Expanding Horizons: Defence

Vietnam

An Iroquois helicopter unit , No 9 Squadron, operated in Vietnam and returned to Australia to be based at Amberley in late 1971.

Australia 's involvement in the Vietnam conflict was not universally approved by the public and unlike in other wars, the returning troops did not receive a heroes' welcome. The first Vietnam Veterans Day was held in August 1988 on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan and helped to give recognition to the people who had served in Vietnam.

Like members of the public, the service personnel who went to Vietnam had mixed feelings about the war.

Wayne "Whisky " Carter was already serving in the Air Force. His father was a World War II veteran and Whisky decided to volunteer for Vietnam. He arrived in May 1968 to provide maintenance support for helicopters of the Australian Task Force. His base was on the outskirts of the town of Vung Tau. He said he had access to the town itself, but a curfew was imposed at night.

"Vietnam was an eye-opener for me. Unlike any other war, you didn't always know who the enemy were. When you were walking down the street, you didn't know whether the people you were passing were loyal, or were members of the Viet Cong," he said. "There were even jokes that the local beach was a recreation area for the Viet Cong. "

Post-War Amberley
In the early 1970s, Nos 1 and 6 Squadrons used F4-E Phantoms while No 2 Squadron continued to use Canberras, modified for a new role as high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft.

Helicopter squadrons arrived at Amberley in the 1970s. No 9 Squadron flying Iroquois came from Vietnam and No 12 Squadron formed in 1973 to fly the versatile Chinooks, arrived in 1973.

The Chinooks were mothballed in 1989. They showed their value right to the end of their life - one of their last operations was to rescue a family from a yacht sinking in huge seas, a feat no other aircraft could have accomplished in the difficult conditions. In 1995, the mothballed fleet of old Chinooks were "traded in " for a smaller number of brand new craft and after being seen briefly at Amberley, were transferred to Oakey.

A major milestone in the history of Amberley was the introduction of the F-lll aircraft in 1973. These same aircraft remain in service today but constant technological upgrading has kept them in the forefront of military aviation and they are expected to keep operating until well into the next century. They are used for reconnaissance and precision bombing.