On This Day
1960-1975 > Vietnam era
On This Day - 1960-1975
- June 8, 1971
RAN HFV pilots ceased flying combat missions in Vietnam and the maintenance section were stood down on the same day. The next few days were spent packing and saying goodbye to their American comrades. With the departure of the last group of RANHFV ’70, the four year long successful integration of Fleet Air Arm personnel with the 135th Assault Helicopter Company ended and the 135th’s Experimental Military Unit status came to an end. The integration of a helicopter flight into a US Army aviation company was an event unique in the history of the Royal Australian Navy. The gallantry and distinguished service of RANHFV members was recognised by the award of three MBEs, eight DSCs, five DFCs, one BEM, 24 mentions in dispatches and numerous Vietnamese and United States decorations
- June 4, 1971
HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), participated in the repatriation of North Vietnamese POW’s in the demilitarised zone of Vietnam. Only 13 of the 570 POW’s expressed a wish to return to North Vietnam.
- May 29, 1971
HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), destroyed enemy bunkers and mortar positions during a bombardment of the De-Militarised Zone in Vietnam.
- May 21, 1971
HMAS Hawk, Curlew and Snipe deploy to Papua New Guinea to conduct a Mine Warfare Pilotage Survey and South West Pacific deployment during which they provided aid to the civil power in New Britain, Rabaul, in the aftermath of an earthquake.
- May 10, 1971
RAN Clearance Diving Teams completed their service in Vietnam. Between February 1967 and May 1971, they carried out the following operations:- searched 7573 ships for mines and other underwater explosive devices, made 153 major dives, other than underwater ship searches, destroyed 358 tons of heavy ordnance, and completed 68 special operations, such as ambushes of enemy troops and divers, bunker searches, and the recovery of sunken vessels and aircraft. Total casualties were one accidentally killed and one wounded.
- April 28, 1971
CAC Aermacchi MB-326H N14-078 crashed at Sussex Inlet, as a result of losing control during an inverted spin over the ocean. The crew, Lieutenant Errol Kavanagh, RAN and Lieutenant Peter Clark, RAN ejected safely with minor injuries.
- April 14, 1971
RADM W. J. Dovers, CBE, DSC, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Her Majesty’s Australian Fleet.
- April 9, 1971
The guided missile destroyer, HMAS BRISBANE, (CAPT R. G. Loosli, RAN), sank a Viet Cong sampan and destroyed several bunkers and a bridge, while in action off Phouc Tuy.
- April 5, 1971
The guided missile destroyer HMAS BRISBANE, (CAPT R. G. Loosli, RAN), commenced her second deployment to Vietnam by shelling enemy bunkers and supply trails in the Long Hai hills.
- April 1, 1971
The first long service and good conduct medals were awarded to native sailors of the Papua New Guinea Division of the RAN.