Interesting story and very determined guy.

Hits the ball a damn site better than me

_________________
Mike (Pony) Moore
O42860
Ex-LT GLEN(ME)
16th MOBI intake
Jan 64 - Jul 88.
Anzac, Nirimba, Stalwart, Moresby, Creswell, Waterhen, Penguin, Vampire, GMGID (PJP), Coonawarra, Attack, Ardent, Cook, Kuttabull, Cerberus.

May your walls know joy; May every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibility.

Old Mate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHGsMYtrYOc

_________________
Wayne Johnson
(B149415)
OSC(SW) RET (RADARMAN)
Joined the Navy Jan 6, 1970, retired Jan 31, 1994
USS Trenton LPD-14, Hermitage LSD-34, Shreveport LPD-12, Saipan LHA-2, COMPHRIBRON-4 staff embarked in the Guam LPH 2, Saipan LHA-2, Nashville LPD-13, and Wasp LHD-1

Another 'well found' Wayne...

_________________

Rick Pengilly
WEBMASTER
Ex-CPOMTH3
R42630
13th MOBI Intake
July'62 to July'74
HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Melbourne - HMAS Cerberus - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Lonsdale - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Brisbane

This is a bit of a find. One of the trips I did to Vung Tau. Recognised it when I saw the Pilatus Porter being unloaded by Chinook. I think we carried four of them that trip, and one was shot down about a week or so later with the loss of both pilots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8u_aIWY ... re=related

_________________

Chris O'Keefe
R43136
Ex WO Chippy
19th MOBI Intake
July 65 to July 85
HMAS Nirimba X 4 -Penguin-Sydney-Queenborough - Creswell - Moreton - Stalwart - Platypus - Coonawarra Reconstruction Team 76 - Platypus - Hobart - Cerberus - FHQ - Coonawarra.

Anyone can be ordinary. Shipwrights choose to be extraordinary!

Least we forget

A Saigon Christmas By Commander Ed Bookhardt, US Navy, Retired

It was a rainy Sunday afternoon in December. Passing showers that had temporarily cleansed the rancid air now rose in a vaporous haze from the hot wet pavement. I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the parapet that surrounded the roofed-over canteen atop the Rex Hotel. Alone, I tried to organize my thoughts. I had been struggling for several days to fend off those all too familiar Christmas blues. At the same time, I was despising myself for it was against my nature to get down in the dumps. As I pondered, a strong breeze off the Saigon River began to rustle the treetops along the main thoroughfare. I traced its path until I felt its coolness on my face. It was a welcome relief to the stagnancy that prevailed.

The Rex located in central Saigon, was initially leased by the Army to house Military Advisors at the onset of the United States’ military commitment to the Republic of Vietnam. “The Roofâ€

_________________
Wayne Johnson
(B149415)
OSC(SW) RET (RADARMAN)
Joined the Navy Jan 6, 1970, retired Jan 31, 1994
USS Trenton LPD-14, Hermitage LSD-34, Shreveport LPD-12, Saipan LHA-2, COMPHRIBRON-4 staff embarked in the Guam LPH 2, Saipan LHA-2, Nashville LPD-13, and Wasp LHD-1

Great Photo's

USS Newport News when she steamed with HMAS Perth

http://www.tranhungdaotrip.com/perthmarek671018.html

http://dextergoad.com/photos3.html

_________________
Wayne Johnson
(B149415)
OSC(SW) RET (RADARMAN)
Joined the Navy Jan 6, 1970, retired Jan 31, 1994
USS Trenton LPD-14, Hermitage LSD-34, Shreveport LPD-12, Saipan LHA-2, COMPHRIBRON-4 staff embarked in the Guam LPH 2, Saipan LHA-2, Nashville LPD-13, and Wasp LHD-1

SeeJay

his is a bit of a find. One of the trips I did to Vung Tau. Recognised it when I saw the Pilatus Porter being unloaded by Chinook. I think we carried four of them that trip, and one was shot down about a week or so later with the loss of both pilots.

Remember that trip it was my first to Vietnam

Two Pilatus Porter planes we carried that trip

The two Pilots were Cpt B C Donaldson and Lt A D Jellie

I went to school with Allan and had only met him again briefly as they were about to disembark as the planes were airlifted off

I think it was Dec 3rd when they were shot down by groundfire while on a routine training flight getting to know the lay of the land

_________________
Charlie (Chuckles) Britt JP TPI
Welfare Pensions Officer
R95712
Ex-LME(D) LSMTP2
17th Intake JR's, 23rd MOBI Intake .
Oct 66 - Nov 74
Leeuwin, Nirimba, Cerberus, Stalwart, Cerberus, Waterhen, Penguin, Carpentaria, Dolphin, Penguin, Sydney, Albatross, Leeuwin, Acute, Leeuwin, Cerberus, Stalwart, Waterhen, Attack, Leeuwin, DEE.

Well, hows about that, Charlie!

When I went to the big Nirimba reunion in Canberra I visited one of the War Museum's annexes. It had one of the other Pilatus' that served up there stacked on a rack off the floor. When I commented to the worker there, he told me the story of what had happened to the one that was shot down.

It seems the two pilots had landed and taken off quite a few times, but instead of varying their route each time, they kept flying the same track. The noggies spotted that and lay in wait for them.

Gets very personal when you know the blokes concerned, eh?

_________________

Chris O'Keefe
R43136
Ex WO Chippy
19th MOBI Intake
July 65 to July 85
HMAS Nirimba X 4 -Penguin-Sydney-Queenborough - Creswell - Moreton - Stalwart - Platypus - Coonawarra Reconstruction Team 76 - Platypus - Hobart - Cerberus - FHQ - Coonawarra.

Anyone can be ordinary. Shipwrights choose to be extraordinary!

It this what you saw, CJ.

_________________
Brian Carney
R43371
Ex-WOMTP5
22nd Mobi Intake
Jan 67 - Jan 89
RANATE, Sydney, Swan, Creswell, Stalwart (FMU), Cerberus, Derwent, Nirimba, Parramatta, Nirimba, FHQ (FMMO).

That's the one, BC! Thanks for that.

_________________

Chris O'Keefe
R43136
Ex WO Chippy
19th MOBI Intake
July 65 to July 85
HMAS Nirimba X 4 -Penguin-Sydney-Queenborough - Creswell - Moreton - Stalwart - Platypus - Coonawarra Reconstruction Team 76 - Platypus - Hobart - Cerberus - FHQ - Coonawarra.

Anyone can be ordinary. Shipwrights choose to be extraordinary!