AID TO S. VIETNAM

Press, Volume C, Issue 29651, 23 October 1961, Page 11

AID TO S. VIETNAM

N. Planes In Relief Mission (NJSJ>.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SAIGON, October 21. Three Bristol freighters of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s No. 41 Squadron yesterday headed a relief supply mission into South Vietnam for victims of the flooded Mekong River delta. The Bristols were part of a flight of aircraft bringing food, rice, blankets, soap and clothing from the Royal Air Force base in Singapore to Saigon. In command of the relief planes was Squadron Leader O. D. Staple, of Rotorua, who was chosen to lead the flight after South Vietnam’s President (Ngo Dinh Diem) asked the British Government for help. Three R.N.Z.A.F. Bristols and two Royal Air Force transports were allotted the task. Squadron Leader Staple, on behalf of the British Government, formally handed over the 22 tons of relief cargo to the Vietnam Minister of Finance and Social Welfare (Mr Nguyen Luong). Although the distressed area is north of Saigon and was not flown over, the New Zealanders had ample evidence of the effect of the monsoon rains by the quantity of water around the airfield. The death roll is believed to be more than 100. with 500,000 people homeless. The R.N.Z.A.F. and R.A.F. aircraft were the first to bring aid to the country. It is expected that light aircraft will carry the supplies into the stricken areas today.