The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
This Australian Cessna 180 observation and utility aircraft was one of the first aircraft from the 161 Independant Reconnaissance Flight (161 Flight), Australian Army, to touch down on the newly opened Luscombe Field airstrip at the 1st Australian Task Force Base (1ATF) at Nui Dat. The airstrip was built by the 1st Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) and was named after Temporary Captain Bryan Luscombe who was the first Australian Army pilot to die on operational duty, during the Korean War. Aircraft from 161Flight, operated from Bien Hoa from 28 September 1965 - 12 May 1966 supporting 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), then transferring operations to Vung Tau on 13 May 1966 to support 1ATF. Although Luscombe Field was opened on 5 December 1966 the flight, did not officially relocate to Nui Dat until 22-24 March 1967, remaining there until 1ATF returned to Australia in late 1971.
This Australian Cessna 180 observation and utility aircraft was one of the first aircraft from the 161 Independant Reconnaissance Flight (161 Flight), Australian Army, to touch down on the newly opene
Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968. A member of 161 Independent Reconnaissance Flight refuels a Cessna 180 aircraft at Luscombe Field, the airstrip at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) base.
Nui Dat, South Vietnam, 1966-12-05. The first Caribou aircraft from No. 35 Squadron RAAF touching down on the newly opened Luscombe Field airstrip at the Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat. The air
Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1966-12. A line-up of the types of aircraft which will be using the newly opened airstrip at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) base. In the foreground is a Sioux helicopter, flown
NUI DAT, SOUTH VIETNAM. 1969-06. A RAAF CARIBOU AIRCRAFT TURNS AROUND AFTER LANDING AT LUSCOMBE AIRFIELD, 1ST AUSTRALIAN TASK FORCE (1ATF). THE AIRSTRIP IS NAMED AFTER LIEUTENANT BRYAN TAYLOR LUSCOMBE
Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968. A pre flight check of Sioux helicopter by 2nd Lieutenant Roger Colclough of Brisbane, Qld, a member of 161 Independent Reconnaissance Flight, on Luscombe Field airstrip a
