MAY 31--P-3 Orions from various patrol squadrons of Task Force 72, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, Seventh Fleet, continued their search, begun last year, for refugees in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand. These aircraft had investigated more than 15,000 radar contacts and dropped radio transmitters and/or refugee survival packs to people in distress. To this date, over 2,500 refugees have been rescued through efforts by all elements of the Navy.
