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From Terry Welsh

click on chevron to see airfield in google earth

From Hank

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2 Troop RAE story Op Crown

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Welcome to
Jack Castle 2 troop Lt.
59 Sqn 1964-65

Larry Hughes 2 troop

59 Sqn 1963-64

5th March 10

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Welcome to

John Brown reme wk shop 1965

2 Feb 2010

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Welcome to

Geoff Smith 59 Sqn 1965-66

Terry Fawcett Works Crown 1966

8th Dec 09

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Jack Firth 54 Sqn 1965-67

16th Nov 09

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New Addition Oct 09

Ron Tobin 54 Sqn 1965-67

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New Photos Colour Op Crown

Cliff Watts

RAOC 1966

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New Additions Sept 09

Eddie Vincent 11 sqn 1964

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New Additions June 09

Richard Johnston 11 sqn 1967

Tony Davidson 249 Signals Sqn 1965

Brian Webb 11 sqn 1965+66

David Folwell 1964 11 Sqn

Gerry Gleeson 1964 11Sqn

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New Additions May 09

Bob sailor Crowford 1966 11 Sqn att. RCT Scammell sect.

Rob Cooke 2Lt 11 Sqn 1967

Terry Bridges 11 sqn 1965+66 officers mess

John Thackray 3 troop 59 Sqn

Billy Stuart 11 Sqn 1965-69

Ray Hall 1965-66 249 Royal Signals Det.

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New Photo Album Added

{Cliff Watts RAOC 1966}

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New contacts April 09

Brian Magowan 59 sqn 1964-66

Brian Parsons 59 sqn 1964-65

Ian Duffin HQ from 61 Fld Pk Sqn 1965-66

Arthur Nix 14 Air Amb RAMC 1964

Peter Coates 1966-69

David Keen 59 Sqn 1963-65

Jim Varden 59 Sqn 1963-65

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Latest News from Jim Curtis Ubon

jimcurtis37@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:> Hi Hank, Apologies for not answering sooner but I have been VERY busy and when I eventually returned from up country the internet was down. But here goes. Yes please, put my e-mail address on your web site, I'm looking forward to hearing from the old mob and I will try to answer any mail that I receive. I hope that the pictures that I've attached are OK and that the wizened old man that appears in some of them doesn't frighten the kids too much. I was in Ban Kok Telat (nowadays more commonly called Ban Kok Samlan) yesterday and returned to Ubon on the bus in the evening. The airfield is now under the control of the Thai military and they have constructed a firing range on the far side of the runway. Occasionally you can hear gunfire. In fact, when I was there yesterday, I heard the sound of explosions as if they were carrying out a demolition exercise. Although the army uses this firing range they have not excluded anyone from the airfield and it is quite open and accessible and, yes, the shit buffalos still wander across the runway. On clear days you can still see the mountains on the skyline and the runway stretches to the far distance: 1.5 kilometres but it looks much further. When I left in 1966 it was tarmac but now it is a concrete runway. There are one or two reminders of the "camp" that are still recognisable. All the timber and galvanised iron have disappeared, (if you look closely they can be seen at various houses around the village) and there are no gates anywhere. However, you can still see the swimming pool, which looks very neglected, and the concrete foundations of several buildings, (the Medical Centre and the Plant Workshops etc.) and the main access road through the camp is still serviceable. Nowadays, the runway is mainly unused but it sometimes serves as a driving school. Many drivers learn how to crash their gears and jump their car forward with great kangaroo leaps (reminds me of the MT section) but there was one stunning event that I witnessed a couple of years ago. The runway had been turned into a drag strip for highly tuned motor bikes. There seemed to be three classes: 100cc, 110cc and 125cc. There was a huge tent with many, many trophies and a very respectable person to present them. A PA system kept everyone informed (in the Thai language) and called the competitors from the pit area: there was electronic timing with professional style countdown lights, a large electronic display of the winning times and the whole thing was serviced by several food tents serving the local spicy dishes. I was very impressed. The young Thai men were merciless with their machines and I swear that some of the engines were revving at over 12000 rpm. Several engines failed and you could feel the disappointment as there was a sudden change in the sound coming from the engine when something broke and the rider sat up resigned to cruising the rest of the track. But I had forgotten my camera! The attached photos are:- the deserted runway, two of the road going through the village looking towards Ubon (now a dual carriageway), and a couple of shots of me with some bananas from my garden. I hope they arrive alright. I'll try to keep in touch but sometimes things here get hectic. Best wishes, Jim Curtis. Ubon, Thailand. p.s. Feel free to forward my e-mails to other members of the group. It will save me and my typing finger a lot of work.

