THAI AIRMEN AT BUDDHIST CEREMONY; BLESSED BY MONK; COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AMONG FAREWELLERS; AIRMEN TO PLANES AND TAKE OFF.




Initials



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Background: THAILAND IS NOW DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE VIETNAM CONFLICT. ON FRIDAY, 27 MEMBERS OF THE THAI ROYAL AIR FORCE, OF WHICH NINE ARE PILOTS, LEFT BANGKOK IN TWO C-123 TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT FOR NEIGHBOURING SOUTH VIETNAM.

AT A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY, A BUDDHIST MONK BLESSED THE AIRMEN AND ASKED FOR PROTECTION FOR THEM DURING THEIR TOUR OF DUTY.

THE AIRMEN WILL STAY IN VIETNAM FOR ONE YEAR AND WILL ASSIST IN THE TRANSPORTATION OF SOUTH VIETNAMESE AND ALLIED TROOPS TO BATTLE AREAS.

THE FIRST THAI GROUP TO BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR, THEY WERE SEEN OFF BY THEIR COMMANDER -IN-CHIEF HIGH RANKING TAI AND AMERICAN AIRFORCE PERSONNEL AND RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.

THAILAND ALSO IS SENDING A NAVAL UNIT TO VIETNAM. BUT MEMBERS OF THE UNIT ARE STILL UNDERGOING TRAINING AT THE ROYAL THAI NAVY HEADQUARTERS IN BANGKOK. LAST MONTH, KING BHUMIPOL ADULYADEJ OF THAILAND PRESENTED COLOURS TO THE UNIT
PREVIOUSLY, THAILAND HAD GIVEN NON-MILITARY AID TO VIETNAM. BUT AT HOME THE THAI GOVERNMENT, WITH UNITED STATES HELP, IS BUILDING UP ITS ARMED FORCES IN ANSWER TO REPORTS OF INCREASED COMMUNIST SUBVERSION IN THE NORTH-EAST REGION AND THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES.