Aerial Memory Joggers From Ben Shuppert

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The shots below were taken by Ben from the Pedro rescue/fire suppression helicopter.  They show the Takhli flightline and base as it appeared in 1966.  The revetments were not yet in place on the parking ramp and many of the "newer" base buildings do not show in the photos.  They give a great overall perspective of the base, its small size, and the aircraft operating from there.  As crowded as the ramp appears, it would become much more crowded as the war progressed.

  A definitive photo of the Takhli ramp and base circa 1966.  This photo is looking northwest, and encompasses almost the entire US operations portion of the base at the time.  The Air America compound is to the right, the "old" HQ in the left background.  

In closer, looking the same direction.  Silver F-105s have not yet been camouflaged.  The Tactical Operations Center is above the third blast barrier from the left.  Flying squadron buildings are just behind the aircraft facing forward.  "Old" HQ, Bldg 1/600 at the extreme left background.

   

Here we are looking east toward the ramp,  The center of the photo was the 'Thai BX' where one could buy handicrafts and have clothes made.  It was also the dining hall for US forces at one time as we can see in photos from Bob Fletcher.  Takhli Hill in the background and the HQ would have been to the left in this photo. 

Taken WSW direction, closer to the ramp again.  For reference, the Tac Ops Center is above the vehicle on the ramp.  Large maintenance hangar to the right.  The F-105 above the S in Shuppert is not on fire.  For those not accustomed to this, it is doing a 'cart', or black powder cartridge start.  The engine is spun up by the force of a gunpowder charge.  This eliminates the need for a power cart for each aircraft.  It does produce a choking cloud of smoke, however, as can be seen here.

   

Same direction, taken a little farther north on the airfield.  The road to the right side of the photo is the one I walked each shift to the tower.  At night it was a favorite with cobras and kraits which would come out of the trees behind the Air America compound (out of sight on right) and lay on the warm asphalt.  Always carried rocks in my pocket to shoo them off the road.  And a working flashlight....

Now looking almost due east.  Takhli Hill in the background, the same road I walked to the tower.  It is just out of sight to the right in the previous photo and just out of sight on the left in this one.  Road across the runway to the Thai side of base is on the extreme left in this photo.  Chief Kelley and I shared the hootch just above the tip of the large tree in the foreground.  HQ bldg and the "boardwalk" to the flight line on the right in photo.

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