Jim

[Jims Photo Link]

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Just In From Noel Jackson 18 Jan 09

Son of Arthur Jackson

It's Noel Jackson once again (son of Sgt Arthur Jackson).I hope you and yours are all well. The reason for my email today is to let you and any others you think may be interested know that I have just arrived back from Ban Kudhae which is my village just north of the "new" Loeng Nok Tha which has simply increased in size since the days of Op Crown. The Loeng Nok Tha you may have known is now called Loeng Gow by the Thais i.e. old Loeng. Since I first contacted yourself and Hank Lawrence I had set my mind on going back once again to Ban Khok Talat again to try and relate some of your excellent photos to what is there today. Well, firstly Ban Khok Talat is no more. It has been renamed Ban Khok Samran. There is a sign on the southbound side of the new two-lane highway 212 that I'm told says that it is the property of an airforce base in Roi Et Province and that motorcycle racing and other such illegal (drug related) acivities are strictly forbidden but you know how much attention will be paid to that when there's nobody there to police it. If you follow the sign down an extremely beaten up dirt track. (Really a pickup truck is recommended as a car will ground. Luckily for me my sister-in-law has an Isuzu DMax Highlander) you will arrive at the "parking" end of the runway i.e. the highest end. We drove up and down the runway which is still in the same condition as per the photos taken in 2005 in your website but with one slightly uneven patch near the low end of the runway. Thais were using it to learn to drive.I was looking for signs of the footing for the tower, the swimming pool and the camp in general. Back in 1996 I thought I saw something that I didn't recognise but now realise was the swimming pool but now can't find again. I couldn't see anything of the control tower footings or the camp. The area of the camp is completely overgrown and I wasn't bold enough to venture into the bushes! The drainage ditch along the western edge of the runway along the site of the control tower plinths and under the taxiway to the "parking" area is still intact complete with concrete ducts. I did wander around the bushes near the western edge of the northern end of the runway where I thought I could see concrete bases and plinths. Yes some are still there despite some being cracked and grown through by trees. Around this area I found the road back to Ban Khok Talat. I think this road and the road by which I entered the site are the only remaining entrances.I have a couple of photos of the site and a little video footage but the photos are a little embarassing (wife, daughter, sister-in-law and nephew included) and video very amateurish.One of my objectives this year was to trace the route of the Post Crown Road. I wanted to see if the memorial plaque was still around and travelled along a very long, wide, straight road to Ban Nong Phok and back to Loeng Gow. No obvious signs of the plaque but it was made more difficult because I didn't know if it was in Nong Phok or Loeng Gow. Do you know or is there anyone known to the website where the stone was laid? I'll try to find out more next trip with your help hopefully.If there is anyone that wants to visit Ban Khok Samran but are a little unsure of transport or anything please ask them to contact me and I'll be happy to offer advice as I'm an annual visitor to the area, biannual if I'm lucky!Hope I haven't bothered you too much!!

