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Chief Of Defence Forces (Thailand)
The Chief of Defence Forces, previously known as the Supreme Commander, (, RTGS: Phu Bancha Kan Thahan Sung Sut) is the overall field commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. He is also in charge of managing the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. Not to be confused with the ceremonial Highest Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces who is the constitutional monarch of Thailand. Prior to 1960 the post was an ad hoc creation by Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, during World War II. However, under Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat the position became permanent, and in its early life was even combined with the post of Prime Minister of Thailand. In February 2008 the English name of the post was changed from ''Supreme Commander'' to ''Chief of Defence Forces'' with the reorganization of the Supreme Command Headquarters into the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters (though the Thai term remained the same). The enactment of 1997 Constitution of Thailand on 11 October 1997 prohibit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Royal Thai Air Force
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) (; ) is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. Since its establishment in 1913 as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, the Royal Thai Air Force has engaged in numerous major and minor conflicts. During the Vietnam War era, the RTAF was supplied with United States Air Force, USAF-aid equipment. History Belgian pilot Charles Van Den Born performed a flying demonstration over Bangkok in January 1911, greatly impressing Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, brother of King Vajiravudh, and he even accepted an invitation for a flight. Chakrabongse sent three army officers to France, who began flight training at Vélizy-Villacoublay in July 1912. The officers became qualified aviators a year later. Soon after, Sra Pathum Airfield, Sra Pathum airfield was established along with a temporary hangar to house planes and also host flight training. In late 1913, the three new aviators returned home after arranging for the purchase of four Nieuport IV, Nieuport ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Suchinda Kraprayoon
Suchinda Kraprayoon (, ; 6 August 193310 June 2025) was a Thai army general and politician who was Prime Minister of Thailand for several weeks in 1992. As the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army (1990–1992), Suchinda led the 1991 Thai coup d'état in February and was a member of the junta called "National Peace Keeping Council". A year after the coup on 7 April 1992, he was appointed prime minister. This sparked mass protests that were violently suppressed during Black May which finally led to his resignation on 24 May 1992. Early life and education Suchinda, son of Juang and Sompong Kraprayoon, was born on 6 August 1933, in Thonburi, Siam, and was of mixed Chinese and Mon descent. Suchinda first attended Wat Rajabopit School and later Amnuayslip School. He studied medicine at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok for 12 months before entering the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. He graduated from Class 5 of the Academy, of which many students would join the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sunthorn Kongsompong
Sunthorn Kongsompong (, , ; 1 August 1931 – 2 August 1999) was the ''de facto'' head of government of Thailand from 1991 to 1992, after a military coup d'etat led by Sunthorn and General Suchinda Kraprayoon deposed the government of Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan on 23 February 1991. The generals accused Chatichai of corruption, and established the National Peacekeeping Council (NPKC) as an interim administration, with Sunthorn as chairman. Anand Panyarachun was appointed prime minister in March 1991, but the administration of the country was also executed by the NPKC. Sunthorn left the political office following the May 1992 constitution promulgation, which prohibited members of the military from executing the premier's office. His son was Apirat Kongsompong, who from 2018 to 2020 was Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army. Honours Royal Decorations * 1987 - Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant * 1988 - Knight Grand Cordon o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh (, , ; born 15 May 1932), also known as "Big Jiew" (, , ), is a Thai politician and retired army officer, he served as the prime minister of Thailand from 1996 to 1997. From 1986 to 1990, he was the Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army (RTA), and Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces from 1987 to 1990. In 1990, he founded the New Aspiration Party which he led until 2002. At various times he has held the positions of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Labour and Leader of the Opposition. Education and military career Chavalit is of Sino-Thai and Lao descent. His father was an infantry captain. Chavalit attended Triam Udom Suksa School and graduated from Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School Class 1, same class as Surayud Chulanont, and Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, being appointed second lieutenant in 1953. He served in the RTA Signal Corps and completed advanced training cou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arthit Kamlang-ek
Arthit Kamlang-ek (31 August 1925 – 19 January 2015; , ) was a Thai general. He was the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army from 1982 to 1986 and in parallel the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces from 1983 to 1986. He was particularly influential during the 1980s during the government of Prem Tinsulanonda. Education and early career Arthit graduated from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. He later attended the Royal Thai Army's Staff College. Family General Arthit has two sons, one daughter and one stepson. His youngest son, Titiwat Kamlang-ek, has two children: Peerawut Kamlang-ek and Athittaya Kamlang-ek. 1981 Young Turk coup General Arthit was a leader of the counter-coup against the Young Turk coup of 1981. Afterwards, he was promoted to Commander of the First Army Region, traditionally regarded as the most strategic post for coups and counter-coups. Clash with Prem General Arthit's subsequent rapid rise to the post of Commander-in-Chief of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kriangsak Chamanan
