The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
One of the main tasks of pilots of the Army's 161st Independent Reconnaissance Flight based in Vietnam is directing airstrikes on enemy targets. Flying Bell Sioux helicopters, the pilots fly over the enemy target, their crewman throws a white phosphorous grenade to mark the spot and then US Air Force fighter bombers swing in to bomb the marked area. After each pass by the fighters, the Army pilot again passes over the target checking on the results and adjusting the fighters' aim when necessary. Once the US Air Force aircraft have unloaded their ordnance, the job is not over for the Sioux pilot. He makes a number of low level passes over the target checking the results and passing on the bomb damage assessment to the forward air controller liaising with the fighters. Sweeping across at tree-top level, the trained eye of the pilot picks out, bunkers, pits, tunnel entrances or any other unusual feature destroyed or laid open by the airstrike. It is only when he is satisfied that the results of the ... have all been noted that the Sioux pilot leaves the area to return to base at Nui Dat. Bomb strikes are one aspect of the Army pilots'job in Vietnam. They also carry out extensive visual reconnaissance seeking signs of recent enemy activity. Flying at tree-top level the tiny aircraft cover Phuoc Tuy province systematically. Trained to observe track indications, possible camp sites and boats, or carts or people moving through the jungle, the pilots log their findings which are kept on record at Nui Dat. By their work, the Task Force is able to assess enemy movement in the area and air strikes or ground action can be directed against the Viet Cong to render his activities ineffective on a large scale.
One of the main tasks of pilots of the Army's 161st Independent Reconnaissance Flight based in Vietnam is directing airstrikes on enemy targets. Flying Bell Sioux helicopters, the pilots fly over the
One of the main tasks of pilots of the Army's 161st Independent Reconnaissance Flight based in Vietnam is directing airstrikes on enemy targets. Flying Bell Sioux helicopters, the pilots fly over the
Australian Cessna Forward Air Controller (FAC) spotting an enemy camp, calling in an air strike or artillery - or both - then making a run over the target to assess the results.
'Jade' was the codeword for the Forward Air Controller (FAC). The aircraft used was a Cessna O2 (Oscar Deuce).Scene opens with O2 landing on Luscombe Field at Nui Dat. Lt John Bart Neervoort dons para
Helicopter gunships launched air strikes on the Long Hai hills this week following clashes with Australian infantry in which seven Viet Cong were killed. In his command Sioux, the battalion commander,
Remaining elements of the Australian Army's 161 Independent Reconnaissance Flight left South Vietnam today. Most members of the Flight, which had been on active service since 1965, returned home last
Australian Army helicopter pilots in South Vietnam have been training on a new aircraft in recent weeks. It is the Bell OH58A, or Kiowa helicopter, which is replacing the Bell Sioux in Vietnam. The Ki
