Thai Air Force's strange Charm Offensive

From Air Forces Monthly, March 2006:

In a rather novel move, Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Chief Marshal Chalit announced that the RTAF is to remove the rather aggressive shark's mouth artwork from two of its Fairchild AU-23A Peacemakers. The aircraft, based in Hat Yai, will instead be painted with a 'smiling fish' design, to make the aircraft look more cute during missions, according to Chalit. This is because the aircraft are used for leaflet dropping, promoting peace, in the southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yai.

(Thanks to FDR for generously donating the magazine!)

We suspect that Chief Marshal Chalit received cultural sensitivity training from a EU military school. Here's a picture of the hyper-aggressive painting before the objectionable artwork was removed.



We are just glad the Israeli Air Force operated its Ouragans before the age of political correctness.

Picture: SoE