Captain John E D White, Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam (AATTV) took over command of 11 Mobile Strike Force (Mike Force) Company in Da Nang, Vietnam, in February 1968. He was 26 years old. The 2 NVA Division was moving from Laos into South Vietnam and his mission was to establish contact with the division and trace its movements south. In mid-March the company was air lifted to the Special Forces camp of Kham Duc, near the Laotian border. They used an old French Foreign Legion fort as a temporary base from which patrols could be sent out. White called it Ngok Tavak after a nearby mountain. Initially, patrols failed to find the enemy, but in late April a patrol clashed with the enemy. At the same time, White received intelligence that the NVA division was closing in. At night they could hear explosions in the distance heading toward them. White decided their best chance was to leave the fort and take to the jungle to adopt guerrilla tactics. However, in the meantime a platoon of United States Marine Corps artillery arrived bringing with them two howitzers and a stockpile of ammunition. To abandon the fort was to abandon the guns. White contacted Da Nang, explaining the predicament, and was ordered to remain where he was. A Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) platoon was sent to reinforce his numbers. This was a para military force comprised mainly of indigenous highlanders, trained by United States Special Forces. They also brought with them two mortars and their crews. At 3.15am on 10 May 1968 some members of the CIDG chose to assist the NVA to attack the fort instead of supporting Mike Force, and close hand to hand fighting followed, along with grenade attacks and heavy machine gun fire. Air support offered a brief respite from the NVA attack, and some NVA forces were pushed back outside the perimeter by counter attacks, but at 9am White contacted Da Nang to advise that his position was untenable. A second attack was imminent and they could not withstand it, so they would have to withdraw. The wounded were evacuated by helicopter (under orders from Major Mai, the NVA had not attacked the previous medical helicopters that collected the wounded under the cover of air strikes) and at 1pm the rest of the force evacuated east, into the jungle. The NVA did not notice their withdrawal, and continued mortar attacks on the fort for another ninety minutes. Seven kilometres from the fort White called for a helicopter withdrawal of his forces. The force was successfully lifted to Kham Duc and then Da Nang. (Credit AWM)Coloured image of 7 soldiers (5 shirtless) posed on the edge of a foxhole with jungle in background. L-R Willie Swicegood (USA), John White (AATTV-Aus), Ken Benway (USA), Frank Lucas (Aust), Clay Aitkins (USA), Glenn Miller (USA), Don Cameron (Aust)john white, aattv, battle of ngok tavak

Wooden plaquie in shape of shield, brass pate attached. Green, gold, yellow & red 1962-1972 across top above the letters AATTV (Australian Army Training Team Vietnam) with a crossbow underneath then the word Persevereplaque, aattv

Storyboard of Ray Hinde, Mike Force Campany Commander, Pleiku, Van Kiep, June 1968 - May 1969. Service Number 213536, AATTVbehind the wire, storyboard, aattv, ray hinde, pleiku

AATTVbadge/buttons, vietnam, army

Bamboo quiver with 8 arrows made & used by an ethinic tribe of the Montagnard Highlands of South Vietnam. Many Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) members trained in that area & worked the hill tribespeople.montagnard weapons, quiver, aattv

A black and white photograph of Ray Hinde, Mike Force Campany Commander, Pleiku, Van Kiep, June 1968 - May 1969. Service Number 213536, AATTVphotograph, behind the wire, pleiku, aattv, ray hinde

Storyboard of Arthur Shelton, Platoon Commander, Battalion Senior Medic, Pleiku, Van Kiep, February 1969 - February 1970. Service Number 311517, AATTVstoryboard, behind the wire, arthur shelton, medical, pleiku, aattv

Swagger stick with engraving, 1965, buffalo horn. Presented to major Ian McKeown, Australian Army training Team Vietnam (AATTV). Maj Ian McKeown served with the AATTV from May 1964 until March 1965. This swagger stick was presented to him by the grateful men he helped to train. He does not know what became of them. On loan courtesy the collection of Ian McKeown. Made from buffalo horn. Engraved.swagger stick, maj mckeown, aattv, australian army training team vietnam (aattv)

This is part of a collection that was donated by Captain Michael Wells (2243275) who served with the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. Captain Wells served in Vietnam from May 1966 to January 1967 with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV).A black and white photograph mounted on cream cardboard. Under the photograph reads An l19 US FAC Aircraft used daily Recce of Phuoc Tuy Province, under direction of Capt Mike Wells, AATTV, Operation Advisor. Note the white marker rockets under the wings.photograph, capt mike wells, mike wells, the mike wells collection, 2243275, royal australian infantry corps, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), l19, united states fac aircraft, recce, phuoc tuy province, white marker rockets

