Panieng Karntarat

Panieng Karntarat (พะเนียง กานตรัตน์; born 1 April 1921 – 7 July 2010) was a Thai politician and retired air force officer. He held the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force from 1977 until his retirement on 30 September 1981 during the Cold War period.

Education
Panieng graduated from secondary education at Debsirin School, Flying Training School Royal Thai Air Force, Royal Air Force College Cranwell and Air Command and Staff College and Tactical Air Command, USA. In Thailand with Air Command and Staff Command, Royal Thai Army War College, National Defence College of Thailand in 1964.

Career
He received the first Royal Thai Air Force service in the year 1941, during the Pacific War in the rank of a pilot officer. After that, he grew up in air force, has held important positions such as the Director of Operations Directorate of Operations, Chief of the Air Staff, and the Commander-in-Chief Royal Thai Air Force on 1 October 1977.

In addition, he is also a member of the National Legislative Assembly member, Supreme Military Court Judiciary, Deputy Minister of Defense and Minister of Defense during the government of Prem Tinsulanonda as Prime Minister.

Honours

 * Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
 * Order of the Crown of Thailand - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
 * Order of Chula Chom Klao - 2nd Class upper (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Commander of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (1977)
 * Victory Medal - Indochina (Thailand) ribbon.svg Victory Medal - Franco-Thai War
 * Victory Medal - World War II (Thailand) ribbon.svg Victory Medal - Pacific War
 * Freeman Safeguarding Medal - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Freeman Safeguarding Medal - 1st Class (1972)
 * Border Service Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Border Service Medal
 * Chakra Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Chakra Mala Medal
 * King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal, Third Class
 * King Rama IX Coronation Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama IX Coronation Medal
 * 25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg 25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal
 * Ribbon bar of Red Cross Medal of Appreciation, 1st Class (Thailand).svg Red Cross Medal of Appreciation, 1st Class

Foreign honours

 * UK :
 * UK Royal Victorian Order ribbon.svg Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (1961)
 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia :
 * Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia - PSM.svg Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (1979)


 * 🇰🇷 South Korea :
 * Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (Class 2) Gwanghwa Medal ribbon.gif Order of Diplomatic Service Merit, First Class (1981)
 * South Vietnam :
 * Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-First Class.svg Air Force Distinguished Service Order, First Class
 * Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Armed Forces Honor Medal, First Class


 * 🇺🇸 USA :
 * US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png Commander of the Legion of Merit

Died
Panieng Karntarat died on 7 July 2010 with a disease at Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital aged 89.