W3 Company - Photo History

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photo gallery index

general operations
[other photos are with the various stories]

view from window of RNZAF C130 Hercules approaching the SVN coast [Young]

 prepared position FSPB Discovery [Young]

first view South Vietnam, near Vung Tau November 1969

field trench with steel & sandbag overhead protection
road deployment from Nui Dat, first W3 deployment in Vietnam [Young] Maj Torrance, Cpl Glendinning, Pte Howell, Lcpl Auld, Lt Upton [6RAR/NZ ANZAC history]

road deployment from Nui Dat, possibly 3PL,
first W3 operational deployment in Vietnam

Jan 1970 Op Napier- Coy & 2PL HQs
vicinity Viet Cuong Rubber Plantation
mortar action from the Nui Dat mortar compound, Mihinui, Condon & Rich [Binning] dismounted mortar section dug in FSPB Picton [Binning]
general duties inside FSPB Leloi [Stock] 2Pl waiting for work between night patrols and ambushes [Stock]
Op 'Bluewater' - deploying from 'Eagle Farm' LZ Nui Dat, Eagle Farm was a LZ next to the ANZAC battalion lines. Used for quick reaction moves or routine supply flights [Young] MFC 85B Young displaying his prowess in the 2PL beard growing competition, in the Light Green area near the coast [Young]
Dave Flintoff, mortars Colin Fraser enjoying siesta..
Campbell [on ground], ??, Harris, Cooper [Welsh] [Welsh]
2Pl post op admin parade, 2Lt Bob Upton on left [in shorts], Sgt Hemana behind, Rowsell walking past [Young]

Manu Fong beside MG post [hopefully with sentry forward..!] [Welsh]

 VC weapons & ammo captured in Light Green area NE of Horseshoe [probably 1Pl]

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Helicopter Types Encountered
Helicopters were part of the overall experience of infantry in 1ATF, the sudden rush to do an insertion from secure base to insecure LZ, the welcome resupply [maintdem], casevac of injured, delivery of heavy loads [often ammunition & defence materials].  The sound of the Iroquois flying in formation over 'Parade 98 - Vietnam Remembered' in Wellington 1998 reduced many veterans to tears...

'slicks' lifting a platoon or larger force to & from the field

typical single UH1 resupply for a platoon, usually every 3 days

Sioux light observation helicopter - it was this model that CO 2RAR was shot down in, late in the tour

'throw smoke..!' chopper on LP, soldier with pack on is waiting to return to Nui Dat, possibly for leave [Rowsell]

Chinook delivering large quantities of stores by underslung & internal means. One Chinook delivered over 100 ARVN soldiers to FSPB PICTON for local training

Skycrane were the ultimate lifters, at FSPB PICTON one removed 2 bulldozers by underslung strops on a single trip [Young] click photo for another photo of a Skycrane in action above HMAS Sydney
[6RAR/NZ ANZAC history] extraction end of Op Napier - Jan 1970 [helicopter flown by 9 Sqn RAAF. In five and a half years in Vietnam 9 Sqn UH-1 helicopters flew 237,000 sorties, carried over 414,000 passengers, 4,000 casevacs and 12,000 tonnes of freight. The Sqn suffered 7 aircraft destroyed or written off and 37 damaged, 23 by ground fire. 4 members of the unit were killed]

extraction by 9 Sqn RAAF end of Op Napier Jan 1970 - probably 2Pl or Coy HQ

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Nui Dat 2005
Ross Milne W2 visited SVN in 2005.  He advised "Nui Dat is now occupied by D445 and it seems they won the battle of Long Tan cause it cost $US30 to view the cross (a replica at that!)  They have about 1000 visitors per year.  The now named Vung Tau/Ba Ria province is quite wealthy and the progress being made in both Vung Tau and Ba Ria is quite spectacular."
2005 - ANZAC Bn flagpole base [photo courtey Ross Milne W2] The rubber trees are new plantings.

original HQ 2RAR/ANZAC with flag base in rear of fenced area

2005 - front gate Nui Dat base [photo courtey Ross Milne W2]

looking from SAS Hill across base area toward Dat Do & Horseshoe [King]

2005 SAS Hill - it has been extensively quarried [photo courtey Garry Adams]

2005 Kangaroo Pad - taken from the SAS Pad at Pelican Heights [this area was the main helicopter dispersal area when 9 Sqn RAAF were forward deployed] [photo courtey Garry Adams]

photo gallery index