A black and white photograph of Arthur Shelton, Platoon Commander, Battalion Senior Medic, Pleiku, Van Kiep, February 1969 - February 1970. Service Number 311517, AATTVphotograph, behind the wire, arthur shelton, pleiku, aattv, medical

Storyboard on John Riley, Medic in Saigon, Baria (near Nui Dat) from January 1970 - December 1970. Service Number 2789172. HQ AFV, AATTVstoryboard, behind the wire, john riley, saigon, medical, aattv, hq australian forces vietnam

A coloured photograph John Riley, Medic in Saigon, Baria (near Nui Dat) from January 1970 - December 1970. Service Number 2789172. HQ AFV, AATTVphotograph, behind the wire, john riley, medical, saigon, hq australian forces vietnam, aattv

Details a brief history of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, reason for the award of the South Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. AATTV was the highest decorated Unit in the Australian Army during Vietnam being awarded among others 4 Victoria Crosses.Famed certificate for Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation. Award given to the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. Frame is brown stained wood.cross of gallantry, aattv, vietnam

Black cotton long sleeved Asian style shirt. Three pockets on the front. Fabric badge top lefthand shoulder, with dragon insignia and green background, white trim. Name tag 'Chadwick'. AATTV fabric badge above pocket. Vietnamese fabric badge on left breast pocket.coolie shirt, aattv, 'chadwick', australian army training team vietnam (aattv)

Whilst cataloguing this North Vietnamese Flag, Mike Wells (donor of this item) told us the story about the flag that he donated. Mike said that he took this flag from a body or a bandit who got in the way of bullets. In 1966 Mike Wells was Operations Advisor from 1966 - 1967 at Phuoc. This is part of a collection that was donated by Captain Michael Wells (2243275) who served with the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. Captain Wells served in Vietnam from May 1966 to January 1967 with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV).Silk Viet Cong flag for placement over the body of North Vietnamese soldier. Flag is blood stained. Top half is aqua, bottom half red, with a yellow star sewn in at the centre. Mike Wells was part of the AATTV team.'Welles' is a name imprinted on hem.north vietnam flag, flag, mike wells, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), 2243275, capt mike wells, the mike wells collection, royal australian infantry corps

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 - Bearcat South Vietnam, 1970, a member of Australian Army Ttraining Team Vietnam (AATTV) instructs Vietnamese Ranger recruits in the correct way to land during parachute trainingphotograph, bearcat, aattv, arvn soldier, gibbons collection catalogue, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), vietnamese ranger, parachute training, 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 an Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) advisor with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), Armoured Corps, sharing a meal with his Vietnamese counterpart during a lull in operations.photograph, aattv, army of the republic of north vietnam (arvn), 1 corps, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), armoured corps

Dark timber framed, burgundy, matt board box display of VC winner WO 11 Kevin 'Dasher' Arthur Wheatley. Displays Warrant Officers' peaked cap, L & R sleeves with insignia & cloth badges of AATTV, AMF, rank, photograph & citation. eleven (replica) medals, four badges & a brass plaque.Brass plaque "WO 11 Kevin 'Dasher' Arthur Wheatley, VC 29890. Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. Royal Australian Infantry.medals, vietnam., victoria cross, aattv, wo ka wheatley

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 member of the Australian Aarmy Training Team Vietnam, is visited by two AATTV colleagues as he waits to be loaded into an ambulance for the short trip to Vung Tau Airfield and an RAAF C130 medivac flight home to Australia.photograph, aattv, vung tau airfield, raaf, c130 medivac flight, gibbons collection catalogue, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), wounded servicemen, 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 colour photograph of two members of the Australian Army Taining Team Vietnam (AATTV) operating with a local Vietnamese Regional Force Unit in the Mekong Delta of IV Corps. Regional Force Units were responsible for local village and infrastructure protection.photograph, aattv, mekong delta, vietnamese regional force unit, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, iv corps, australian army training team vietnam (aattv)

