I started my research after reading a comment referring to the Ubon camp on one of the Far Eastern Prisoner of War Facebook groups. There was very little information immediately to hand, but in the weeks that followed I least found out that allied prisoners were sent there to construct an airstrip.

Back at home I used Google Earth to search the area for any likely looking airstrips. I didn’t really know where to look until I read Major David Smiley’s book ‘Irregular Regular’. He wrote that the airstrip was close to the camp which he estimated as nine kilometres north of Ubon. Much to my delight a more detailed look revealed the airstrip. I could go to the location on my next visit to Ubon.

I returned to Ubon and met my good friend Julie Crowley who was on a world backpacking tour. She stayed a few days at…