United States Taiwan Defense Command

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

United States Taiwan Defense Command
美軍協防台灣司令部
United States Pacific Command
Garrison/HQHSA Compound, Yuanshan, Taipei
Commanders
First commander VADM Alfred M. Pride
Last commander RADM James B. Linder
First chief of staff RADM Frank W. Fenno
Last chief of staff Brig Gen Dan A. Brooksher

The United States Taiwan Defense Command (USTDC; Chinese: 美軍協防台灣司令部) was a sub-unified command of the United States Armed Forces operating in Taiwan from December 1954 to April 1979.

Number of U.S. Troops Stationed in Taiwan (1950–1979)

History

The United States Taiwan Defense Command was originally formed as the Formosa Liaison Center (founded in 1955 after the signature of the

U.S. Seventh Fleet
.

When the

People's Republic of China
in 1979.

In 1954, the United States Seventh Fleet also dispatched a detachment to the Zuoying Military Port in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

U.S. Army 327th Communications Reconnaissance Company stationed at Shu LinKou Air Station, Taipei, Taiwan, March 1955
Okinawa
, deployed at Chia-Yi AFB, Taiwan, 1955

The USAF

F-86 Sabre
fighters.

The

F-86 Sabre was deployed to Taoyuan Air Base
, Taiwan from 27 January to 17 February 1955 and again from 3–30 September 1955.

USTDC was a combined arms theater headquarters for the defense of

had reinforcement air defence functions for Taiwan for a period.

The

868th Tactical Missile Squadron
, and it continued to station at Tainan Air Force Base until June 1962. On 25 February 1958, the U.S. Air Force built a
Tainan Air Base
, and began to deploy Nuclear bomb in Taiwan in 1960. The last batch was withdrawn on 31 July 1974.

, Taiwan, 19 September 1958
The Douglas F4D Skyray jet fighter stationed at Pingtung Air Base, Taiwan by the Marine Aircraft Group 11 of the U.S. Marine Corps, 19 September 1958
Tainan Air Base
, 1959
The Martin TM-61C Matador Missile in the Tainan Air Base, 1959

In August 1958, in response to the situation of the

U.S. Marine Corps Marine Aircraft Group 11 urgently stationed at Pingtung Air Base to strengthen the air defense of southern Taiwan, and was equipped with Douglas F4D Skyray and North American FJ-2/-3 Fury
. The commander was Colonel Marshall, and they were not evacuated until the situation eased in January 1959.

In August 1958,

MIM-14 Nike Hercules
.

US Secretary of Defense Neil H. McElroy in Taoyuan Air Base, Taiwan, inspected the US Air Force's F-104 StarFighter in Taiwan, 12 October 1958

On 10 September 1958, as part of the U.S. response to the

Hamilton Air Force Base, California
.

In September 1958, the number of US troops stationed in Taiwan increased from 5,500 in 1955 to 20,000.

The

, until August 1973.

In April 1965, the

435th Tactical Fighter Squadron
).

U.S. Air Force Lockheed F-104C Starfighters from the 434th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 479th Tactical Fighter Wing, at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan, in April 1965.

On 7 April 1965, the

Tainan Air Base
.

On 13 May 1966 – 21 July 1966, the

Tainan Air Base. Equipped with F-4B Phantom II, they were supported logistically by the 6214th Combat Support Group in support of the 327th Air Division
.

Shu Lin Kou Air Station in 1967

In May 1967,

U.S. Air Force became chief of staff of the command. From July 1968 – September 1970 the chief of staff was Brigadier General John A. Des Portes, U.S.A.F. In September 1970, Clarence J. Douglas
, also of the Air Force, assumed duties as chief of staff.

. Two
Yokota AB in Tokyo, Japan deployed to CCK AB, between 29 November and 8 December 1968. These aircraft provided ROC Air Defense pilots an opportunity to detect and intercept enemy aircraft that used electronic countermeasure
(ECM) equipment.

The increase in the

Okinawa
.

During the peak period of the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969, the number of US troops stationed in Taiwan gradually rose to 30,000.

The 314th TAW returned to

Okinawa
to Taiwan, Until 14 November 1973.

Lockheed C-130E-LM Hercules 63-7825 345th TAS/374th TAW at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base Taichung, Taiwan

The

McDonnell F-4C Phantom II
aircraft to Taiwan from November 1972 until May 1975.