Kind Regards,Noel Jackson

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Additions Mar 09

Michael McGawley 59 sqn 1964-1967

Stewart Hulley 1964-66 59sqn 1966-67 34sqn

Additions Jan 09

Alan Myers 1964-1965 ACC

Alan Card. 1968 RAF Police Detachment

Harry Collar 1964 16 Fld Ambulance

Additions Dec 08

Ernie Yeomans 1966-67 16 Fld Amb

Additions Nov 08

Martin Hobbs 1968 54 Plant

Additions Oct 08

John J Forbes 34 sqn 1966

George Gasson 59 sqn 1964

Eddy Brown 11 sqn 1966

Cliff Watts RAOC 1966

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Addition Sept 08

Ian Nicolson 16 Fld Amb 1963-64

Brian (Topper) Brown 54 Sqn 1967

Dave (tiny) Chapman 59 Sqn 1964-65

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Addition Aug 08

Charlie Hankinson 59/54 1966-67

Ray Chalkley 59 sqn

Jim Machin 59 sqn 1964

Taffy Jones 1964 11 Sqn

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Please get in touch so i can add you to the list

J.J. FORBES CALLING.SERVED WITH 34 FD SQN.OCT 1966,

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New addition July 08

Sherida'n (Bert) Price 16 Fld Amb RAMC

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New call for help. 15 july 08Hi Hank,Came upon your website whilst looking for info on air accident in Borneo in which my brother Lcpl William Jack was killed on 12.04.65, his body was never recovered. Unfortunately, I have no memory of him as I was only 18mths old at the time. I was wondering if anyone on your site may remember him (long shot). I dont have much info other than he was based at Aldershot and served in Borneo 1962-65, with 23rd Parachute Field Amulance in Sarawak area I think. He was also stationed in Cyprus previously. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Terrie Jack

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From Willy Bach 15th July 08

Dear Hank and I have included Cris Smith Just to let you know that I got to Leong Nok Tha and have done some filming and a lot of still pictures on the runway. I got away rather late from home after sending some important emails. I tried the newere internet cafe near the water tower - much faster and could use own lap top. I took a rather slow tuk tuk for the 22 km journey to the Friendship Bridge, crossed the bridge and the border and got a a/c 4x4 to Nong Khai, then on to Udon Thani, another 55 kms south and stayed there Sunday night in a very comfortable guest house which gets used for "visa runs". Yes, I am staying in Leong Nok Tha and it is so different from 15.5 yrs ago. I stepped off the bus, after a gruelling 7.5 hrs ride from Udorn Thani, not air conditioned, found somewhere to stay and immediately heard a lot of noisy music. My guest house manager and I were swept along by this colourful procession which included two utes each with a monk on a chair on top of a decorated bed. Each of the monks wore white robes and threw little yellow bows to the crowd, who rushed to pick them up. The people were dancing and urging me to join them and offering sips of beer through straws. The loud music was Issan style, played on a well-amplified electric guitar accompanied by about ten drummers, all walking in the procession. I told the guitarist that he was the Carlos Santana of Issan. This went on for several hours through the streets to the temple. They were celebrating the fact that these guys were beoming three month monks. Leong Nok Tha now has motorways, new buildings and seem to be partly quite prosperous now. Lotus Tesco has not reached here, but they are in all the major towns of NE Thailand - always with the same business plan - build on the outskirts and try to put all existing business out of business in the centre of town (so much like Australia) Spppprrraaaaawwl. Thailand has a clever system with their traffic lights that I saw in Bangkok and other places. The red and green lights are counted down with the seconds displayed in large illuminated numerals. It stops people from running red lights. There are hardly any people who speak English here, so have to practise, but these people want to correct my Lao into Issan Thai (oh-oh - complication), although I have seen and met three European men, one Scottish lives here with Thai wife, another, Danish American also has Thai wife, was in the US Navy in Vietnam War, only watches TV and drinks, Speaks no Thai, doesn't mix with people (all sounds like a war damaged veteran to me). I have also been talking to Marc Tiley from the BBC. This is his latest news: "I have some confirmed interest from the History Channel and now just chasing Channel 5 to see if they'll chip in some money to make a joint production possible... we'll see." He is hoping to do our story, which I think would be great for some of us who would like to see the story told on TV. So, I was at the airfield yesterday morning and did some movie footage and a 'piece to camera' introductory statement, as John Pilger would do. It was hot, around 33 degrees and windy, which affects the sound quality. As I was filming myself from the front I don't know if my eyes were closed. Also did lots of still shots with my little point and shoot, much improved with the use of a tripod I bought in Udon Thani at a very reasonable price. By the way, I did not see the plaque and wonder whether it might have been discarded when the road was widened. It is now two lanes each way, dual carriageway. I think the Post Crown Works road might have been paved over in a similar upgrade. I am trying to find out how to get to Phu Mu, the US communications base on a hill, perhaps 8 kms from the airfield. I mustn't spend too much time in internet cafes. So far, I am hoping to leave here on Thursday, Leong Nok Tha to Mukdahan, Mukdahan to Savanakhett - then to Vientiane. I will have my phone back on when I cross into Laos. RegardsWilly Bach