Kriangsak Chamanan (, ; 17 December 191723 December 2003) served as list of Prime Ministers of Thailand, prime minister of Thailand from 1977 to 1980. After staging a successful coup, he was asked to become Prime Minister in 1977. He ruled until 1980 and is credited with "steering Thailand to democracy" in a time where Communist insurgency in Thailand, communist insurgents were rampant internally and neighbouring countries turned to communist rule following the Vietnam War, communist takeover of Vietnam: South Vietnam (by the Viet Cong), Laos (by the Pathet Lao), and Cambodia (by the Khmer Rouge). Regarded as one of the most notable statesmen in modern Thailand, his landmark developmental policies include the founding of Eastern seaboard of Thailand, Eastern Seaboard through the founding of PTT Public Company Limited, PTT, facilitating the building of a deep-sea port in Laem Chabang and negotiating for bilateral trade agreements between Thailand and Japan through Takeo Fukuda to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sangad Chaloryu
Admiral Sangad Chaloryu (; ; 4 March 1916 – 23 November 1980) was a Thai admiral and politician who served as head of the National Administrative Reform Council (NARC), a military junta that ruled Thailand from 1976 to 1980. Education Sangad studied at the Vichaibamrungraj School in Chai Nat Province and then moved to Uthai Witthayakhom School in Uthai Thani Province. He later moved to Bangkok to study in Bansomdejchaopraya School in the navy district Thon Buri District. After graduating from high school, he studied at the Royal Thai Naval Academy, and continued his studies at the National Defence College of Thailand and Naval War College. Careers Sangad was considered to be a right-wing hawk and close to the CIA. In the 1930s as a young Naval Midshipman, he had trained in Nazi Germany in radar operations. As commander of a naval flotilla in 1954, he helped French Marines and elite forces escape from Vietnam after Hanoi was overrun by the Vietminh. He also held the important ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kris Sivara
Kris Sivara ( Thai: กฤษณ์ สีวะรา, , alternatively transcribed as ''Srivara'') (27 March 1914 – 28 April 1976) was a military officer of the Royal Thai Army, a member of the Thai Cabinet, and deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army during the violent crackdown on democracy protesters on 14 October 1973. He was later promoted to Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army from 1973 to 1975. Career During the Burma Campaign in World War II, Kris served as a company commander in a Phayap Army battalion under the command of Major Sarit Thanarat. Kris was appointed Deputy Minister of Education by Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn in his 1969 government. On 23 November 1970, he was switched to Deputy Minister of Defence (Thanom was both premier and minister of defence). The government fell on 17 November 1971 after Thanom led a coup that overthrew his own government and abrogated the 1968 constitution. Thanom appointed Kris Minister of Industry in his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dawee Chullasapya
Dawee Chullasapya or Chullasap (, , , 8 August 1914 – 18 May 1996) was a Royal Thai Air Force officer, and a member of the Seri Thai. Air chief marshal Dawee was widely considered a pillar of Thailand's sporting world. After a successful career in the military which saw him rise to Supreme Command chief of staff in 1961, he turned to politics and was appointed deputy defense minister in 1963. He later served as minister of transport and communications and of agriculture. Head of Thailand's National Olympic Committee for 22 years until his death, he was a member of the International Olympic Committee and a force behind the Southeast Asian Games. Dawee himself won a silver medal in sailing at the 1970 Asian Games. After the October 1973 Thai popular uprising he served as defence minister and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Headquarters until 1974. In 1976 and 1979/80 he was again deputy prime minister of Thailand. Education He became a cadet at the Army Academy upon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thanom Kittikachorn
Thanom Kittikachorn (, , ; 11 August 1911 – 16 June 2004) was Prime Minister of Thailand from 1963 to 1973, military officer, who supported and initiated military coups and became Thailand's defence minister. He rose to power when he staged a self-coup, until 1973 Thai popular uprising, public protests which exploded into violence forced him to step down. His return from exile in 1976 sparked protests which led to a Thammasat University massacre, massacre of demonstrators, followed by a October 1977 Thai coup d'état, military coup. Early life Thanom Kittikachorn was born in Tak Province to Khun (noble title), Khun Amphan Kittikachorn and his wife, Linchee Kittikachorn. His family was of Thai Chinese descent. He attended Wat Koak Plu Municipal School, then was admitted to the Army Cadet Academy. After receiving his commission, he reported for duty with Infantry Regiment VII in Chiang Mai. Thanom later studied at the Cartography School and the Infantry School, and graduated fr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pacific War
The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War or the Pacific Theatre, was the Theater (warfare), theatre of World War II fought between the Empire of Japan and the Allies of World War II, Allies in East Asia, East and Southeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Pacific and Indian Oceans, and Oceania. It was geographically the largest theatre of the war, including the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II, Pacific Ocean theatre, the South West Pacific theater of World War II, South West Pacific theatre, the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the brief Soviet–Japanese War, and included some of the Largest naval battle in history, largest naval battles in history. War between Japan and the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic of China had begun in 1937, with hostilities dating back to Japanese invasion of Manchuria, Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931, but the Pacific War is more widely accepted to have started in 1941, when the United States and United Kingdom entered the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
