This item was donatedby Squadron Leader Brian Leslie John Dirou (03141740 who was a pilot with the Royal Australian Airforce who performed general duties. Suadron Leader Dirou served in Vitnam with No 9 Squadron from March 1968 to June 1969 and June 1971 to Oct 1971. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) by the United States of America Armed Forces A Photocopy of the recommendations for honours and awards for Squadron Leader Brian Leslie John Dirou. See medial files for full story.royal australian air force, squadron leader brian leslie john dirou, 0314174, air pilots, raaf, 9 squadron, distinguished flying cross, united states of america armed forces, 104 signal squadron, sas trooper david fisher, 2787344, trooper, royal australian infantry corps, 2nd special air service squadon, 3rd special air service squadron, sas, nui chua chan (hill 837), us army 53 sig bn radio site, 152 sig det comcen, nui dat, 1961-1975 -- missing in action - australia, cpl richard "rick" talbot male, 43806, royal australian corps of signals, signalman david "murf" joseph murphy, 1733914, australian national serviceman, signalman john "dinga" william bell, 39415, us army 53rd signal battalion, operation aussies home

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