From Mick Norton

Yes, I was there, an unforgettable 24 hours! I remember the visiting artists were Harry Seacombe, or as he said, "RE" Seacombe, Anita Harris, Billy Burden and the Amazing Focal, a mind reader. From memory the acts performed from the end of the church, St Andrews and were well received. Unfortunately the amount of ale supped by the audience upset the management and many 54, and other Crown personnel were found pissing up against the church or vomiting in the general area. Nothing unusual about that other than it was witnessed by a puritanical OC and SSM, (Pete Davidson), who tried in vain to bring some semblance of order to the situation. We were sent back to the tented Hong Kong Camp and woke up the next morning to the sound of Crown camp officers shouting, "Get on parade with your best kit !" As you will remember the best part of Hong Kong camp personnel only possessed the OG shorts. floppy hat and a pair of boots they stood up in ! We were then administered "Field Punishment" for the previous evening's disgusting behaviour. "Run them till they drop" came the shout from 54's OC Perry the Ponce, Driscoll. We duly obliged in the midday heat of 120 degrees F. As we stood quivering from exhaustion I can still remember Driscoll's threat to the assembled parade. "Don't forget you drunken rabble, I set the targets, you will achieve! If I hear of one of you attempting to sabotage the project or the plant I will guarantee you will be court martialled." As a result of that 24 hours 3 x SNCOs had to leave Crown Camp under their own steam, Jock Cameron, Tom Canning and Bob Haynes, but that's another fantastic story. The field punishment incident was probably the last administered by the British Army?

Though this incident lives on it is not as bad as the mutiny which took place at Crown Camp in 1966 when the entire shift refused to go to work on the airfield after an Aussie entertainments hour with the NAFFI bar allowed to stay open. The whole lot of us trooped out of Nash Gate and off down the village for more ale and bollocks to the job. Some ended up in Changi, others were sent back to the UK and stripes removed. Oh happy days. 29 of us were charged.

Sawadee Kop,
Mick

Can you help with the following

Hank, I am an ex aust sgt who was attached to HQFARELF in Singapore in June 1962, billeted at REME Rowcroft Lines Singapore and supported 28 COMWEALTH BDE GP in EX TRUMPETRER. Part of 274 Liaison Unit commanded by Lt col Frank Skinner, Capt Derek Jones Admin, WO Len Harvey also in unit. Do you have any knowledge of KETTLEDRUM or BUCKRUM.Grateful for reply.

