opposing Vietnam's 1978 invasion of Cambodia. Timeline 1979 April: The first group of Vietnamese soldiers appeared on Thai territory next to the irrigation canal near Nong Chan to set up camp overnight. They were told by a Vietnamese speaking Thai Army military intelligence master sergeant to move out of Thailand territory. October: A major offensive by the Vietnamese against Khmer Rouge hideouts in their mountain sanctuaries pushed thousands of Khmer Rouge soldiers, their families, and the civilians under their control to the Thai border. 8 November: Thai artillery fire hit Nong Chan Refugee Camp, killing about 100 refugees. 12 November: Vietnamese attacks opposite Ban Laem drove 5,000 Khmer Rouge troops and villagers into Thailand. About half went to Kamput Holding Center. 1980 23 June: In response to the organised repatriation of thousands of refugees, 200 Vietnamese troops crossed the border at 02:00 into the Ban Non Mak Mun area, including Nong Chan Refugee Camp, setting off a three-day artillery battle that left about 200 dead, including around 22–130 Thai soldiers, one Thai villager, scores of refugees and approximately 72–100 People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) troops. Hundreds of refugees were reported killed, many by a Thai artillery barrage that struck one of the camps. Others were caught in the crossfire. Several hundred refugees who resisted the Vietnamese were bound and executed. Vietnamese troops temporarily seized two Thai border villages including Ban Non Mak Mun and shelled others. 24 June: Still controlling Nong Chan, Vietnamese forces fought artillery and small arms duels with Thai troops and attacked guerrilla strongpoints. The Vietnamese shot down two Thai military aircraft. 26 June: Vietnamese troops seized two relief officials (Robert Ashe and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Medical Coordinator Dr. Pierre Perrin) and two American photographers at Nong Chan Refugee Camp. 1981 4 January: Vietnamese forces stormed across the border, opened fire with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons, and battled with Thai troops before being pushed back. Two Thai soldiers were killed and one was wounded during the early morning, 90-minute battle. Between 50 and 60 Vietnamese soldiers reportedly opened fire on a Thai patrol half a mile inside Thailand. Vietnamese casualties are unknown. Thai troop reinforcements were rushed to the border on the next day and put on alert against another cross-border raid by Hanoi's troops. 1982 11 February: Vietnam People's Air Force An-26 26264 was shot down by two Royal Thai Air