9SQN Nui Dat December 1970

No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN aircrew photograph, Nui Dat, SVN in December 1970

29 Dustoff Crew 1971

13 SAS Patrol Emplaned for Insertion

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Above: A ‘hot’ extraction of an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) long range reconnainssance patrol by an Iroquois helicopter of No 9 Squadron. The pilot and captain of the aircraft on this mission was Lieutenant Commander Rowley Alan Waddell-Wood, who was also officer-in-charge of the detachment of RAN pilots who served with No 9 Squadron from February 1968 to March 1969. Image: Flying Officer Alexander (Alex) Gall. ©Australian War Memorial.

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Late June 1966, Dennis Olsen, Crewman, No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN and a No. 9 SQN RAAF Iroquois. Dennis’ tour period was 13 April 1966 until 09 June 1967.

Vung Tau group photo 1971

No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN photograph, Vung Tau, late 1971

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No. 9 Squadron hangar tool board; ‘Huey’ Warner at left. Hugh Warner, Airframe Fitter, served with No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN from25 May 1967 until 22 May 1968.

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Airframe Fitters ‘Robbie’ Gee and Ken Bischof, No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN, ‘at work’ in the Vung Tau hangar in June 1967

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RNZAF Pilots awaiting morning transport to the No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN Vung Tau flight line were L/R: ‘Punchy’ Paterson and Gordon Wood, circa mid-1970.

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‘HAX’ was 24 years of age, the squadron’s youngest pilot and DFC recipient when this No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN photo was taken. Source: AWM

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No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN Pilots at an evening briefing in May 1971 at Vung Tau airfield. The three RNZAF pilots in this group are SQNLDR Robin Klitscher DFC, FLTLT Ian Clark and FLGOFF Chris Peters.

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‘Kiwi’ pilots Robin Klitscher and Brian Senn RNZAF awaiting the VIPs at a Fire Support Base (FSB) in 1971.

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L/R: Chris Peters and Brian Senn, RNZAF in 1969.

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AVM Robin Klitscher CBE, DFC, AFC, RNZAF (Ret’d). RK was an impressive, no nonsense and highly respected and likeable officer and pilot who excelled in all aspects of his tour of duty with No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN (Author’s Comment from personal observation).

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Corporal John ‘Snow’ Coughlan

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L/R: Ian Fogarty, Joe Driver and Tony Lea at their RAAF Pilots’ Course Graduation function in 1968.

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Squadron Leader Brian Dirou, DFC post-Vietnam service 1971

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Nev Pratt, ADG and No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN Gunner, pictured at the Bushranger starboard twin M60 gun station sometime during his SVN tour 22 December 1969 until 25 December 1970.

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Bob Upham, GDPLT re-arming a No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN ‘Bushranger’ gunship at Kanga Pad, Nui Dat in late 1970

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Al Lamb and Peter Robinson loading a 9SQN gunship at Nui Dat in 1969 Source: unknown.

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Jack Lynch, pilot, No. 9 Squadron RAAF SVN, re-arming the mini-guns on one of the ‘Bushies’ in 1969 – 1970. Source: unknown.

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No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN Land Rover and gun trailer at Vung Tau airfield.

Door Gunner of a Gunship

9SQN door gunner – image Bob Upham

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No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN, Ian Fogarty GDPLT with George Edwards DFM, ADG/Iroquois Gunner, in 1969.

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Helicopter Insert of Sappers with their tracker dog – hot, wet and dangerous work. Source: Graeme Chalmers No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN late 1970.

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An Australian tracker dog and soldier in SVN. Source: AWM

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A youthful Chris Beatty in a 9SQN RAAF ‘Huey’ in 1969.

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SQNLDR Frank Clough DFC GDPLT, No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN photographed at a squadron meeting during his second No. 9 SQN tour, in late 1970.

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One of the dedicated National Serviceman, 3798621 Private David E. Kennedy, Medical Orderly, 8th Field Ambulance, Royal Australian Army Medical Corps: Image: Graeme Chalmers

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‘Hobo’ strapping in to a No. 9 SQN RAAF Iroquois helicopter at Kanga Pad, Nui Dat SVN circa APR 1969 – APR 1970, assisted by Geoff Smith.

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Relaxing on a hot evening at RAAF Vung Tau, in December 1970, are No. 9 SQN RAAF Pilots Dave Ozanne DFC (left) and Arnold Fox (right)

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No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN aircrew photograph, Nui Dat, SVN in December 1970.

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A2-383 configured as a ‘BUSHRANGER’ GUNSHIP in SVN

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A2-382 Vung Tau Airfield

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A2-382 Vung Tau Airfield

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The badly damaged A2-1019 at No. 9 SQN Vung Tau after recovery

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A2-1019 fuselage in the No. 9 SQN hangar with the tail boom from A2-1024, July 1967. Source: Graeme Wilson, No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN 19 May 1967 until 15 May 1968

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No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN ‘heavy left formation four’ in 1970 wet season. Source: PLT OFF Graeme Chalmers, co-pilot, ALBATROSS 04.

