The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Movement specialists of the Australian military forces in South Vietnam have been heavily taxed since the announcement of the Australian withdrawal - ensuring that the bulk of the combat force, associated elements and stores, will be home for Christmas. Major units are returning by sea, but most Australians are flying home. Saigon's Tan Son Nhut airport is the landing place for Qantas Boeing 707s ferrying troops back from the war zone. The Boeings are on charter to the Defence Force and their loading is a task shared by the Army and the RAAF. Mail is taken off and baggage of returning soldiers put aboard immediately. Soldier-passengers brought from the RAAF Movement Centre at Tan Son Nhut are checked off before boarding by Major Rod Vickery of Lyneham, Canberra, ACT. Until recently, Australian soldiers were flown in and out of this airport each week. Now, with the withdrawal gaining momentum, most of the troop traffic is one-way. The other departure point for Australians leaving Vietnam is Vung Tau - 40 miles South East of Saigon, and long-time home of the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group. As at Tan Son Nhut, loading of baggage begins as soon as possible after the aircraft has landed. But here, the aircraft are Service C130 Hercules, now flying to a regular schedule. On their way to board, the troops hand in their international health certificates and other documents. Checking complete and all safely aboard, the big transport warms up. The last crewman goes in and the aircraft is secured. Minutes later the Hercules taxis to its take-off point, ready for the first long leg of the journey home. Also identified: 37668 Sergeant (Sgt) Frank Stanley Hayes of Holsworthy, NSW; 4721771 Private (Pte) Bruce Norman Mitchell of St Peters, SA; 3795527 Pte Brian McMillan of Castlemaine, Vic; Sgt Jerry Hull of Aspendale, Vic; Flight John Stubbings of Launceston, Tas; Leading Aircraftman John Healey of Dundas, NSW.
Troops of 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, this week boarded HMAS Sydney for their return from Vietnam. A year of continuous operations against the Viet Cong behind them, 7th Battalion ve
Australian troops who have spent the last 12 months in Vietnam are on their way home. Gunners of 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, paraded for the last time at Nui Dat to be farewelled a
At the end of their tour of duty in Vietnam, members of 1RAR wait with their luggage and weapons in the departure lounge of Tan Son Nhut airport. They are about to board a Qantas Boeing 707 aircraft t
RAAF Caribou pilots, 315165 Flying Officer (FO) John McQueen formerly of Kettering, England, now Sydney, NSW and 220900 FO, Gary A Martin, pilot of Bondi, Sydney, NSW are framed by the tail of their a
Members of 1RAR (right) line up with their luggage after arriving by truck at Tan Son Nhut airport. The battalion is at the end of its tour of duty in Vietnam and the men will soon board a Qantas Boei
At the end of their tour of duty in Vietnam, members of 1RAR (right) wait with their luggage and weapons in the departure lounge of Tan Son Nhut airport. They are about to board a Qantas Boeing 707 ai