The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
The aviation wing of the Army's Task Force in Vietnam received new aircraft for its fixed-wing section this week. The aircraft, Pilatus Porters, were introduced into the Army in February last year, but this will be the first time on operational service. Three Porters destined for the 161st Independent (Reconnaissance) Flight at the Task Force base at Nui Dat arrive in Vietnam on the troopship HMAS Sydney, which anchors off the coast at Vung Tau, 20 miles south of the base. The Sydney brought up the 8th Battalion to relieve the 9th at the end of its year in the war zone. Not long after arriving, engineers and air despatchers come aboard to prepare the Porters for the last leg of the journey to Nui Dat. Protective wrapping is removed and the aircraft generally prepared for the move. The commander of the big Australian logistics base at Vung Tau and the former Director of Army Aviation, Colonel Simkin, meets the boss of the air despatchers, Captain Ian Brooks, and the engineer officer of the recce flight, Capt Stewart Curnow, to sort out any last minute problems. When all is in readiness a giant US Chinook helicopter flies in and lifts the first Porter off the ship and takes it, bucking, to Nui Dat. The downdraft of the helicopter throws the Porter around too much so it is decided to send the other two ashore by landing craft. The wings for the three are crated separately. A crane on the Sydney is used to lower the remaining two Porters onto a landing ship which then takes them ashore. As the landing ship pulls away, the Sydney its task completed, gets underway for Australia. Once ashore the Porters are pulled by rover to the RAAF area at the US Army air base at Vung Tau. Aircraft fitters from Nui Dat are waiting and immediately begin the task of fitting the wings on. Instead of being airlifted to their new home, the Porters will now get there under their own steam. After hours of careful work the Porters take to the air in Vietnam for the first time. The Porters will greatly expand the role of the reconnaissance flight in the war as they take over from the fixed-wing aircraft at present in use, the Cessna 180. The main role of the Flight is reconnaissance for the ground troops, but the Porters will also be used for dropping pamphlets and for voice broadcasts as part of psychological warfare operations; the command and control of some ground operations by senior officers made possible by the extensive communications system built into the aircraft, and; the carrying of 1500 pounds of stores and equipment or seven passengers. Already painted olive drab for their war service, the Porters will be armed with white phosphorous rockets for marking targets. Before the Porters become operational, the six pilots who will be flying them will have a few days to re-familiarise themselves with the aircraft. The ground crews will also refresh themselves on maintenance procedures. The Army's aviation wing in Vietnam takes delivery of new aircraft for its war role. Also identified: Capt John Digweed of 161 Recce.
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