expanded to accommodate larger aircraft with a longer gravel runway. The runway was reinforced with Marston Matting for operations of the United States Air Force and Royal Thai Air Force.

Vietnam War

During the Vietnam War, the airport supported flights and operations from Nakhon Phanom and Udorn. It was mainly used to aid in military operations along the border. During the Vietnam War, the base supported flights and operations from bases in Nakhon Phanom and Udorn. It was mainly used to aid in military operations along the border. In early 1968, two O-1 aircraft and four additional Forward Air Controllers (FACs) were deployed to Chiang Klang Airport as part of the visual reconnaissance program and to control air strikes. Later, in an effort to provide coverage in northern Thailand, DASC 3, which support the Royal Thai 3rd Army, was moved from Chiang Klang to Lampomg and Nan. Soon afterwards, it was collocated with the 3rd Army Tactical Operations Center at Phitsunalok. Additionally, Chiang Klang Airport had operational low frequency beacons. From 1969 to 1970, Chiang Klang Airport was used by Air America’s de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribous to shuttle rice across the border to an airstrip designated as LS-60A, Xieng Lom. On 13 January 1970, an RTAF Douglas C-47 Skytrain took off at the airport and crashed. There were 6 occupants and 1 fatality was recorded, and the aircraft was written off.

Closure

In March 1976, the Thai Government ordered to withdraw all US military installations and stations. After the withdrawal of US troops, Chiang Klang Airport ceased operations and was later given to Wat Phra That Cho Hae, a royal temple, to be managed by the local authorities. The ownership transfer was finalized on August 1, 1976.