On 6 November 1972, the

67th Tactical Fighter Squadron to the Ching Chuan Kang Air Base
until 31 May 1975, to assist Taiwan's air defense, defend against aerial threats from China.

for Combat air patrol, 20 November 1972

With the withdrawal of the

Republic of China from the United Nations in 1971 and the change in the U.S. policy toward China, the U.S. military gradually reduced the number of troops stationed in Taiwan. Subsequently, Washington and Beijing clearly stated in the 1972 Shanghai Communiqué that the U.S. would gradually withdraw all troops and military installations from Taiwan. In April 1973, after all the US troops withdrew from South Vietnam
, the number of US troops stationed in Taiwan decreased to 12,000.

In 1972 the US president ordered the withdrawal of all

nuclear weapons from Taiwan.[2]

McDonnell F-4C-23-MC Phantoms of the 44th TFS/18th TFW deployed at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base Taichung, Taiwan, 2 October 1973. Serial 64–0750 in foreground.

On 31 August 1973, the F-4D fighter detachment belonging to the 523th Tactical Fighter Squadron withdrew to Clark Air Base, and was replaced by a

90th Tactical Fighter Squadron
until 31 July 1974.

After the US military withdrew from Vietnam, as airlift operations at CCK began to wind down, on 13 November 1973 the

Philippine.[3]

10 June 1974, Brigadier General David O. Williams Jr., Chief of Staff of the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command, formulated a drawdown plan for the U.S. troops stationed in Taiwan until 2 May 1976.[4]

In September 1974, there were only 5,800 US troops stationed in Taiwan. On 26 March 1975, the US military advisory team stationed in Matsu, Kinmen, was withdrew, and the withdrawal of the 7th Fleet Detachment from the Zuoying Military Port in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

In Tainan Air Base is marked with the US Air Force's Insignia of the 6214th Air Base Group, 30 October 1974
Headquarters of the 6214th Air Base Group in Tainan Air Base, 30 October 1974

Tainan Air Base had been phased down to caretaker status
by the end of 1974.

On 10 April 1975, the

Okinawa
.

In May 1975, the

Okinawa, between 27 and 31 May. By June, CCK AB had also been placed in caretaker status
.

Taipei Air Station, headquarters of 327th Air Division, in 1975

As of 31 July 1975, the number of U.S. troops stationed in Taiwan was 3,098. They were 1,684 in the

U.S. Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency, and 55 in the Military Assistance Advisory Group
, and 28 in the Military Attache Office of the U.S. Embassy in Republic of China (Taiwan).

On 7 January 1976, with the dissolution of 327th Air Division, and Taipei Air Station was shut down,[5] the number of US troops stationed in Taiwan was reduced to 1,400. As of the end of 1977 (31 December), the size was 1,200, including 949 military personnel. And the rest of the civilian staff.

In January 1976, Chiayi Air Base was to be shut down and the 6215th Support Squadron was disbanded.

Colonel James E. Kater (left), Shulinkou Air Station, Taiwan, 6987th Security Group Commander (1974/75-1 April 1977), and Lt. Colonel Jerome M. Wucher, Vice Group Commander (Operations Commander), in 1976

On 26 May 1976, the newly appointed commander of the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan was demoted from major general to brigadier general, and on 26 September 1977, was demoted to colonel.

In August 1977, the newly appointed commander of the United States Taiwan Defense Command was demoted from Vice admiral to Rear admiral.

As of 30 September 1978 (the end of the fiscal year), the number of US troops stationed in Taiwan was 753. According to the number of services, they were 357 in the Air Force, 209 in the Navy, 176 in the Army, and 11 in the Marine Corps.

On 1 January 1979, the United States and the

People's Republic of China
established diplomatic relations.

On 1 March 1979, the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan was dissolved, the last commander, Colonel Hadley N. Thompson, depart Taiwan on 26 April 1979.

United States Pacific Command

The Command held its final flag retreat ceremony during the afternoon of 26 April 1979. Rear Admiral James B. Linder was the last USTDC commander to depart Taiwan on 28 April 1979, and the last U.S. soldier left Taiwan on 3 May 1979.

On April 28, 1979, Rear Admiral and Mrs. Linder departed Taipei following the closure of the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command, the officer to the left of RADM Linder is LCDR Julian M. Wright, Jr, the admiral's aide at USTDC

The former site of the USTDC headquarters became the Taipei Fine Arts Museum in 1983.

