10/29/97 5:36
Ramasun Station
a Brief History
In 1966, a 50 man detactment set out from the 5th Radio Research Unit in Bangkok and established
itself in a temporary outpost 18 kilometers south of Udorn. At that time little did they know that their
mission would evolve into one of the largest operations of its kind in the world, as it remained till
closing in 1976.
Early beginnings were rather meager, and obstacles were many; however, the
results of the detachments's mission were so successful that it was made a permanent site. More
suitable terrain was selected, and bulldozers moved in, evicting a considerable community of ant hills
and cobra lairs in the process. The initial site was little more than a tent city rising from the desolate
flats of Udorn; however, during the next few years the detachments's success snowballed, and it
continued to expand. Ramasun Station was by far the largest and most complex effort of its kind in
all of Southeast Asia; and in the rest of the world, it ranked only second to the mammoth effort at
Augsburg, Germany.
Ramasun borrowed its name from the powerful Thai mythological "God of
Thunder". According to mythology, Ramasun is in eternal pursuit of Mekhala, the beautiful Goddess
of lightning. In futile attemps to capture her, Ramasun hurls his huge axe which Mekhala blocks with
a magic gem casting powerful rays. The crashing of the axe into the gem results in the thundrclap and
lightnig we observed. Thai mythology foretells of Ramasun's pursuit of Mekhala which will continue
until the world is destroyed by fire.
Over 50 million dollars was devoted to making Ramasun Station
one of the finest installations anywhere in the world. It was completely self-sufficient and included its
own power plant and water supply. Virtually all facilities on post were air-conditioned and of
permanent construction. Streets and sidewalks were paved and fully lit at night. Lawns were
landscaped, well attended, and enhanced by a variety of plants and shrubbery.