Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of a RAAF 'Slick' Huey helicopter at the 1st Australian Task Force Base Nui Dat, preparing to lift out a Special Air Services patrol for insertion into the jungle somewhere in Phuoc Tuy Province. On this occassion, the operation was supported by US Huey 'Cobra' Gunships.photograph, raaf, huey helicopter, 1st atf base, nui dat, special air service regiment (australian army), phuoc tuy province, us huey 'cobra' gunships, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of Uinited States Army Chinook medium helicopters wait on Kanga pad at 1 ATF Base Nui Dat to move an artillery battery to form an operartional fire support base. U.S. Army Gunship protection is land to support the Chinooks (Circa June 1967)photograph, united states army, chinook, 1 atf, nui dat, gibbons collection catalogue, us army gunship, operational fire suport base, kanga pad, helicopter, 1st australian task force, u.s. army gunship, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of 1st Australina Task Force Commander Brigadier Ron Hughes standing beside the Commanding Officer Captain Ken Rubin 'Pappy Rabbit' Playboy 16, 1st Platoon 334th Armed Helicopter, prior to going on a flight in the Huey 'Cobra' gunship (Oct 1967 - Oct 1968).photograph, brig ron hughes, 1st platoon, 334th armed helicopter coy, playboy platoon, huey 'cobra' helicopter, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, 1st australian task force, captain ken rubin, pappy rabbit, huey cobra

After 2 years of negotiation between VVAA Representatives and the US Army, the Huey Cobra has landed in Melbourne. The exercise needed the support of our local Member, Mr. Greg Hunt, to ‘clear the way ‘ through the Customs and GST minefield. The helicopter, valued at $7.9 million is complete with full armaments and was brought to Museum standard while ensuring that no weaponry could ever be reactivated. The Museum paid for the helicopter to be ‘brought to museum standard’. This meant in part that the weaponry was rendered innocuous and various structural members were weakened to ensure that the craft would never fly again. Fortunately the alterations are not apparent to the display, and while there are two other Cobras in Australia, this is the only one with full armament. A heavily armed ground attack helicopter with single Lycoming T53-L-13 turbine engineused by the U.S. Army in Vietnam to support Australian & U.S. army ground operations. In addition to the M197 three barrelled 20mm Gatling gun, it carried eight anti-armour missiles and forty eight 2.75mm unguided air to ground rockets. This particular aircraft served in Vietnam from 1968 until 1971 and was damaged twice in combat. The aircraft is currently finished in a low visibility all-over mid green which includes the full US Army insignia and carries the Serial No. 69-15092helicopters, bell, weaponry, cobra, us military equipment, gunship

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of a Huey Gunship from the 1st Platoon 334th Armed Helicopter with its windscreen sprayed with mud from the explosion after firing two rockets into a VietCong sampan, loaded with explosives and ammunition attempting to enter South Vietnam down the Mekong River from Cambodia. The sampan was blown to pieces with all on board being killed and the force of the explosion pushing the nose of the helicopter upwards. nearly turning the aircraft over. The pilot had to fight the controls to regain a normal flying attitude.photograph, 1st platoon, 334th armed helicopter coy, huey helicopter, the playboys, mekong river, cambodia, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, vietcong, sanpan

The last Australian soldier to be listed as missing in action was Lance Corporal John Francis Gillespie of 8 Field Ambulance. On 17 April 1971 Gillespie was serving as a helicopter medic during a 'dustoff' (helicopter medical evacuation) operation in the Long Hai hills in Phuoc Tuy province. Four South Vietnamese Regional Force soldiers had been injured by a mine explosion and the difficult terrain demanded a helicopter evacuation. But the Long Hai hills were an insecure landing zone. The caves and dense timber of the Long Hais had long harboured a major Viet Cong base area and the dustoff operation required the protection of helicopter gunships. As the first wounded soldier was being winched up, the hovering helicopter was hit by enemy machine-gun fire. It crashed to the ground and burst into flames. Although the crew escaped, Lance Corporal Gillespie and three other soldiers were engulfed in the fireball. A helicopter crewman, Corporal Robert Stephens, repeatedly entered the burning aircraft and tried in vain to rescue Gillespie, until being forced back by the flames. Stephens was later awarded the British Empire Medal for his courage. Gillespie's body could not be recovered from the burning wreckage which was reduced to slag by the fire. Private Gillespie was listed as missing in action, apparently on a technicality because his remains could not be found. The classification was subsequently altered to killed in action.Stainless steel open ended bracelet with missing serviceman's full name and date missing. In a buff square satin lined box.MIA John Francis Gillespie 17/04/71mia, john francis gillespie, l/cpl john francis gillespie, 3170244, royal australian army medical corps, 8th field ambulance, cpl robert stephens, killed in action

