Thai Fighters ;)

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Ja auch die Thailänder hatten Truppen in Europa. Sogar Flugzeuge:

on 22 July 1917, despite the misgivings of some members of the Royal government, King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary....

Thailand sent a small expeditionary force consisting of 1,284 volunteers under the command of Major General Phya Pijaijarnrit (later promoted to Lieutenant General and known as Phya Devahastin) to serve with the British and French forces on the Western Front. Included was a contingent of the Army Air Corps.

The Thais arrived in 1918 and the air personnel began training at the French Army Flying Schools at Avord and Istres. Over 95 men qualified as pilots and some were sent to Bomber School at Le Crotoy, Reconnaissance School at Chapelle-la-Reine, Gunnery School at Biscarosse, and to Fighter Conversion Courses at Piox. According to some sources, Thai pilots made their first sorties in the final weeks of the war, although others claim the Thais finished their training too late to take part.

nieuport2462.jpg


nieuport1101.jpg


The initial wave of Thai fighter and bomber pilots certainly served in French units, but may not have flown operationally. It is likely, in view of the purchase and domestic construction of Nieuport 11/16s, Spad VII/XIIIs and Breguet 14s from 1919 that these were the types flown. Again it's not known whether these had French or Thai markings.

spad1.jpg


breguet3.jpg

Formal Thai squadrons with these markings had been formed before the Armistice, but were not operational.
 
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