Chapter Headings:
INTRODUCTION
THE FIGHTERS
GLIDERS, TRAINERS AND OBSERVATION AIRCRAFT
THE BOMBERS
ROYAL THAI NAVY

ROYAL THAI NAVY

As previously related, 27 Japanese aircraft were supplied to the Royal Thai Navy. During 1937, several Naval officers had received flight training at Don Muang. The Royal Thai navy were looking for a light twin float observation aircraft, which could also be used for training duties. The choice fell on the Watanabe WS-103S, which was dimensionally slightly larger than the Watanabe E9W1. In May 1938, six Watanabe WS.103S floatplanes, similar to the later E9W1 variant, were delivered, receiving the designation BRN.1. BRN was an abbreviation for Bor Ror Nor, meaning Royal Navy Plane in Thai. Four of the WS.103S's were based at Sattahip, equipping the 1st Naval Squadron, while the remaining two were on Royal Thai Navy's corvettes, which, incidentally, were also built in Japan. Presumably, the Watanabes were used operationally during the Franco-Thai War. Five of the small Watanabes were still in RTN service in 1945. In RTN service, the WS-103S's were overall natural metal, with the blue, white and red Thai roundel on the wings and fuselage and the Thai flag on the fin.

Type	Q'ty	Designation	In Service	Remarks
Aichi E13A-1	6	BRN.3	1942-1945+
Nakajima E8N1	18	BRN.2	1940-1945+
WatanabeWS.103S	6	BRN.1	1938-1945+

The main operational type of the RTN was the Nakajima E8N1, 18 of which were ordered in 1938, and delivered by sea two years later, in 1940. The E8N1 was a two seat reconnaissance biplane, which also saw widespread use with the Imperial Japanese Navy, being known to the Allies under the codename "Dave". No E8N1s were used operationally during the Franco-Thai War. Few details of their operational service are known. No information on incidents or losses have come to light, apart from the losses sustained during the Fleet Air Arm, FAA, raid on Chalong Bay, Phuket, on July 24/25, 1945. A Royal Navy task force (consisting of one aircraft carrier, HMS Ameer, one cruiser and nine destroyers) had been despatched to attack Japanese targets along the Andaman Sea. During the raid on Chalong Bay, one E8N1 was destroyed and two more damaged by FAA F6F Hellcats. Fifteen E8N1s were said to remain in active service at the end of World War II. The E8N1s were finished in the same colour scheme as the WS-103S's, although some aircraft were painted overall light grey.

The most modern aircraft supplied to the Royal Thai Navy were six Aichi E13A-1s, three in 1942 and three more in June 1944. When the first Aichi's were delivered, the 1st naval Squadron was upgraded to a Naval Wing. The naval Wing had two bases, at Sattahip and at Chalong Bay. The Aichi E13A-1 was a three seat, twin float reconnaissance aircraft. The Aichi E13A-1 was known to the Allies as "Jake". Their endurance made them very suitable for long patrols over the Thai coastal waters and the Gulf of Thailand, in support of Imperial Japanese Navy operations. Included among the various kinds of missions flown by the Aichi E13A-1s were naval escort, patrol and SAR. The USAAF used B-24 Liberators for bombing missions and mine laying operations along the Thai coast. Apparently, the last three E13A-1s were a gift by the Imperial Japanese Navy, IJN, as a thank you for good support during its operations. According to an unofficial source, the IJN provided the three additional E13A-1s after RTN warships and coastal units had downed at least one USAAF B-24 Liberator. Again, little is known about the Royal Thai Navy use of its Aichis. One of them was destroyed at Chalong Bay on July 24/25, 1945. Five were still in service at the end of the war. In RTN service, the Aichi E13A-1's were painted in the standard IJN colours, dark green upper sides and light grey undersides, with black cowling and a yellow identification stripe. A white, or possibly yellow, roundel with a black (or dark blue) anchor were painted on the upper and lower surfaces of the wings and on the fuselage. A Thai national flag was also painted on the fin. Shortly after the end of the War, all the remaining Japanese aircraft in RTN service were decommissioned and withdrawn from use. This was due to an informal agreement with the Allies. The Royal Thai Navy continued to operate some light aircraft, but new combat aircraft in the shape of Fairey Firefly Mk I's weren't delivered until the late 'forties.

It has been reported that 39 Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufe" floatplane fighters were supplied to the RTN with 12 being delivered in 1941 and 27 more following in 1942. These reports are without foundation. Two other types reported as having served with the Royal Thai Navy during World War II, Mitsubishi F1M2 "Pete" observation floatplanes and Tachikawa Ki-9 "Spruce" trainers, did not serve in any branch of the Royal Thai armed forces.

The Japanese aircraft in Royal Thai Air Force and Royal Thai Navy service were the most modern aircraft operated during World War II. Although combat and operational losses took their toll during World War II, the Japanese aircraft in Thai service were used until lack of spares, as well as wear and tear, forced their withdrawal from service. The last Japanese designed aircraft in Thai service were the Mitsubishi Ki-30s, Nakajima Ki-43s and, presumably, the Tachikawa Ki-55s, all of these types being withdrawn between 1949 and 1950. According to one credible source, the last remaining Japanese aircraft (three Ki-27bs and one Ki-43, all based at Don Muang), were withdrawn from use and scrapped because the US advisors were "displeased" that Japanese aircraft were still in service with the Royal Thai Air Force. The RTAF High Command then ordered the grounding and scrapping of the last Japanese aircraft. By that time, the Royal Thai Air Force had been largely re-equipped with American and British aircraft such as Grumman F8F Bearcats, N.A. T-6 Texans and Supermarine Spitfire XIV's. The air arm of the Royal Thai Navy was incorporated into the RTAF in 1951, after a failed coup d'etat.

Jan Forsgren

The author wishes to extend his gratitude towards Steve Darke, who maintains the excellent web site www.thai-aviation.net and Vidya Tapasanan, for proofreading, and allowing the author to use information in his articles previously published in the Asahi Journal. Vidya Tapasanan has also supplied the photographs in this article. Finally, Edward M. Young, whose book "Aerial Nationalism" remains the best title on Thai aviation, and the inspiration for this article.

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