Rice fields (paddies)

Cambodia, like other Southeast Asian countries is predominantly agricultural. This is a typical scene with rice fields laid out in an orderly pattern. During the dry season, the fields are burned to make way for the wet (monsoon) season and a new crop. This burning results in a nearly constant brown cast to the sky from February to May, and extremely poor inflight visibility below 10,000 feet.

This view is of the city of Phnom Penh from the traffic pattern at Ponchentong Airfield. Click image for a wider view.

This view of the airfield is from the south at the start of a left turn to downwind, to land on runway 23. The capital city of Phnom Penh is beyond this view of the airfield. At the far end of the runway, on the east side is the military ramp. To the left, about 3/4 of the way down the runway, is the commercial ramp. (click for a larger view)

This view of the airfield is from the east southeast at the start of a left base turn to land on runway 23. The capital city of Phnom Penh is at right 5 oclock. Maneuvering to land was generally to the south and west to avoid overflight of the city. Straight in approaches to rwy 23 were not advised because enemy (Khmer Rouge) forces nearly surrounded Phnom Penh in early 1973 and AAA and small arms were a constant threat. Also mortar and rocket attacks against the airfield were common. In the foreground is the military ramp and opposite is the commercial ramp. Click image for a very detailed view. (277kb)

The military ramp had numerous examples of combat aircraft in varying states of combat readiness. A collection of damaged A-1s, a U-1A Otter and a MiG-15 can be seen at center and right-center. Click image for a magnified view.

This view is of the military ramp area just after clearing the runway on the second east side taxiway from the north end. Most taxiways were packed earth but the ramp areas were paved. All combat ready aircraft were in revetments, but the ramp area had many examples of damaged aircraft being canabalized for parts. (click for a larger view)

This view is of the main military ramp area looking south. The squadron building was immediately to the left. (click for a larger view)

Combat Ready

The AT-28Ds were the mainstay of the Khmer Air Force combat fleet and were flown until the end of the war. Missions from this airfield were often flown against targets only 3 or 4 miles away. It was sometimes necessary to spiral up to altitude in the immediate vicinity of the airfield to minimize the risk from small arms and AAA. On the opposite side of the revetment can be seen the vertical stabilizers of some 28s still painted in the orange and white colors they had when used by the U.S. military. These were used mostly for initial checkout and were not combat configured.