from the Daily Telegraph(28/3/66) Air Cdre E. M. Donaldson wrote: "The denial by the Minister of Defence, Mr, Healey, on Saturday that contingency plans exist for Britain to route a token armed force to assist the Americans in Vietnam has puzzled the R.A.F. Britain is closely tied by her obligations under the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation to provide assistance if requested for any possible politicomilitary situation that might arise in the area, It falls upen the R.A.Fsts No. 224 group, a large powerful and highly-trained mobile fighting unit to plan close support for ground forces anywhere in the S.E.A.T.O. area, These plans cover Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, No. 224 group is armed with Hunter ground-attack fighters, Canberra bombers and Javelin all-weather fighters. Noe 20 squadron armed with Hunters was sent to Thailand in 1962 for 6 months to "encourage the formation of a neutral government in Laos.! There is a strong element of R.A.F, observers in Vietnam. Recently, Air Marshal. Sir John Granby, Britain's Far East Forces C-in-C paid a ees visit there to get direct information on how the fighting was developing, The R.A.F. must have provisional plans to move back into the area if the Gevernment decided it was necessary. I am certain Mr, Healey must know of these. When the Indonesian menace is withdrawn America is expected to insist on a token British particivation in South Vietmam. Lans or Thatjlane..._ tt
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