1.
MLS CROWD AT BANGKOK AIRPORT.
0.01

2.
LS AIRMEN AND OTHERS DOWN PLANE (3 SHOTS).
0.11

3.
CU AIRMEN.
0.14

4.
LS TERMINAL BUILDING.
0.16

5.
MCU AIRMEN BEING INTRODUCED TO PRESS, MAJOR HURLIK SPEAKS TO PRESS (6 SHOTS).
0.48

6.
LS PRESS CONFERENCE.
0.54



Initials GS/V/MR/GJB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FOUR AMERICAN AIRMEN IN CUSTODY IN CAMBODIA HAVE BEEN RELEASED AND ARRIVED IN BANGKOK LAST WEDNESDAY (MARCH 12) EN ROUTE TO SAIGON.

THE AIRMEN ALL SAID THAT THEY WERE SHOT DOWN BY WHAT THEY CALLED "SOMETHING BIG", WHILE FLYING NEAR THE CAMBODIA-VIETNAM BORDER ON FEBRUARY 12. THEY LANDED IN A PADDY-FIELD AND AFTER A 30-MINUTE ACTION, WERE TAKEN PRISONER BY THE VIET CONG.

AFTER TWO DAYS THE VIET CONG TURNED THE AMERICANS OVER TO THE CAMBODIANS. ONE OF THE CONDITIONS FOR THEIR RELEASE WAS A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT NIXON TO PRINCE NORODOM SIHANOUK, CAMBODIA'S HEAD OF STATE.

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN BANGKOK, THE AIRMEN DECLINED TO SAY EXACTLY WHERE THEIR AIRCRAFT WAS WHEN IT WAS SHOT DOWN, OR WHAT MISSION THEY WERE ON. THEY SAID THE VIET CONG AND THE CAMBODIANS TREATED THEM WELL.