Udon's History In Photographs

[Martin]

I am conscious that a lot of records of recent history get lost, but the internet allows us to share them.

There may be members of this forum who have, or know of, institutional or private holdings of photographs of Udon in earlier days, particularly when the US Air Force were here.

Please post any 'gleanings' on this topic here on this thread.

I ask because I nearly 'dumped' a lot of photos that I took during my own 'service in the Cold war' in the Canadian Arctic. But they survived and, when the internet came along, I had them put on a CD and mentioned it on a website for us DEWLine veterans.

That CD has now been copied and re-copied as I was contacted by an eskimo lady to ask if I had any photos of her relatives.

It turned out that I had---including one on which she herself appears as a baby being held by her mother. When they got the CD, some people found the only photos that they have ever seen of their grandparents.

I wonder if the local University collects local history, but I don't know anybody there to ask. Are there any farang teachers there?

Because I live halfway between Udon and Khon Kaen, I don't know much about Udon, but it must have changed a lot within living memory.

My wife has told me how, as a young girl, she pestered her father to let her walk with him when he was going the 7 km from their village to a bigger village on the KK to Udon Highway.

She then sat by the highway for an hour till a car came along.

It was a 'tortoise car'. (That is, a VW beetle).

When she got back to the village, she had to tell all the other kids about her 'adventure'. She was the only kid in the village who had seen a car!

As far as I can make out, that as probably around 1962. But soon after that there must have been young airforcemen snapping away here, like I did in '59/'60 in the Arctic.

Have their photos survived?

[Martin]

During the week, I happpened to take a look at the book about the secret war in Laos, "The Ravens".

It has some photos that may have been "servicemens' snaps".

It would be a pity if there are these sort of photos of life around Udon in existence, but never get seen again.

[Limbo]

Thanks Martin for your interesting posting! Wouldn't it be great if you would get a response, that would enable you to make a little (preferable a big) exhibition?

I think it would be appreciated by many.

Much documentary material might get lost the coming decade. I hope that your initiative will contribute to saving some of it.

My respect!

Limbo

PS: Some pictures taken in 1946 by a young British soldier (Tony is 82 now and lives in Chiang Rai) in Mae Sai.

He helped to install a Bailey bridge to replace the bombed old one (by the Flying Tigers?)

You mean something like this but then from your own area?

[dclaryjr]

During the week, I happpened to take a look at the book about the secret war in Laos, "The Ravens".

It has some photos that may have been "servicemens' snaps".

It would be a pity if there are these sort of photos of life around Udon in existence, but never get seen again.

Try googling "Udorn RTAFB" and you'll get links to several personal web pages with pictures of Udon (nee Udorn). I was stationed a few k's down the road and was there as the base was shutting down.