Royal_Thai_Air_Force_Museum

Royal Thai Air Force Museum

Royal Thai Air Force Museum

Military Aviation Museum in Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base, Bangkok

The National Aviation Museum of the Royal Thai Air Force is located in Don Mueang District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located on the Phahonyothin Road just to the south of Wing 6 of the domestic terminal of the Don Mueang Airport. It has been served by the Royal Thai Air Force Museum BTS station since 16 December 2020.[1]

Quick Facts Established, Location ...

Overview

Grumman F8F Bearcat at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum
in front of the museum

The museum was established in 1952 to collect, preserve and restore different airplanes and other aviation equipment used by the Royal Thai Air Force. In addition to one F11C and other rare aircraft,[2] the museum's collection also includes one of only 2 surviving Japanese Tachikawa Ki-36 trainers, the last surviving Vought O2U Corsair, one of 3 surviving Curtiss BF2C Goshawks, a Spitfire and several Nieuports and Breguets.[3]

The museum provides details of Thailand's role in World War II. Imperial Japanese forces landed at various points in Thailand on 8 December 1941, and after resisting for one day, the Thai forces were ordered to cease fire and allow Japanese forces to pass through the kingdom. The Thai government of Field Marshal Pibun Songkram would also declare war on both Britain and the United States in January 1942 (though the declaration was never delivered to the US by the Thai ambassador), and Thailand remained technically a Japanese ally until the Japanese surrender in August 1945, despite the existence of a large anti-Japanese underground. The museum contains several paintings of Thai fighter aircraft intercepting attacking US B-29s, P-38s and P-51s.

Pro-Japanese, anti British poster at the museum

Renovation

Since 2012, the Royal Thai Air Force Museum has received basic repair.[4] In 2020 Royal Thai Air Force Museum has renovated the museum to renovation of the Air Force Museum building area to prepare for the Royal Thai Air Force Academic Seminar 2020. The objectives of the renovation is for create an understanding of the RTAF Strategic Direction / Position, which recognizes the national defense industry in accordance with government policy which will lead to concrete Thailand 4.0 and raise awareness in the development of Sustainable and Smart Air Force with transparency and also enhance knowledge in every dimension (All Domains) in the development of the Air Force and listen to opinions from relevant parties to be a guideline for mobilization of national forces For the development of the Air Force.[5]

Aircraft on display

More information Thai Type, Foreign Model ...
  • Tachikawa Ki-36
  • Boeing 100E
  • Curtiss BF2C Goshawk
  • Vought O2U Corsair (under the codename V-93S/SA)
  • Spitfire FR Mk.XIVe SM914. Royal Thai Air Force serial KH14-1/93
  • Westland Dragonfly WS-51 Mk.1A H1-4/96 (cn WA/H/120)
  • F-5A 97158
  • Retired AV-8S Thai Navy
  • A-7E Thai Navy
  • L-39 ZA/ART
  • Ex Vietnamese Air Force Mig-21
  • Retired Douglas A-1 Skyraider
  • OV-10
  • G-222
  • Helio U-10B

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "ประยุทธ์ กดปุ่มเปิด "รถไฟฟ้าสีเขียว-สีทอง" คูคต-ไอคอนสยาม ยังนั่งฟรี". Prachachat.
  2. [2]
    Boyne, Walter J. (2001). The Best of Wings Magazine. Brassey's. p. 41. ISBN 1574883682.
  3. [3]
    Cummings, Joe; China Williams (2004). Bangkok. Lonely Planet. p. 98. ISBN 1740594606.
  4. [4]
    "พิพิธภัณฑ์กองทัพอากาศ". www.trueplookpanya.com. Retrieved Jun 24, 2020.
  5. [5]
    "โครงการออกแบบปรับปรุงพิพิธภัณฑ์กองทัพอากาศและการบินแห่งชาติ Museum Renovation design for Royal Thai Airforce Museum RTAFM | FAA". Retrieved Jun 24, 2020.
  6. [6]
    "Building 1". Royal Thai Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  7. [7]
    Darke, Steve (26 December 2016). "ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE MUSEUM, DON MUEANG" (PDF). The Thai Aviation Website. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  8. [8]
    "Building 3: Aircraft used during anti-communism campaign". Royal Thai Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  9. [9]
    "Building 2". Royal Thai Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  10. [10]
    "Outdoor Display". Royal Thai Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  11. [11]
    "Building 5". Royal Thai Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2017.

Notes

  1. [N 1]
    This airframe never served with the RTAF.
  2. [N 2]
    This aircraft type predates the designation sequence.
  3. [N 3]
    This aircraft type was never operated by the RTAF.
  4. [N 4]
    This aircraft type was never operated by the RTAF.
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