Number of U.S. soldiers stationed in Taiwan by year

Year Number
1950 11
1951 411
1952 411
1953 811
1954 4,174
1955 7,093
1956 5,379
1957 6,261
1958 19,044
1959 4,402
1960 4,147
1961 4,349
1962 4,121
1963 3,923
1964 3,802
1965 4,175
1966 7,689
1967 9,038
1968 8,874
1969 9,243
1970 8,813
1971 8,565
1972 8,289
1973 8,267
1974 4,619
1975 2,584
1976 2,090
1977 995
1978 753
1979 0
2021 >24[6][7]
2022 >30[8]

[9][10]

Forces earmarked for the TDC

The USTDC commanded a total of about 9,000 troops, including 4,000 infantry troops drawn from Army and Marine battalions, including an airborne battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division, 4 attack submarines, 5 navy frigates, 7 navy missile boats, a naval air wing comprising a Marine bomber squadron of 18 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk ground attack aircraft, 21 transport and SAR helicopters, 12 Kaman SH-2 Seasprite ASW helicopters and nine Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft; a joint Army-Marine artillery group comprising a brigade fielding 203 mm and 155 mm self propelled and towed guns plus one battalion of MGR-1 Honest John rockets and MGM-29 Sergeant surface-to-surface missiles, and two Marine tank battalions fielding the M48 Patton tank.

The USAF component included 4 squadrons (72 aircraft) of

KC-130 aerial refueling tankers, an EW and recon wing of a lone Lockheed RC-130 Hercules and a lone Boeing RC-135 aircraft. and a squadron of three Lockheed C-141 Starlifter heavy strategic airlifters and six Lockheed C-130 Hercules
tactical airlifters.

List of commanders

Name Rank Portrait Tenure
Alfred M. Pride Vice Admiral April 1955 – November 1955
Stuart H. Ingersoll Vice Admiral November 1955 – July 1957
Austin K. Doyle Vice Admiral July 1957 – September 1958
Roland N. Smoot Vice Admiral September 1958 – May 1962
Charles L. Melson Vice Admiral May 1962 – July 1964
William E. Gentner Jr. Vice Admiral July 1964 – July 1967
John L. Chew Vice Admiral July 1967 – August 1970
Walter H. Baumberger Vice Admiral August 1970 – September 1972
Philip A. Beshany Vice Admiral September 1972 – August 1974
Edwin K. Snyder Vice Admiral August 1974 – July 1977
James B. Linder Rear Admiral July 1977 – April 1979

List of Chiefs of Staff

Name Rank Portrait Tenure
Frank W. Fenno Rear Admiral 1955 – 1956
Charles Cochran Kirkpatrick Rear Admiral 1956 – 1957
Harold Huntley Bassett Major general 1957 – August 1958
Neil D. Van Sickle Major general October 1958 – 1959
William G. Lee Jr. Brigadier general 1959 – August 1960
Robert Francis Worden Brigadier general August 1960 – August 1962
Frederick J. Suterlin Brigadier general 23 August 1962 – August 1964
Kenneth O.Sanborn Major general 1964 – 1967
Carlos Talbott Major general May 1967 – September 1968
John A. Des Portes Brigadier general September 1968 – September 1970
Clarence J. Douglas Jr. Brigadier general September 1970 – August 1972
William C. Burrows Major general August 1972 – June 1974
David O. Williams Jr. Brigadier general June 1974 – April 1976
Dan A. Brooksher Brigadier general April 1976 – July 1978 The last chief of staff, no more candidates for chief of staff after leaving Taiwan

See also

References

  1. ^ "MISSION IS TO CONDUCT AIR DEFENSE OF TAIWAN AND PENGHU ISLANDS". US Air Force History Index.
  2. ^ "National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 20". nsarchive2.gwu.edu. George Washington University. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  3. ^ "CHANGEOVER OF CONTROL AND RESPONSIBILITY FROM CURRENT OPERATIONS AT CHING CHUAN KANG AB, TAIWAN TO CLARK AB, PHILIPPINES ACCOMPLISHED". US Air Force History Index live. 16 November 1973. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  4. ^ "US TAIWAN DEFENSE COMMAND, TAIPEI, TAIWAN. TAIWAN DRAWDOWN ACTIONS 74/06/10 - 76/05/02 AND IMPACT OF US FOREIGN POLICY VIS-A-VIS THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (ROC)". US Air Force History Index.
  5. ^ "TAIPEI, TAIWAN, REPUBLIC OF CHINA. TERMINAL HISTORY 6213ABS. TAIPEI AIR STATION BASE CLOSURE". US Air Force History Index live.
  6. ^ "U.S. Troops Have Been Deployed in Taiwan for at Least a Year - WSJ". Archived from the original on 30 November 2021.
  7. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  8. ^ Lubold, Nancy A. Youssef and Gordon. "WSJ News Exclusive | U.S. to Expand Troop Presence in Taiwan for Training Against China Threat". WSJ. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  9. ^ Kane, Tim (24 May 2006). "Global U.S. Troop Deployment, 1950-2005". The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  10. ^ "U.S. Troop Deployment Dataset".