On 30 April 1975, as American diplomats and Mrines were being hastily lifted off the roof of the American embassy in Saigon into helicopters under heavy enemy fire, an era in American foreign policy was ignominiously coming to an end.vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 - united states, united states - foreign relations - 1945 -, saigon, us marines, american diplomats

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 two Huey 'slick" helicopters of the 135th Assault Helicopter Company collecting Vietnamese troops operating in the Mekong Delta area of IV Corps, South Vietnam. This Unit was unique, consisting of half Australian Navy and half US Army pilots.photograph, huey helicopter, mekong delta, 135th us army & ran, 135th ahc ran, gibbons collection catalogue, photographer, vietnam war, denis gibbons, vietnamese troops, iv 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 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

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)Black framed glass covered flag. Red material with gold fringe, gold writing with Blackbird in the centre with parachute holding 2 white swords standing on a gold star. 11Co. in gold underneath. Gold plaque mounted under the flag.GUIDON OF 11 COY (NUNG) MOBILE STRIKE FORCE (MIKE FORCE) /5th SF GROUP, 1 CORPS, SVN/ A Significant number of AATTV personnel served with this Nung Company based in Da Nang./ At the end of the Vietnam War, this flag was taken by a former US SF officer and held until/ when it was given to former Captain John "Jed" White (AATTV), CO 11 Coy (Nung), who led/ the MIKE Forces at the Battle of Ngok Tavak on 10 May 1968.battle of ngok tavak, mobile strike force, nung, john white

The thing is, helicopters are different from planes. An airplaine by its nature wants to fly, and if not interfered with too strongl by usual events or by a deliberately incompetent pilot, it will fl. A helicopter does not wat to fly. vietnam war, 1961-1975 -- aerial operations, american., helicopter pilots -- united states., military helicopters -- vietnam.

Even though the US Army possessed the Army Air Forces during World War 2, this was actually a semi-independendent arm inclusive of the Army Air Corps.vietnam war (1961-1975), military helicopters -- vietnam., vietnam war, 1961-1975 -- aerial operations, american, us army, army air forces

The item was donate by JD Giste, who served as a cook on HMAS Sydney in 1965.A colour image of helicopters landing on the deck of air craft carrier.us navy, huey, vietnam, giste, hmas sydney, ran, navy

Application of Light Aircraft to Royal Australian Survey Corps Survey Operations - MAJ LB Sprenger (RASvy) 1957. This is a report to determine if light aircraft was suitable and financially beneficial for use in Royal Australian Survey Corps Survey Operations. The results were so successful that funds were made available to RASvy for operation of light aircraft for survey purposes in the financial year 1958/59. For a number of years the US and Canadian Armies had made significant use of helicopters for survey purposes, this is the Australian experience. RASvy extensively used light aircraft for survey operations following this experience. MAJ LB Sprenger was later promoted and as LtCol LB Sprenger MBE he was the Commanding Officer of the Army Survey Regiment, Bendigo in 1969/70 and passed away during that appointment.A 23 x Foolscap page report of typed text, held together by staples and an ARNOS fastenerroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr

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 two South Vietnamese rangers sharing a joke as they are lifted into an operation by the 135th Assault Helicopter Company. The Unit was unique in South Vietnam in that it consisted of both Royal Australian Navy Pilots and US Army pilots.photograph, south vietnamese rangers, 135th aslt helicopter co. emus, ran, us army pilots, gibbons collection catalogue, australian navy pilots, denis gibbons, royal australian navy

The painting was donated to ANZCA in 1995 by Dr Bernard Dunn. Bruce Fletcher, from Melbourne Victoria, studied under William Dargie, who had been an official war artist during the second world war. Fletcher followed the same pathway as his mentor and was the first of two official war artists appointed during the Vietnam War. His artwork are held in the art collection of the Australin War Memorial, Canberra. The title of the painting, 'Dust Off' is a term adopted in Vietnam which refers to the medical evacuation of sick or wounded soldiers, from the field, by a helicopter. It was originally a radio call sign selected from a US Navy Signal Operations book in 1963. [ref. 'Medicine at War. 1950-1972'].In June 2012, a Royal Children's Hospital Anaesthetic Registrar attended a College Tour conducted by Dr Rod Westhorpe when he saw the painting and informed us that the term 'Dust off' emanates from the Korean War and is in fact the acronym for Decisive, Unwavering, Support to our Fighting Forces'. The painting was based on a black and white photograph taken in Vietnam in 1971. An image of the photograph is located in the electronic supplementary file. Oil painting on board of a scene in which a military helicopter is about to land with a group of soldiers in the foreground, one wounded and one soldier standing. A cargo military helicopter is in the distance flying away from the scene. The painting is set in a gold frame.[plaque affixed to centre front of frame] DUST OFF \ BY BRUCE FLETCHER \ DEPICTING THE MEDICAL EVACUATION \ OF WOUNDED SOLDIERS FROM THE FIELD \ IN VIETNAM \ PRESENTED BY \ DR BERNARD L. DUNNpainting, dunn, bernard, fletcher, bruce, vietnam war, dust off

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 US Army CH47 Chinook medium helicopter delivers ammunition and supplies to A Battery 2/35th US Artillery at an Australian Fire Support Base Bien Hoa Province, during the 1969 Tet Offensive. The battery was supporting 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion (Circa March 1969)photograph, 2/35th us artillery, chinook, tet offensive, 1969, fire support base, 4 rar nz, bien hoa province, gibbons collection catalogue, us army ch47 chinook, helicopter, 4 rar/nz (anzac), 4th battalion, 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 coloured photograph of G.I. Gunners of A Battery 2/35th US Artillery unpack ammunition and supplies deliverd by a CH47 Chinook helicopter at an Australian Fire Support Base.photograph, chinook, 2/35th us artillery, tet offensive, 1969, 4 rar nz, gibbons collection catalogue, a battery, us army ch47 chinook, australian fire support base, g.i. gunners, 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 coloured photograph of A US Army CH47 Chinook medium helicopter carries ammunition and supplies to A Battery 2/35th US Artillery, attached to the Australian Artillery Regiment, at and Australian Fire Support Base Ben Hoa province during the 1969 Tet Offensive. The battery was operating North West of the 1ATF Base. The battery was supporting 4 RAR/NZ.photograph, chinook, 2/35th us artillery, 4 rar nz, australian artillery regiment, fire support base, tet offensive, 1969, 4 rar nz, 1 atf, gibbons collection catalogue, us army ch47 chinook, ammunition and supplies, a battery, australian fire support base, 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 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