Thank you for your reply. The time was 1962 in Singapore and Malaya with HQFARELF and GCHQ Phoenix Park Tanglin. Exercise Trumpeter was held in June 1962 and involved UK, Aust, NZ, Malay troops training for Buckram, the plan to support LAOS in the event that country was overrun by Chicom forces. I had hoped you might have been with FARELF or 28 Comwealth Bde at this time. Many thanks

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Hi Hank,

We haven't met but I am very intereted in your photos of Op Crown since my father served there and met and married my mother. Particularly I am interested in photo no 82 showing the senior ranks. Do you have a list of the people sitting in the shot as is customary with military photos like this? I would like to know the name of the person in the middle row, first on the right. I think it's my dad but would be grateful if you could confirm it.

from Noel

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25 Feb 08

New addition

Tony Cliffy Cliffe 59 Sqn 1964-66

Can anyone remember

the crown football team that beat the aussies in Ubon I was right half ..We won a cup wonder where it is now.

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Can anyone help with contacts for Australian medics .

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Welcome Gordon King 45 Fld pk sq 1964

Transporting plant from ubon

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Welcome Tom Canning 59 sqn 1966 plus 54 sqn 1967-68

also Michael Burgin 59 sqn 1964-66

also Peter Limb 54 sqn att 59 sqn 1964-66

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Welcome to Ray Hough 59 Sqn 1964-66

Tipper driver

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Anyone now Ted Stratton think 54 Sqn around 1965

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The photos of the magazine write up on Op Crown should be able to download them and view them with your photo edit software, to see full size.

Or i can email large size to you if that fails, this goes for most photos.

Hank

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New Addition to list

Wally Boldock 54 Sqn 1965 and 1966

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Latest addition

From Ron Bretton

Hi Hank, I am a member of NMBVA, i served with 16 Commonwealth Field Ambulance RAMC/ACC att.We were stationed with 28 Commonwealth Brigade at Terrendak next to the hospital.Our section served in Kuching Borneo in late 1963 to mid 64, then we moved up to Leong Nok Tha on ops crown to relieve our Aussie mates in late 64.We were there for the first opening ceremony( our belovered RSM,Mr YakkerYates said,"If its a success boys you can have another one later)I had the good fortune to take off from that first runway in a Blackburn Beverly to return back to 16 fld in Terrendak.We have a few photos on servicepals with Trev Letford on ops crown and i have ops crown on my profile on myspace/ banjobrett.comJim Curtis e-mailed me for the planned reunion the other year but i couldnot make the trip.I am on the members list NMBVA Southern Branch, Ron Bretton, on ops crown they called me Yorky Brett.Best Regards Brett.

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From Derek Yates

Came across you website. See you mention my father, RSM ''Yakker'' Yates, unfortunately no longer with us. Regards, Derek.
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Information Op Crown
Operation Crown - Thailand - 1963-66As a signatory of South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) Britain had an obligation to assist Allies in the Far East. In the early 1960's the Americans (also signatories of SEATO) were becoming increasingly embroiled in preventing the march of Communism in Laos and Vietnam and requested that Britain assist in their crusade. In February 1963 it was proposed that Britain construct an airfield at Loeng Nok Tha, near Mukdahan in Thailand as part of the American's Special Logistic Aid to Thailand (SLAT). The proposal was accepted and given the code name Operation Crown.The Engineer units involved in the project were:· 11 Independent Field Squadron RE · 59 Field Squadron RE · Detachment 54 Corps Field Park Squadron RE · Detachment 84 Survey Squadron RE · Detachment 302 Postal Unit RE · 2 field troop from the Royal Australian Engineers and detachment from the Royal New Zealand Engineers were also involved. Crown airfield at Loeng Nok Tha, near Mukdahan, Thailand constructed by the Royal Engineers - 1964-65The airfield with its 5,000ft long air strip, control-tower, airfield fencing and lighting was completed in time for an official opening ceremony on 17 June 1965. After the airfield was completed a second project, to build a road north west from Loeng Nok Tha to a village (Ban Khok Klang), was started in December 1966 by 34 Field Squadron RE, who were relieved by 59 Field Squadron RE in August 1967, who in turn were relieved by 11 Field Squadron RE. The road was completed in April 1968 by a composite workforce made up from:· 54 (FARELF) Support Squadron RE · 51 (Airfields) Squadron RE - one troop · 59 Field Squadron RE - one troop

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Click here

Story of 2 Troop RAE 11 Ind Fld Sqn on Op Crown

pdf Download

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22/12/07

Gerry Bedford on Survey team please contact me your email keeps coming back

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It seems we need to add a detachment of Gunners to the list. From Terry Crimmons.

