Udorn RTAFB was the Asian headquarters for Air America (17°23′11″N 102°47′17″E / 17.3863°N 102.788°E / 17.3863; 102.788), a US passenger and cargo airline covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) which provided essential resources for the war in Laos and elsewhere.

Its predecessor, Civil Air Transport (CAT), started operations from Udorn on 11 September 1955 with the arrival of three C-46s delivering food and emergency aid into Indochina.

By the end of September, CAT had flown more than 200 missions to 25 reception areas, delivering 1,000 tons of emergency food.

Conducted smoothly and efficiently, this airdrop relief operation marked the beginning of CAT's and, later, Air America's support of US assistance programs in Laos.

Air America's roles supportive of covert and overt situations related to hostilities in Southeast Asia and elsewhere worldwide provided buffers and solutions to problems the United States faced in various locations.

[2] Following the defeat of Royal Lao Army in the Battle of Luang Namtha in early May 1962 by People's Army of Vietnam and Pathet Lao forces, it appeared that a communist invasion of northern Thailand was imminent and on 15 May the Kennedy Administration ordered US combat forces into Thailand to deter any attack.

On 18 May VMA-332 equipped with 20 A-4 Skyhawks deployed to Udorn from Naval Air Station Cubi Point in the Philippines and HMM-261 helicopters flew into the base.

[2]: 93 On 29 June 1962 with the situation in Laos stabilizing and international negotiations underway, the Kennedy Administration ordered all US combat forces to begin withdrawing from Thailand.

Shortly before the group was activated, a gradual input of permanent party personnel was made to replace those on TDY.

From 13 to 15 May 1975, the wing played a major role in locating the SS Mayaguez and in the military operations associated with the recovery of that US commercial vessel and its crew from the Cambodians.

In addition to reconnaissance the 432d also had a tactical fighter squadron component as follows: By 1967 or earlier, USAF weather modification flights were originating from a special operations group at Udorn.

During Operation Linebacker, between May and October 1972, the 432nd TRW had seven F-4 squadrons assigned or attached, making it the largest wing in the USAF.

[24] In December 2014 the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) published an executive summary of a secret 6,000-page report on CIA techniques.

Earlier reports alleged that a Voice of America relay station in the Ban Dung District of Udon Thani Province was the CIA black site.