South East Asia Treaty Organisation

Senator Chris Evans asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 28 May 2002:

For each of the events listed below, can the Minister confirm: (a) the veracity of the events; (b) the fact that members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) took part in these events during the presence of the RAAF Contingent at Ubon, Thailand, from 25 June 1965 until 31 August 1968; and (c) whether these events undertaken by the RAAF were, in fact, a 'direct supporting role' of the United States Air Force's Vietnam War effort conducted from within Thailand during the period concerned:

• RAAF Fire/Crash Rescue Crews performed 'crash rescue' operations on 'combat damaged' United States Air Force (USAF) F4 aircraft returning from Vietnam and Laos. (USAF Letter 18/7/66; 8TFW to OC Ubon)
• RAAF Motor Transport drivers refuelled USAF 'combat aircraft' for flights into Vietnam and Laos. (Department of Defense Letter 37/12/87)
• RAAF Surface Finishers helped in repairing of damaged USAF aircraft, that sustained 'combat damage' in Vietnam and Laos. (RAAF Unit History Sheets AFO 18/F/5; 1965)
• The USAF's 8th-Tactical Fighter Wing (8TFW) and 79 Squadron conducted 'Combat Flight Training Operations' together, for the benefit of young inexperienced USAF replacement pilots conducting 'combat missions' into Vietnam and Laos. These operations were defined by letters of agreement. (8TFW History Apr-Jun 1968 & Dep Air Letter 68/5/Air (18))
• The Air Defence Posture for Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) was not accomplished by the USAF's 8 TFW. The RAAF stationed at Ubon RTAFB, and equipped with F 86 fighter aircraft, had the responsibility for the Air Defence Alert Posture. (8TFW History Jul–Dec 1966; Maxwell AFB)
• The RAAF was placed on 'Alert 5' Air Defence Alert duties by the 7th Air Force (7AF) wef. 25.6.65 and at times 'increased alert posture' as required. (meeting USAF RAAF 12.6.65: Signal Ubon to DCAS 5/7/65 and June 1966)
• That 'Command Control' was given to the USAF and that the Deputy Commander 7/13th Air Force (USAF), and the designated TACC Battle Commanders were delegated authority to: (a) order scrambles (USAF and RAAF only) including mandatory scrambles, when required for accomplishment of Active Air Defence missions; and (b) order engagement of the first hostile airborne object. (HQ PACAF 7 AF Regulation 23-25 1 Oct 1966)
• The RAAF was part of the tactical control force in Thailand that remained assigned to the tactical air support group in Vietnam because this group was charged with the operation of the South East Asia Integrated Tactical Air Control System. The RAAF Sabres at Ubon, Thailand, came into this system by a combined agreement for air defence executed by the RTAF, the USAF and the RAAF. (History PACAF Jul-Dec 1965)
• The implementation of the USAF 7th AF O Plan 427-66 (wef. 1.7.66) combined the air defence systems of Thailand and Vietnam as components of a Single Integrated Air Defence System. (7AF O Plan 427-66)
• The RAAF 79 Squadron was included as 'augmentation forces - Thailand' under the USAF 7AF O Plan 427-66. (7AF O Plan 427-66)
• The RAAF provided RAAF Airfield Defence Guards (ADGs) for external perimeter fence 'ground defence duties' (they patrolled out to 40 kilometres from the base). The USAF provided a USAF Air Police Squadron for internal perimeter fence duties (they were not allowed to patrol outside the base). Attacks using standoff weapons such as rockets and mortars accounted for 96 per cent of ground attacks on main operating bases during the war. This outside patrol role by RAAF ADGs was to counter this threat.
• RAAF aircraft were being employed in the defence of an air base from which offensive operations were being mounted against North Vietnam could be considered by North Vietnam and Communist China as being similar to participation in the actual offensive operations. (Defence Committee 1965)
• RAAF ADGs entered Laos covertly and illegally collecting intelligence information regarding bombing targets in Laos and passed this to USAF authorities in contravention of the 1954 and 1961 Geneva Accords that made Laos a neutral country. (July 1962 agreement signed recognising Laos neutrality) (Aust. Military Attache, Bangkok; SEAReview evidence)
• The RAAF, as required, maintained and performed these allotted duties until released from duty by the Commander USAF 7th Air Force, Headquarters at Tan Son Nhut, wef. 27 July 1968. (File 566/2/311)

Senator Hill - The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

1. For each of the events listed below, I can confirm that the RAAF element based at Ubon was a South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) commitment to help maintain the territorial integrity of Thailand.
   • RAAF and USAF teams did combine to provide an emergency service to all aircraft operating out of Ubon.
   • There is no record of RAAF Motor Transport Drivers refuelling USAF combat aircraft.
   • The only record of RAAF maintenance personnel assisting in the refurbishment of battle damaged USAF aircraft occurred on 2 March 1965. An F-100 aircraft made an emergency landing at Ubon after being damaged by anti-aircraft fire. This incident occurred before the USAF 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron arrived at Ubon on 7 April 1965.
   • No. 79 Squadron did undertake combat training sorties with USAF F-4 Phantom aircraft that were based at Ubon.
   • The RAAF was responsible for the defence of Ubon and the surrounding area.
   • From 25 June 1965 the RAAF commitment to Thailand's integrated air defence system was two fully armed Sabre aircraft on five minute alert from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, at Ubon. There were strict provisions applied by the Australian Government on the operational employment of the aircraft.
   • All USAF aircraft in Thailand and South Vietnam came under the authority of the commanding general of the 2nd Air Division of the Thirteenth Air Force in Saigon, who was responsible to the commander of the United States Military Assistance Command Vietnam. The 2nd Air Division Task Operations Centre at Don Muang, Bangkok, Thailand, controlled operations by USAF and RAAF aircraft in Thailand. In March 1966, the 2nd Air Division was redesignated as the 7th Air Force under the direct command of Pacific Air Force.
   • The RAAF was part of Thailand's integrated air defence system. The RAAF participation in the Thai integrated air defence system was as a result of agreement between the governments of Thailand, United States of America, and Australia.
   • 7th Air Force Operational Plan 427-66 was a plan for the Air Defence Organisation for the Mainland South East Asia Region, and came into effect on 1 July 1966. This plan did not meet with Thai approval and it is uncertain whether the proposal was implemented.
   • The provisions of 7th Air Force Operational Plan 427-66 did not alter existing agreements on the operational employment of No. 79 Squadron in the air defence of Thailand. There is no evidence on records held by Defence that No. 79 Squadron was considered as 'augmentation forces - Thailand'.
   • There is no record of RAAF Airfield Defence Guards (ADGs) undertaking security patrols outside the Ubon perimeter. There are no records of the base at Ubon being subjected to rocket or mortar attacks during the period of RAAF deployment at the base. The figures quoted, in all likelihood, relate to attacks on bases located in South Vietnam.
   • The Defence Committee did make this comment. However, it also considered that 'the probability of enemy air attacks [on Thailand] would be slight'.
   • There is no record of Australian ADGs covertly and illegally collecting intelligence regarding bombing targets in Laos.
   • No. 79 Squadron was released from 'alert status' on 26 July 1968.

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