In 1969 Private David Fisher, a national serviceman serving with 3 Squadron SAS, became the next soldier declared missing in action. In September 1969 Fisher was second-in-command of a five-man, long range SAS patrol searching for signs of enemy activity near the Nui May Tao massif in south-eastern Long Khanh province. After patrolling for seven days in persistent rain, on 27 September the Australians had a series of sharp contacts with strong groups of Viet Cong. Outnumbered and pursued through the jungle, they called for a helicopter extraction. The helicopters arrived within half an hour, just as the enemy were closing in on the SAS soldiers. During the hectic moments of the "hot" extraction, while under fire and surrounded by the enemy, the members of the patrol clipped on their karabiners and attached themselves to ropes dangling from a helicopter and were lifted clear of the jungle. As the helicopter gathered speed and helicopter gunships moved in to fire on the enemy on the ground, the patrol members suddenly noticed that Private Fisher was missing. He had fallen from his rope from a height of about 30 metres above the tree canopy. It was later suggested that, under pressure, Fisher may have attached his karabiner to the wrong loop on the rope. An air search began within ten minutes of the incident and a ground search began within five hours. A ten-man SAS patrol searched the jungle around the site, joined the following day by rifle companies who searched for the next six days. Fisher's body was never found, and he was declared missing in action, presumed dead. He had only two months remaining of his tour of duty.Stainless steel open-ended bracelet engraved with missing serviceman's full name and date missing. In a buff square velvet satin-lined box.David John Elkington Fisher 27/09/69mia, david john elkington fisher, trooper david john fisher, 2787344, australian national serviceman, royal australian infantry corps, 2nd special air service squadon, 3rd special air service squadron, sas

Three piece Poster, Information Board. Left on dark green background with yellow Corps Emblem with white text on the history of Vietnam during their 1st and 2nd tour. Centre section there is a coloured photograph of four soldiers standing in a field and four black and white Photograph to the right of the board of soldiers patrolling and resupplying with helicopter. On the right on a dark green background is a Roll of Honour to the many soldiers who lost their lives in Vietnam.2 RAR: This photo was taken by Elvon King of Delta Company in September of 1967. This photo was chosen without the knowledge of the historical significance of the shot, which proved to be very momentous. For within a very short time (about 30 seconds) of the photo being taken a wayward rocket from a U.S. gunship landed amongst this group of men in the photo, resulting in three of them being killed and forteen being wounded. Elvon King was one of the wounded. The three men in the photo are left to right Dennis (Dave) Enright who lost a and foot in the incident. Harry Leggett who received shrapnel wounds, and Stan Radomi who was killed outright. A very poignant moment in time. these thoughts about the incident from Wally Musgrave was one of those severly wounded at the time. What could have been a sunny afternoon at a Newcastle or Bondi Hotel or beer Garden..... After what could have been a week of patrolling, it was back inside the wire to scrub up and top up on fluids. Next morning, at 9.00, we went out side of the wire for a fire power, demonstration to satisfy a visiting General. The sun was shining, no seating, grass wasn't cut but we were young and so we thought bullet proof. then someone asked for the old Iroguois gun ship which had been firing rockets at a dead tree to be swung around to fire rockets over our heads. Why?? I haven't given "why" that much thought, but the 1 metre long port side rocket tumbled down amongst us and I'm sure everyone who was there can close their eyes and still see it today. This tumbling rocket landed where these three mates were standing amongst 11 and 12 platoon's young soldiers, chatting in the sun, then we were sailing through the air. I didn't see the devastation myself. I was under bodies. As first Dustoff priority we were off to 36 Evacuation Hospital at Vung Tau. There were two doos, one to the Morgue and one at the Hospital. Lucky me. I went through the Hospital door. eight major operations at once. three dead, forteen wounded and nothing on record!! Yeah it was a lovely Sunny Day at Nui Dat., we'll leave it at that! We can't change yesterday. I'm just another Nazho.poster, information board, 2 rar, elvon king