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The badly damaged A2-1019 at No. 9 SQN Vung Tau after recovery

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This late 1964 photograph is of No. 5 SQN RAAF Iroquois UH-1B (Bravo Model) A2-1019 in the hover on the tarmac at RAAF Base Fairbairn ACT prior to its service in South Vietnam

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A2-1019 fuselage in the No. 9 SQN hangar with the tail boom from A2-1024, July 1967. Source: Graeme Wilson, No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN 19 May 1967 until 15 May 1968

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On the tarmac hut floor is the ‘sniffer’ apparatus that was stowed/attached to the Iroquois cargo compartment floor.

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Command and Control radio fitment in the cargo compartment of a No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN Iroquois. Referred to as ‘Charlie Charlie’, the multiple radios allowed an Australian Army Formation Commander to communicate with all Army elements of that particular formation or group during a 1 ATF Operation.

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Engine compressor damage/failure of Iroquois A2-1022 that occurred on 11 May 1967.

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Bell Iroquois UH1-H (Hotel) helicopters being accepted at the Vung Tau No. 9SQN hangar in February 1968.

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A No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN ‘Bushranger’ at the re-arm point Kanga Pad, Nui Dat; the ‘hot refuelling’ PSP area in the left background.

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Rocket pod, weapon head at front.

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‘Bushranger’ gunship Weapon Select Panel – 2.75 inch rockets HE x six, single fire or pairs; WP x one, single fire for target marking.

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‘Bushranger’ gunship Armament Control Panel

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A look through one of the gunship weapon sights

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A ‘Bushranger’ gunship ‘breaks left/away’ after its firing pass; crewman suppressing the target with the twin M60 door guns. The correctly flown pattern meant that as the crewman completed his firing suppression the second gunship of the light fire team (LFT) rolled in to commence its firing pass with the aircraft’s fixed forward-firing weapons (mini guns and rockets).

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No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN light fire team (LFT) approaching to land to the east at Kanga Pad, Nui Dat. The terrain features in the background are the Nui Dinh and the Nui Thi Vai hills. Source: Bob Upham

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‘Bushranger’ impact of a ripple of 2.75 inch HE rockets.

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‘Bushranger’ Gunner’s view over the twin M60’s.

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‘Bushranger’ twin 7.62mm M60 door guns.

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A ‘Bushranger’ gunship in flight.

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A No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN ‘Bushranger’ gunship take-off from Kanga Pad to the West.

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‘Bushranger’ mini gun firing – ejection of spent cases

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‘Bushranger’ mini gun firing – ejection of spent cases

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Iroquois A2-377 right door gun fit

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‘Bushranger’ right crew station and the twin 7.62mm M60 door gun fit

Gunship Long Hai’s on L_010

Gunship Long Hai’s on L_010 – Bob Upham

Gunship protecting Huey SAS PE

Gunship protecting Huey SAS PE – Bob Upham

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SGT Ray Evans took this from the pax/cargo compartment of a No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN ‘Huey’ when redeploying to Nui Dat during 6 RAR’s second tour of duty. Nui Dat itself is the hill feature seen in the background, upper left.

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Nui Dat from the ‘Huey’, Ray Evans 6 RAR.

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Long finals to Kanga Pad, Nui Dat. The pilot is WGCDR Pete Coy DSO, Commanding Officer No. 9SQN RAAF SVN from 7 May 1970 until 6 May 1971

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Single 7.62 mm M60 door gun as fitted to A2-723 and all No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN ‘slick’ configured Iroquois helicopters. Image: Graeme Chalmers

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No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN Iroquois A2-723 at the (RED EARTH) ‘Dust off’ Pad, Nui Dat circa July 1971 (dry season). Image: Graeme Chalmers

Gunship Practice range_011 (2)

Gunship Practice range_011 (2) – Bob Upham

Gunship in action

9SQN Gunship in action – Bob Upham

Gunship Rockets going to target

Gunship Rockets going to target – Bob Upham

Gunship Practice range_011 (3)

Gunship Practice range_011 (3) – Bob Upham

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Aerial view en route Vung Tau to Nui Dat from the Left Pilot’s Seat of a No. 9 SQN RAAF SVN Iroquois at 2000 feet AMSL during the 1970 wet season. Source: Graeme Chalmers.

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Newspaper article July 1967

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An extract of the 9SQN RAAF report for 12 August 1967 relating to Mick Haxell and his crew’s flight actions under enemy fire.

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1 ATF Tactical Area of Responsibility (TAOR) The TAOR was Phuoc Tuy Province which was about 25,000 sq km in size, not a large area but varied in terrain, waterways, coast and tropical climate; ADF Vietnam veterans would be familiar with many of the places named/located on this map.

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Military history records state No. 9 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force having served operationally for some 5 ½ years in the war in Vietnam. This map shows Phuoc Tuy Province relative to other locations.

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