Battle of Prachuap Khiri Khan

Battle of Prachuap Khiri Khan
Part of the Japanese invasion of Thailand

Ao Manao Beach, the scene of the fighting
Date8-9 December 1941
Location
Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand
11°47′12″N 99°48′42″E / 11.786574°N 99.811695°E / 11.786574; 99.811695
Result Ceasefire
Belligerents
 Kingdom of Thailand  Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
Prawat Chumsai Maj. Kisoyoshi Utsunomiya
Units involved

Royal Thai Armed Forces

55th Division

Casualties and losses
42 killed
27 wounded
3 aircraft destroyed		 115 killed (Japanese claim)
217 killed
300+ wounded
(Thai estimates)

The Battle of Prachuap Khri Khan (Thai: ยุทธการที่ประจวบคีรีขันธ์) was an early engagement of the Japanese invasion of Thailand in the Southeast Asian theatre of World War II. It was fought on 8–9 December 1941 at the airfield of Prachuap Khiri Khan, on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand along the Kra Isthmus.[1] The Japanese meant to use Thailand as a base to strike at British possessions in Burma and Malaya and attacked Thailand without warning.

The last Thai veteran to have fought in this battle, Choi Lodthanong, died on 2 June 2021 at the age of 100.[2][3]

  1. ^ Charuvastra, Teeranai (8 September 2018). "33 Hours of Defiance: The Thai Airmen Who Resisted an Empire". Khaosod English. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  2. ^ "ข่าวประจำวัน กองทัพอากาศ". Facebook (in Thai). 3 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  3. ^ Charuvastra, Teeranai (8 September 2018). "33 Hours of Defiance: The Thai Airmen Who Resisted an Empire". Khaosod English. Retrieved 13 December 2021.