In August 1955, No 2 ACS deployed to Butterworth to rehabilitate the airfield prior to the movement of the Canberra bombers of No 2 Squadron and the Sabres of Nos 3 and 77 Squadrons in 1958. There were moments of tension in the South East Asian region between January 1963 and August 1966 the Indonesian policy of ‘confrontation�?against the nascent Malaysian nation involved the RAAF. Units were placed at readiness at Butterworth to meet possible enemy incursions and Sabre fighters from Nos 3 and 77 Squadrons flew border patrols over Borneo from the airfield at Labuan. The RAAF also committed a single squadron of Sabres (79SQN) to meet South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) commitments to the air defence of Thailand from June 1962 until July 1968.

RAAF units were also an important element in the Australian military commitment to the Vietnam War. The initial involvement was the Caribou aircraft of the RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (renamed No 35 Squadron on 1 June 1966) that arrived at Vung Tau on 8 August 1964. Affectionately called “Wallaby Airlines�? the unit operated a variety of missions until 26 February 1972.

The second RAAF unit to deploy to Vietnam was No 9 Squadron Iroquois helicopters, which arrived at Vung Tau in May 1966. Operations included troop insertions and extractions, ‘dust off�?of wounded soldiers, reconnaissance, fire support missions and aerial spraying. In 1968 Squadron Leader Brian Dirou and the armament personnel modified the helicopters to carry a forward mounted 7.62mm mini-gun, a rocket launcher and two M60 door-mounted machine guns.

The final operational squadron to deploy to Vietnam was No 2 Squadron, flying Canberra bombers out of Phan Rang air base from April 1967 until June 1971. During its service with the USAF 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, the squadron accounted for 16% of the Wing’s assessed bomb damage. Missions were radar directed (Skyspot) and low-level visual bombing; the latter proved most effective. Logistic support and medical evacuations were supplied by the Hercules from RAAF Richmond, New South Wales. Air Defence Guards secured RAAF facilities at Vung Tau and Phan Rang.

Air Force received 333 bravery awards in Vietnam. Two are of special note. Sergeant Gordon Buttriss was awarded a George Medal on 18 October 1966 and Corporal J.D. Coughlan a Conspicuous Gallantry Medal on 3 October 1967 for bravery while extracting crewmen from crashed helicopters.

In 1973 the most significant aircraft to enter RAAF history finally arrived. After 10 years of controversy, the F-111 bomber gave Australia its first genuine independent strategic strike aircraft. More than any other weapons system, the F-111 provided the notion and strategy for controlling our northern air-sea gap for more than 25 years. Less glamorous than the F-111, but arguably more useful on a day-to-day basis, the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft entered service in 1968 and also represented a significant contribution to Australia’s independent defence position.

Images for South East Asia and Vietnam