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 colour photograph of three members of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) discussing operational requirements with the senior Vietnamese Army Colonel at Pleiku, South Vietnam. The advisers with their American counterparts commanded a Montagnard Mike Force Battalion.A colour photograph of three members of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) discussing operational requirements with the senior Vietnamese Army Colonel at Pleiku, South Vietnam. The advisers with their American counterparts commanded a Montagnard Mike Force Battalion.photograph, aattv, pleiku, south vietnam, montagnard mike force, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), vietnamese army colonel

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 colour photograph of a member of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) supervising the traning of Chinese (Nung) Mercanaries at the Mike Force Training Area, Marble Mountain, Danang, 2 Corps region of South Vietnam.photograph, aattv, chinese nung mercenaries, marble mountain, 2 corps, mike force, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), mike force training area, danang

Captain John E D White, Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam (AATTV) took over command of 11 Mobile Strike Force (Mike Force) Company in Da Nang, Vietnam, in February 1968. He was 26 years old. The 2 NVA Division was moving from Laos into South Vietnam and his mission was to establish contact with the division and trace its movements south. In mid-March the company was air lifted to the Special Forces camp of Kham Duc, near the Laotian border. They used an old French Foreign Legion fort as a temporary base from which patrols could be sent out. White called it Ngok Tavak after a nearby mountain. Initially, patrols failed to find the enemy, but in late April a patrol clashed with the enemy. At the same time, White received intelligence that the NVA division was closing in. At night they could hear explosions in the distance heading toward them. White decided their best chance was to leave the fort and take to the jungle to adopt guerrilla tactics. However, in the meantime a platoon of United States Marine Corps artillery arrived bringing with them two howitzers and a stockpile of ammunition. To abandon the fort was to abandon the guns. White contacted Da Nang, explaining the predicament, and was ordered to remain where he was. A Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) platoon was sent to reinforce his numbers. This was a para military force comprised mainly of indigenous highlanders, trained by United States Special Forces. They also brought with them two mortars and their crews. At 3.15am on 10 May 1968 some members of the CIDG chose to assist the NVA to attack the fort instead of supporting Mike Force, and close hand to hand fighting followed, along with grenade attacks and heavy machine gun fire. Air support offered a brief respite from the NVA attack, and some NVA forces were pushed back outside the perimeter by counter attacks, but at 9am White contacted Da Nang to advise that his position was untenable. A second attack was imminent and they could not withstand it, so they would have to withdraw. The wounded were evacuated by helicopter (under orders from Major Mai, the NVA had not attacked the previous medical helicopters that collected the wounded under the cover of air strikes) and at 1pm the rest of the force evacuated east, into the jungle. The NVA did not notice their withdrawal, and continued mortar attacks on the fort for another ninety minutes. Seven kilometres from the fort White called for a helicopter withdrawal of his forces. The force was successfully lifted to Kham Duc and then Da Nang. (Credit AWM)A wooden shield painted grey/black celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Battle of Ngok Tavak. There are three messages from mates written in black on the back. The shield was presented to Capt John (Jed) White.Presented to Captain John White, AATTV from the men of the Mobile Strike Force, Danang, Vietnam, 1968.mobile strike force, capt john (jed) white, shield, battle of ngok tavak

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 colour photograph of a member of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) discussing operational problems with one of his American counterparts, while leading a Mike Force Battalion of Montagnards, in the thick jungle on the Cambodian border of 2 Corps.photograph, aattv, mike force, 2 corps, montagnard mike force, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), mike force battalion of montagnards, cambodian border

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 colour photograph of two members of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) operating with the Army Of The Republic Of Vietnam (ARVN), as they check map references and other intelligence information with an ARVN Officer prior to commencing operations in the Mekong Delta of IV Corps.photograph, aattv, mekong delta, army of the republic of north vietnam (arvn), iv corps, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), intelligence information

A paper Card with the words "Quang Tri" with one AATTV shield and a red shield underneathQuang Tricard

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 colour photograph of Capt Len Opie and WO1 Bill Birkett, of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV), at the special forces camp at Lake Lac Thien where they are working with Rhade, M'nong, Muong and Sedang Montagnards.photograph, aattv, capt len opie, wo1 bill birkett, lake lac thien, sedang montagnards, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), rhade montagnards, m'nong montagnards, muong montagnards

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 an Australina Army Training Team (AATTV) advisor at the Vietnamese Ranger, Parachute Training Establishment, Bear Cat, 3 Corps, watching Vietnamese ranger recruits practice the correct way to roll when landing from a parachute jump.photograph, aattv, vietnamese ranger, parachute training establishment, bear cat, 3 corps, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, australian army training team vietnam (aattv)