N.Z. Paratroops Reach Singapore

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29838, 2 June 1962, Page 11

N.Z. Paratroops Reach Singapore

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

SINGAPORE, June 1.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force plane carrying 30 paratroops on their way to Thailand arirved in Singapore at 7.30 p.m., New Zealand time, today.

The men. attached to the Special Air Service, are being sent to Thailand as part of the present build-up of South-east Asia Treaty Organisation forces. The special squadron which will be stationed at Korat, north-east Thailand, is commanded by Major J. Velvin, of Auckland. A spokesman of the New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok said he expected the S.A.S. squadron to arrive in Korat tomorrow. The New Zealanders earlier were scheduled to arrive in Thai land today. The spokesman explained that weather in Perth, Western Australia, was not favourable for the heavilyladen planes and was the cause of the delay. The men will come in a DC-6B plane and the equipment and supplies in a Hastings transport. The two aircraft will fly directly to Korat, without stopping at Bangkok. Eight Sabre jets of the Royal Australian Air Force which arrived in Bangkok

early this week left this morning for the north-eastern Thailand town of Übol. The jets and the 250 Air Force men are Australia’s “token force’’ sent to Thailand to bolster the country’s defence against any Communist aggression. According to an Australian Embassy source, the setting up of an Australian Air Force contingent at Übol has been completed. Two Hercules transports arrived in Übol early yesterday, bringing men and supplies for the contingent.