Photos Aussies and Kiwi's in Vietnam

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Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967. The biggest king cobra killed by Australian troops is the claim of these men of the 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit. To give some idea of its length seven Australian diggers stand shoulder to shoulder to fill the gap from the snake's head to its tail. The snake was caught and killed in a running night battle when it moved in on the occupants of a four-man tent.

 

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Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967. The biggest king cobra killed by Australian troops is the claim of these men of the 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit. The snake was caught and killed in a running night battle when it slithered into the occupied four-man tent. The snake measured 11 feet from head to tail. The man who shot the snake was Sergeant Len Jaago of Stafford, Brisbane, Qld and with him is Captain Karl Jackson of Chermside, Qld.

 

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Vietnam. 1967-05. These two weapons were a talking point when they were mounted and placed in the 161st (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight Officers' Mess at Nui Dat. The weapons are a US Carbine and a Chinese communist 7.62mm rifle, which are being held by, left to right, Captain Peter Robinson of Ballarat, Vic, Private David Keating of Rozelle, NSW, and Craftsman Bob Smith of Mildura, Vic.

 

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South Vietnam. June 1967. Gunners Neville Tunney of Ipswich, Qld (left), and Norman Jackson of Northfield, SA, discuss the capabilities of a US 175mm gun which belongs to the 1/83rd Battalion. The Battalion is based near the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) at Nui Dat and provides additional artillery support for the Task Force.

 

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South Vietnam. June 1967. Corporal Richard Kenney of Michigan, USA (centre), discusses the capabilities of a 175mm gun of the 1/83rd Battalion with Gunner David Higginson of Annangrove, NSW (right), and Lance Bombardier B. Tumai of Ngarnawakia, NZ. The US Army unit is based near the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) at Nui Dat, and provides additional artillery support for the Task Force.

 

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Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967-07. Sergeant Vivian Tippett of Waiouri, NZ (left), and Private Jim Watton of Wentworthville, NSW, connect a four inch pipe to a 10,000 gallon fuel storage tank before refuelling armoured personnel carriers of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, based with the Australian Task Force.

 

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Vietnam. 1967-07. Former Paymaster for troops of the Australian Task Force at Nui Dat, Captain Don Gow of Holland Park, Qld (left), in front of the cash office building with Sergeant Brian McGurk of Zeehan, Tas, before leaving for Saigon where he will be paymaster for the Headquarters of the Australian Force.

 

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Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967-10. Television personality Patti McGrath speaks by radio with troops who were stationed at outposts away from the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) base. Patti and fellow Melbourne entertainers Denise Drysdale and The Strangers were part of a Government sponsored concert party which toured all Australian bases entertaining the troops. Assisting Patti with the radio is Bombardier Vic Danko of Newcastle, NSW.

 

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Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967-10. Troops of 2RAR /NZ (ANZAC) (The ANZAC Battalion comprising 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and a component from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment), parade at their base to mark their unit's 22nd birthday. It was the battalion's first formal parade since its arrival in Vietnam five months earlier.

 

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South Vietnam. 1967-11. Mother Superior at the Baria Convent, eight miles south of the Australian Task Force (ATF) base at Nui Dat, helps Corporal Steve Bloomfield of Camp Hill, Qld, a member of the Special Air Service (SAS) Squadron, treat a wound on the leg of a young Vietnamese student at the convent. The student is one of many treated by SAS Special orderlies at the convent each week.

 

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Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967-12. Garrison military policeman, Private Derrell McDowall of Cairns, Qld, blindfolds a Viet Cong prisoner before he takes him to the Australian Task Force base for initial questioning. The man gave himself up to the Australians at a checkpoint at Hoa Long near the Task Force base, claiming he was sick of running away from the Australians.

 

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Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967-12. A frequent visitor to the checkpoint south of the village of Hoa Long near the Australian Task Force (ATF) base, was a three-year-old Vietnamese girl nicknamed Sandy by the military police manning the point. Private Terry Scott of Richmond, Vic, seen here holding Sandy.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-01. Two members of Support Company, 2RAR /NZ (ANZAC) (The ANZAC Battalion comprising 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and a component from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment), checking Claymore mines (antipersonnel landmines) and M26 grenades outside the Assault Pioneer Platoon shed. Note the ASLT sign to the right and the fire extinguisher on the wall to the left. Original caption reads `Minister's homeboy series'.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-01. A bare-chested member of 2RAR /NZ (ANZAC) (The ANZAC Battalion comprising 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and a component from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment), turns towards the camera while reading a map outside a tent at the base. Original caption reads `Minister's homeboy series'.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-02. Engineering officer with 161 Independent Reconnaissance Flight, Captain Mic Boland, tests a newly arrived Sioux helicopter at Luscombe airstrip. The aircraft, which had arrived from Australia, was found to have excessive vibrations which was another job for the Flight's workshop before it could be taken into the air.

 

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Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1966-12. A line-up of the types of aircraft which will be using the newly opened airstrip at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) base. In the foreground is a Sioux helicopter, flown by Australian Army pilots; in the centre is an American Cessna Bird-dog spotting plane, and taking off is a RAAF Caribou.

 

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Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967-12. 15233 Sergeant Reg Matheson of Hammondville, NSW, a member of 103 Field Battery, 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artiller (RAA), with his gun near a sandbagged area at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) base

 

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Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1966-12. The Saints Club chapel at the Task Force Headquarters received a new bell which was previously a fire station bell. The bell was donated by the Bowen (Qld) Lions Club and was flown in by the RAAF. Army engineers then built a steel tower 22 feet high for it to be hung from. Seen here are two diggers hanging the bell in its new location.

 

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Vietnam. 1967. On top of Nui Dat hill, the highest point in the Australian Task Force area. Gunner Ben Lombardo of Sydney, NSW, takes his turn on watch over the surrounding country. A constant watch is kept from the hill for Viet Cong activity in the surrounding jungle. Buildings in the background are part of the Task Force Base.