elcid
Posts: 226
Joined: 11/20/2002
From: Lakewood Washington
Status: offline
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It has been difficult to identify Thai air units in the WWII era. However, I found some pre war material
which is pretty close. Since the Thai have a huge number of aircraft - in most cases - attrition would not
be a factor. However, the number of Hawk II and Hawk 75 might be slightly less than given here. The
main fighter was the Hawk III - and it was made domestically in addition to being purchased. The Hawk
II appears not to have been purchased directly, but indirectly - but the number was not clear before? It
now appears to have been 12 in 1932, before any Hawk III were obtained. If also appears the number of
Hawk 75 was only 12.
RTAF squadrons could have 12 machines, but usually operated only 9, and in the case of larger bombers,
only 6. There were hundreds of aircraft, mostly obsolescent. But the Hawk 75 was one of the very first
cannon equipped fighters in the world.
35 Wing:
34 Squadron - 9 V-93S called O-3U in USN (max 12)
50 Squadon - 9 Hawk III (max 12) called F-10
66 Wing:
1 Squadron - 12 x Ki-30 called Nagoya after the city of manufacture
2 Squadron - 12 x Ki-30
60 Squadron - 10 x Hawk 75 (originally 12)
73 Wing:
32 Squadron - 9 V-93S (max 12)
40 Squadron - 6 193WH in USAAF B-10
41 Squadron - 6 B-Th4 in JAAF Ki-21
74 Wing:
44 Squadron - 9 V-93S (max 12)
71 Squadron - 9 Hawk III (max 12) called F-10
72 Squadron - 9 Hawk III
73 Squadron - 9 Hawk III
80 Squadrn - 9 Hawk II (originally 12)
There was an unnumbered reconnaissance section which may have been associated with 73 Wing
or may have been independent. It operated 6 V-93S.
There was a general service squadron It operated many types, F-35 laiason in particular,
also Ki-30 and by some reports Ki-55 later in the war. It probably did not operate more than 12
machines, but had its choice of vastly more at the main RTAF base.
There was also a training squaron similarly outfitted and drawing from the same aircraft pool.
RTN had several detachments of floatplanes, about three land based, two single aircraft for use
on patrol ships, and a training element. The latter shipborne and training units used a special
WS-103 variant of a Japanese floatplane designed otherwise for submarine use. The other
land based elements were operating the E8N by the time the war began. It is alleged they
upgraded to E13 - but that is also alleged to be false.
< Message edited by elcid -- 11/7/2011 10:16:44 AM >
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