Vietnam Air Force veterans honoured in Canberra
Posted April 4, 2008 16:12:00
Surviving members and families of Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) personnel who operated Caribou aircraft during the Vietnam War have been presented with the United States Air Medal at a ceremony in Canberra.
A plaque has also been unveiled at the Australian War Memorial commemorating the service of RAAF Caribou personnel.
A RAAF Caribou flew over the Memorial during the ceremony.
The first Caribous arrived to form the RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV) at Vung Trau in South Vietnam in 1964, becoming the first RAAF unit in the country.
By 1966, seven aircraft were flying with the RTVF and it was reformed as 35 Squadron.
The unit became widely known as 'Wallaby Airlines' due to its call-sign of 'Wallaby'.
Caribous remain in service today as a combat airlift aircraft at RAAF base in Townsville.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/04/2208337.htm?site=science&topic=latest
