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The Reunion.
I will outline some suggestions for the reunion marking the forty years since we left Vietnam - we left on the 28th February 1972. I was thinking of holding the reunion in April to coincide with Anzac Day but a lot of our members have commitments at that time and maybe are unavailable. So we will hold the reunion/celebration in February 2012. The “proposed” time-table would be:
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These are only suggestions. When we form the sub-committee we can start to confirm actual dates.
We’ve got a form on the web which you can fill in and let us know what you think, please click HERE, fill in the form and send it back to us.
Reunion speeches – this is difficult as to how many and what time do you allow, possibly our oldest surviving C.O. (not in age) and possibly the last C.O. when the Squadron left Vietnam and our association President, John McDougall, if he ever returns from Sydney.
I haven’t booked any entertainment as yet but we will do in the next few months.
I hope everyone who served will attend. Unfortunately, with some of our members through illness and other reasons, are unable to travel, it may be our last big reunion/celebration. Please let everyone know. I will put notices in R.S.L., RAAF News, local papers etc.
I will contact RAAF Public Relations, QANTAS, State and Federal Governments, Ms Alison Stanley, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Veterans’ Affairs in Brisbane.
If anyone has any contacts at QANTAS, would they please contact me to discuss the best way to approach QANTAS.
For those not familiar with Brisbane, when it's not underwater it is a great place, have a look HERE.
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Accommodation in Brisbane
during the reunion.
The Oaks Apartments in Brisbane provide
excellent affordable accommodation. Each unit has a private balcony
so you smokers will be able to smoke on the balcony. We will
approach them and see if we can obtain a ‘special’ rate for reunion
attendees.
Official RAAF participation. John Griffiths (right) is checking liaison with the RAAF to see if they wish to participate and/or also have a dedication service. Memorial Service - Caloundra. I attended a Memorial Service/plaque dedication to those who served in Vietnam at the Caloundra Air Museum. We displayed our banner with A4 173.
Vietnam Vets Association, Sunshine Coast. (VVAASC)
On the 3rd November, the VVAASC conducted a Dedication and Wreath laying ceremony at the Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra Airport to commemorate the memory of all RAAF personnel who gave their lives in the many conflicts in which the RAAF has been involved.
The date was significant because it marked the Day that Canberra Bomber A84-231 of 2 SQN went missing, which resulted in the fatalities of the two Crew, Flying Officer Mike Herbert (Pilot, left) and Pilot Officer Bob Carver (Navigator, right).
The Service was led by Padre Fry after which the Museum provided a morning tea and a demonstration running of a Caribou radial engine which was bolted to the back of a truck.
The Museum obtained Caribou A4-173 some time ago and is in the process of restoring it – a mammoth job (If you can help, they would love to hear from you)
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Brian Peck and his lovely wife were present as were Mick Ellis,
Allan Miles, Jeff
They actually started a Caribou Gold Engine which was bolted to the back of a truck. The engine starts and runs quite happily on standard ULP which is obtained from the local servo, no 100-130 fuel here. They have a problem with fuel feed, with the engine dragging fuel from the tank in such quantities that it causes eddies in the tank resulting in air bubbles in the fuel line. That will be fixed when the new tank is installed. The “gas” tank fixed to the right of the engine holds engine oil. The old girl burns so much oil they reckon it’s a diesel. I think I have it on video.
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Canberra A84-225 Nicole Fuge, Caloundra Weekly.
On November 3, 1970, 2 Squadron Canberra Bomber A84-231 went missing with Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver on board. John Miller, fondly known as “Wang” to his RAAF buddies, was based at Amberley when he received the call and was deployed four months early.
Navigating the replacement aeroplane into Vietnam, he had no idea whether his two mates were dead or alive.
John Miller (left) and Bob Bruce.
“It was very sad we had to go that way, because everyone knew Bob and Herbie,” he said. “We were part of the same outfit, flying Canberras.” When John arrived at Phan Rang, he was briefed and assigned to Herbie’s sleeping quarters. The fact his mates were gone was suddenly very real.
On November 3, 2010, Mal Sayers, Radtech A, from the Vietnam Veterans Association Sunshine Coast stood proudly in front of the Caribou on display at the Queensland Air Museum as he unveiled a brass plaque in dedication of the RAAF personnel who served in units and squadrons in the Vietnam War. Mal said the memorial at Caloundra would provide an outlet for RAAF associations across the Sunshine Coast to “call their own”. The service was particularly poignant as an Australian Defence Force team only found the aircraft in April of 2009 in the Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, near the border of Laos. FLGOFF Herbert and PLTOFF Carver were the final missing Australian Defence Force personnel from the Vietnam War.
When 2 Squadron returned to Australia, they were the only RAAF Squadron flying Canberras, and they continued with the aircraft well past its planned retirement date. Numbers 1 and 6 Squadrons had converted to the F4 Phantom, while waiting for the F-111, but 2 Squadron’s aircraft were fitted with survey cameras and they continued to provide valuable service completing many cartographic surveys in Australia and overseas.
The Canberra's distinguished RAAF career officially ended on 30June 1982 when No2 Squadron flew four aircraft over Brisbane and surrounding areas in a farewell fly-past. Bob Bruce said of the Canberra, “It was a very uncomfortable aircraft to fly in. The only altitude it’s comfortable at is 20,000ft where it can’t fly at operationally because people will shoot it down,” “We all get a tear in the eye when we think about the old Canberra” he said.
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The DVD.
The set of 2 DVD’s is now available, you can order yours for $10 which includes postage. The DVD’s include hundreds of photos of blokes who served with RTFV/35Sqn, lots of photos of caribous doing all sorts of things, plus photos of the two unfortunate crashes in Vietnam.
You can see a small sample HERE – it’s a big file and will take a few minutes to download.
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Wine, Beer and Spirits Glasses.
I have 54 wine glasses with RTFV-35Sqn Badge Vietnam 1964 – 1972. The glasses sell for $6 each or $35 per six pack – 6 of each or 2 wine, 2 beer/soft drink 10 oz (285 ml), 2 spirit glasses. Packing and postage is the catch. It ranges from $8 to $15 Australia wide
You can see a photo of the glasses HERE.
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Calendar.
If you want a 2012 calendar that shows when the reunion will be held and also has all the holidays and even phases of the moon, click HERE |
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Celery.
When you eat celery, do you ever wonder if you’re burning more calories than the celery contains? Do you drink soft drinks wondering if your bone health is suffering? Arm yourself with 5 nutrition facts so that you will be an educated consumer in the know. Click HERE |
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Health and well being.
Is red wine good for you - click HERE to find out.
Tomatoes - are they any good - click HERE to find out.
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Wear a Poppy.
Do you know why people wear a poppy on Rememberance Day?? - NO!!. Then see HERE.
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SE Queensland Transport Pass.
David Taschke Senior Product Officer TransLink Transit Authority
TransLink, which is an independent statutory authority, under the direction of the Queensland Minister for Transport, is developing a free travel pass for TPI holders in South East QLD
TransLink coordinates and delivers bus, train and ferry public transport services, as well as customer information, ticketing and infrastructure across South East Queensland and is one of the largest integrated public transport networks in the world. It operates across 23 zones and 7 regions which stretch from Gympie in the north to Coolangatta in the south and west to Helidon.
The pass and a lot of the details are still being developed, but below are a few points that have been released:
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Belatedly, I would like to wish everyone and their families a Happy New Year.
Look forward to seeing you in February.
Cheers
Sambo
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Pedrina, Mal Sayer, John Broughton and Trevor Benneworth. 
