Thai Jet Lost in Clash With Viet Forces

A Thai fighter plane was shot down Tuesday while taking part in an attack against intruding Vietnamese troops in northeastern Thailand, the nation’s official news agency reported.

The Thai supreme commander, Gen. Arthit Kamlang-ek, was quoted as saying that the incident took place over Buriram province, near the Cambodian border, where he said fighting between Thai and Vietnamese troops is continuing.

News reports conflicted on whether the aircraft was hit by fire from the intruding force or from Vietnamese troops inside Cambodia.

The incident came as rightist Cambodian guerrillas refused to fully yield to Vietnamese troops, who on Tuesday overran the remainder of the rebels’ key camp at Ampil, on the Cambodian side of the Thai border.

The Vietnamese, pressing a two-month, dry-season offensive, continued their push Tuesday. The camp is the area headquarters for the Khmer People’s National Liberation Front, one of three Cambodian groups fighting to oust Vietnamese occupation troops and overthrow the Vietnamese-installed government of Premier Heng Samrin in Phnom Penh.

The downing of the Thai air force jet took place in Thailand, about 70 miles west of Ampil. Thai commanders said the U.S.-built A-37 Dragonfly jet was hit by a surface-to-air missile while providing cover for Thai troops trying to drive back Vietnamese soldiers who had penetrated as far as 2 1/2 miles into Thailand.