In April 1969 a detachment of three EC-47's from the 460th TRW resources had been stationed at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand (Commando Forge), and in April 1970 this force was increased to five aircraft. These relocations provided more effective ARDF coverage of Southeast Asia than previously, with maximum possible times on target.

COMMANDO FORGE

By mid-1968 it had become increasingly evident that an ARDF/SIGNIT (Signal Intelligence) capability would be required outside of Thailand to service CAS and Task Force Alpha (TFA) with EC-47 support. Such a deployment would obviously have widespread doctrinal, operational, and diplomatic impact. It was with this in mind, and with specific warnings concerning operational control, that the CSAF in September 1968, sent a message exploring the subject. Although addressed to CINCPACAF for action, it included as information addressees the Operations, Plans, and Intelligence Offices of Seventh Air Force. Acting on the planning assumption that as three Sentinel Eagle (R-2000-powered) aircraft entered the SVN inventory, a like number of Combat Cross EC-47's would be simultaneoulsy transferred to Thailand, the CSAF requested PACAF and/or AFSS views on the operational and intelligencs basis of: