Nam Phong

Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong was a significant military base in northeastern Thailand, used by the United States during the Vietnam War, particularly in the later stages of the conflict. Established in 1972, the base was constructed to support U.S. Marine Corps operations and to alleviate the overcrowding at other U.S. air bases in Thailand. Nam Phong was known to the Marines as the "Rose Garden."

Strategically located to provide quick access to the war zones in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, Nam Phong hosted a variety of aircraft, including F-4 Phantom II fighter jets, A-6 Intruder attack aircraft, and KC-130 refueling planes. These aircraft were essential for air support missions, bombing raids, and refueling operations that were crucial for U.S. military strategy in Southeast Asia. The base’s 10,000-foot runway allowed it to handle a wide range of military aircraft.

Despite its strategic importance, Nam Phong had minimal infrastructure, and living conditions were challenging for the personnel stationed there. However, the base played a crucial role in supporting air missions over Laos, particularly during the Secret War, where the U.S. aimed to counter the influence of the communist Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese forces. Nam Phong was a key site for launching airstrikes, providing close air support, and conducting reconnaissance missions.

In May 1975, as the situation in Laos deteriorated, Hmong people who were evacuated from Long Tieng were flown to Nam Phong, where they were temporarily housed. This evacuation was part of the broader efforts to protect the Hmong who had been integral to U.S. operations during the Secret War.

After the U.S. withdrawal from Southeast Asia in 1973, Nam Phong was handed back to the Royal Thai Air Force, and its significance in the conflict gradually diminished. However, its role during the war, especially in supporting the Hmong evacuees, remains a notable aspect of its history.