Military Tales Episode 50 takes you behind the flight line at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand in 1974-75, offering a ground-level perspective from jet engine mechanic Fred McClary. Experience the intensity of prepping helicopters for the secretive Mayaguez incident and the chilling return of aircraft carrying “body bags,” including what were tragically described as “little body bags”. Fred recounts the brutal environmental conditions โ extreme heat, “unbelievable dust,” and pervasive smells โ and shares his belief of significant exposure to Agent Orange, which he attributes to many ongoing health problems. Delve into the base’s deep compartmentalization and the shadowy world of SR-71 and U-2 spy plane operations from Udorn, highlighting the secrecy surrounding these operations. This episode provides a candid look at life on a busy, yet highly compartmentalized, base, including Fred’s act of kindness at the Thai “Monkey House” jail where prisoners were not fed.
Behind the Heat, Dust, and Secrecy: A Mechanic’s View from Thailand in the 70s
Episode 50 of Military Tales takes us to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base (NKP) in late 1974 and early 1975, offering a ground-level perspective from Jet Engine Mechanic Fred McClary. His time there was marked by intense operational demands, challenging environmental conditions, and exposure to the realities of a conflict that was winding down, yet still very active and secretive.
One of the most striking accounts from Fred is his involvement, albeit indirect, in the Mayaguez incident. As a flight line mechanic, he prepped helicopters for what he was only told was “a mission,” not knowing it was the operation to recover the SS Mayaguez, which had been boarded and pirated. He prepped five helicopters, and four ultimately took off. The harsh reality of the mission hit home later when a helicopter returned to NKP, and personnel from the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service began offloading body bags, some of which were described as “little body bags,” leading to speculation among the mechanics about civilian casualties. This was a “pretty sad time”.
Life at NKP was physically demanding. Fred recalls the extreme heat and humidity, often in the “high 90s [or] low hundreds,” making even rain-soaked ponchos ineffective. The dry season brought unbelievable dust. Adding to the challenging environment was a “nasty smell” originating from klongs or ditches that carried sewage and bacteria throughout the base. Fred also notes the visual impact of Agent Orange use, with the jungle cleared back 150-200 feet, leaving the base ground nearly bare dirt, and observes that the water, air, and dust were likely “full of Agent Orange”. He shares that he has experienced many ongoing health problems which he attributes to this exposure, though the VA initially only approved tinnitus (ringing in the ears) as a related condition. He plans to seek legal counsel specializing in Agent Orange cases to revisit his claims.
Fred’s work as a jet engine mechanic was intense. He prepped aircraft like CH-53 helicopters and OV-10s. These aircraft often returned shot up, keeping the sheet metal guys busy patching them. When engines were damaged, his team would remove them for repair in the jet shop, a process that could take “days to weeks” depending on the severity. During peak operational periods, like supporting Search and Rescue missions, they would work 20-hour days with shifts rotating to keep aircraft mission-ready. Fred noted that despite the demands, they rarely seemed short of aircraft. He also mentions working on the flight line near PSP (Pierced Steel Planking) runways, which got “smoking hot”.
A poignant detail Fred shares about the local environment and justice system is his description of “The Monkey House,” the Thai jail at NKP. Surrounded by a high wall, this facility provided no food to prisoners. Fred made a point of bringing fruit from the chow hall and passing it through the wall to help “take care of another human being”. He contrasts this with the US system, highlighting a different value placed on life in Southeast Asia. He recounts a stark example: a Thai guard found asleep on duty by his commander was immediately shot dead. Fred met the Thai police chief and found them professional and strict, noting that the legal system in a kingdom differs greatly, and even as a guest, one could end up in that system.
After NKP, Fred was sent to Udorn, another location he describes as a “very quiet CIA place”. Here, his job involved disassembling OV-10s. Udorn was also a base for highly sensitive operations, including SR-71 and U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. Fred saw an SR-71 in a hangar and was strictly warned against discussing it. He witnessed U-2s taking off daily and describes the fascinating process during landing where chase cars, often high-powered vehicles, would speed alongside the aircraft to attach temporary wheels to the wingtips as the U-2 slowed down. These secret aircraft were handled by specialized troops, underscoring the compartmentalization of operations, where even servicemen on the same base didn’t know what others were doing. This secrecy, Fred suggests, was primarily aimed at keeping the American public uninformed, as other nations were well aware of the activities, particularly in light of ignored treaties like the 1962 Paris Accord which aimed for neutrality in Laos.
Fred’s first military reunion experience for Thailand was described as “incredible” and an “eye-opener,” bringing back many memories, mostly good, and proving healing. He strongly believes the military offers valuable discipline that many young people lack today and recommends it as a career option, even suggesting a return to mandatory service. His own military path was influenced by the draft, which he joined the Air Force to avoid, finding a fit for his mechanical skills. He also briefly explains the “water burning engines” on B-52s and KC-135s, detailing how water injection increased thrust for takeoff and clarifying that the black exhaust visible was carbon particles attached to vaporized water, not purely a pollutant.
Finally, Fred recounts a meeting after the Mayaguez incident asking for volunteers for a salvage mission on Kotang Island to recover helicopter engines, a mission he volunteered for but wasn’t selected for, and whose outcome he never learned due to the pervasive compartmentalization.