There were about 6 of us, 1964-65 I remember Gary Kirkham and Nobby Clarkn from 45 Reg, I was from 170 Imjin Independent Battery 45 reg out of Seremban, the rest were from Terendak. We were all attached to the Transport section on tippers mainly supplying the Howard train

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This is the Op Crown Lament By John Little

Crown Camp Lament,

Just off the Laos border Crown Camp is just the Spot,
Stuck in the middle of nowhere in a land that god forgot,
Up among the snakes and lizards, all alone and blue,
Stuck on this flaming air field ,ten thousand miles from you,

Late at night when the mossies bite the rain comes pouring down,
To bed we wear a poncho to make sure that we don’t drown,
We swear ,we sweat, we blister, we dont think life,s to grand,
We are not a bunch of convicts but defenders of our land.

In this Thailand paradise there is no time for play,
All we seem to do is Work,from day to endless day,
We are not men of iron nor men of steel, ,
But simple men who think and feel,

Who soldier on through toil and strife,
Defend Queen and country with their lives
If we get to heaven St Peter he will yell,
Let the boys from Crown Camp in they have had their share of Hell!!

Written By John Little,
Operation Crown,
Bankoktalat,
Leong Nok Tha Province,
Thailand,
24/12/1964.

Please has anyone got contact with John

Sorted i now have contact with john 19 feb 08

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From Jim Harrod

Greetings again from Colorado. I would certainly enjoy viewing your friends link. Several years ago a group was formed called the Thailand/Laos/Cambodia Brotherhood and it became quite an association. We had several reunions throughout the country with several hundred troops gathered. It included Air Force, Army, Navy and even folks from Air America. People from all career fields that were stationed throughout those countries. I haven't been active for some time but I'm sure if your search on "Thailand/Laos/Cambodia Brotherhood you will find the link. There were many of us that were at Mukdahan. NKP, and Ubon that were familiar with the Crown Project and Crown Field was the topic of many discussions over the years.

As I mentioned earlier, we received numerous visits to our site, but several I will never forget involved a Sgt Major from Crown. It only took a short while for me to realize that Christ Himself may have sat at the right hand of God, but the Sgt major was on the other side. Many a young trooper was booted in the arse through the door of our enlisted club. Once we were down in the village during a flood drinking and raising a little sand along with several Brits. All at once the Sgt Major rounded a corner and although he was waist deep in water I swear you could hear his heels digging in the pavement. All the Brits fell into a formation so I joined the ranks. A young Welshman broke out in laughter and the Sgt major had him by the hair of his red head dunking him under the water. I sort of thought it was a rather funny sight so I had a laugh myself. The next thing I knew I was nose to nose with the Sgt Major, and he was asking "Will You Be Having A Bit Of This A Well Yank"? Any humorous thoughts I may have had were soon gone! The Chaplain from Crown also used to visit on Sundays and if no one showed up for service, he would go through our tents and hooches rolling us out to hear the Word.On the operational side, we often controlled intercept missions with the Aussie F-86s from Ubon. Their call sign was Falcon Zulu. Once on a TDY to Ubon we visited their Squadron. A planned short briefing on the unit kept getting longer and longer and when it finally broke we walked outside to find yellow kangaroos painted all over our duce and a half trucks. What a group!A special bond was formed between our folks that were stationed in that area, and from the conversations I have had over the years it was the same for you folks as well. Building that air strip in that location was a feat to remember.I went on to complete 20 years service, and retired here in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1982.Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Best Regards

Jim Harrod

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