MEDIA RELEASE
31
August 2018
50 YEARS SINCE AUSTRALIA’S
RAAF THAILAND SERVICE
TODAY Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren
Chester has encouraged Australians to honour the
valuable service of the RAAF units who served at
Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand between 1962 and
1968.
These units were deployed in accordance with
Australia’s obligations under the Southeast Asia
Treaty Organisation, to defend Thailand against
a possible invasion by North Vietnamese backed
Laotion communist forces.
“The deployment of Air Force personnel to Ubon
predated the arrival of the first Australian
troops to South Vietnam by two months and
included troops from 79 Squadron, No 5 Airfield
Construction Squadron as well as a detachment of
RAAF airfield defence guards who provided
security within the base and outside its
perimeter,” Mr Chester said.
“During the six years that these Australians
were deployed they played an important role in
deterring the spread of communism from Indochina
into northeast Thailand.
“The nature of service at Ubon varied according
to circumstances in Vietnam. There were times of
high threat and the Squadron’s Sabres were kept
fully armed, maintaining a constant state of
operational readiness.
“With the close proximity of Vietnam, the role
of 79 Squadron’s Sabres at Ubon and the security
provided to the base by the RAAF Air Defence
Guards was highly valued by Australia’s American
ally during a bitter war that threatened to
engulf and spread communism into Thailand.
“We thank these Australians for their service.”
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Whil Prendergast: 0427 672 815
DVA Media: 02 6289 6466
Office of the Hon. Darren Chester MP,
Canberra.
Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling
Service (VVCS) can be reached 24 hours a day
across Australia for support and free and
confidential counselling. Phone 1800 011 046
(international: +61 8 8241 4546). VVCS is a
service founded by Vietnam veterans.