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Aardvark |
Posted: Nov 19 2010, 05:23 PM
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General Dynamics F-111 (A8) Group: Members Posts: 241 Member No.: 3,706 Joined: 1-October 10 |
I know two people who have spoken to me about this subject, to the best of my knowledge they have never met.
The first person spent quite some years in Mirage squadrons and recollects seeing a photo of two (2) RAAF Mirages at Phan Rang. The photo shows a group of people standing around looking at them. He is now trying to remember who had the photo. The second person was in 2 Squadron at Phan Rang and told me he remembers helping to refuell them. Anyone have anymore information on this subject. |
Demon50 |
Posted: Nov 19 2010, 09:20 PM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 410 Member No.: 47 Joined: 14-September 05 |
I've learnt to never say never but that is the first I've ever heard of RAAF Mirages visiting Vietnam let alone a suggestion that a photo or photos may exist and I first started following RAAF Mirages in 1965.
Perhaps Mirages but may have briefly visited from Butterworth but surely none were ever based there. I recall that the French were strong opponents of any such move and would have resorted to all sorts of embargoes had the Australian Government of the day sent any squadrons to Vietnam. |
Rod Farquhar |
Posted: Nov 20 2010, 06:58 AM
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C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 789 Member No.: 4 Joined: 1-June 05 |
I was at Butterworth in 67 when 75Sqn first arrived, shortly thereafter I was attached to 2Sqn from about July to October- no Mirages then.
In 71 I was again at Butterworth for two and a half years, if it had happened the whisper would have got out no matter how hard they tried to hush it up. I do remember at the time there was a very strong rumour that a Sqadron of Sabres was going to be sent but that never eventuated, both Sabre and Mirage would be unsuitable for the type of activity there, especially with their limited weapons loads and no A/A refuelling. Next month I will be attending a Gunnies get together so will quiz some of the people there, many were at Phan Rang at various times. Rod. |
batman |
Posted: Nov 20 2010, 08:10 AM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) Group: Members Posts: 379 Member No.: 3,524 Joined: 7-April 10 |
Yes, it did happen. A pair only of 3 SQN Mirages, on transit from Butterworth, through Vietnam (SVN as it was then), to the Philippines. I think it was for an exercise at Clark AFB.
I can't remember the date, but I did read it in the 3 SQN A50 unit history. |
batman |
Posted: Nov 20 2010, 09:06 AM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) Group: Members Posts: 379 Member No.: 3,524 Joined: 7-April 10 |
Got the dates, 10-16 AUG 1969.
Pilots were Wing Commander Ted Radford (CO 3 SQN) and Flight Lieutenant Bruce Searle. Staged via Phan Rang in Vietnam. Conducted trials at Clark with the ALQ-72 electronic counter-measures pod on the Mirage. |
Rod Farquhar |
Posted: Nov 20 2010, 06:07 PM
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C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 789 Member No.: 4 Joined: 1-June 05 |
I have also done some more sniffing around, the excersises at Clark were Cope Thunder, an annual event for a few years, both 3 and 75 participated.
Rod. |
batman |
Posted: Nov 20 2010, 07:21 PM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) Group: Members Posts: 379 Member No.: 3,524 Joined: 7-April 10 |
Rod
"Cope Thunder" didn't start for the RAAF until long after Vietnam. During June 1983, 16 Mirage IIIO aircraft and a IIID dual deployed to Clark AFB, Philippines, for a three-week deployment to participate with the USAF in Exercise “Cope Thunder”. As Vietnam had fallen in 1975, the aircraft staged through Brunei. For the exercise, 3 Sqn was assigned to air defence, flying in an “aggressor” role against ground attack aircraft. I am unsure if 75 Sqn had the same role. The value to the Mirage pilots of the “Cope Thunder” training led to this exercise being undertaken again during September 1985. So back to the original question about Vietnam, the two aircraft staging through was August 1969. |
Demon50 |
Posted: Nov 21 2010, 10:07 AM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 410 Member No.: 47 Joined: 14-September 05 |
Hi guys
Thanks for the confirmation of what must be a very little known episode in the Mirage's career. Batman, is 3 Squadron's history readily avaiable and can you let me know the name of the book ? Cheers Bob |
Rod Farquhar |
Posted: Nov 21 2010, 10:24 AM
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C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 789 Member No.: 4 Joined: 1-June 05 |
Thanks Batman, I found the reference in " Seek and Strike" the 75Sqn 1942-2002 history by David J Wilson ( Banner Books). There were no dates mentioned so I assumed ( wrongly) that it must have been in the earlier time frame.
Rod. |
Aardvark |
Posted: Nov 21 2010, 10:32 AM
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General Dynamics F-111 (A8) Group: Members Posts: 241 Member No.: 3,706 Joined: 1-October 10 |
That didn't take too long to sort out, bet there were the odd ones who thought it could not have happened.
'Never say never', I think someone said earlier. Now! What were the tail numbers? |
batman |
Posted: Nov 21 2010, 12:35 PM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) Group: Members Posts: 379 Member No.: 3,524 Joined: 7-April 10 |
Vark, aha don't have the tail numbers, they were not in the A50. Only hope now is to look at photos. Unfortunately it was 3 months before I arrived at Phan Rang. I never heard of it when I was there anecdotally, but can ask around for any colour slides (which we were all taking back in 1969).
Re 3SQN history - I had access to the 3SQN A50s ten years ago when I was writing a history of 3SQN (but never completed). I did have photocopies of some pages. 3SQN history books - most recent was "Secrets Revealed", pub 1991. It doesn't mention the 1969 Phan Rang transit. However, it does mention that in SEP 1981, five 3 SQN pilots were attached to 75SQN for Cope Thunder. Then it says that the 1983 det (led by 3SQN with members of 75) went to Clark via Brunei in April - I had transcribed from the A50 it was June (so will need to follow up on that). It confirms the SEP 1985 Cope Thunder deployment, this time with twelve 3SQN aircraft. |
Demon50 |
Posted: Nov 21 2010, 06:00 PM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 410 Member No.: 47 Joined: 14-September 05 |
Hi Aardvark
It was me who said "never say never". I've learnt that whenever you go out on a limb, the odds are that you will fall off as I have learnt over the years. But I was 100% certain that Mirages were never based in SVN for political reasons ALTHOUGH there was always the possibly that they visited/transited on occasions as confirmed by other posts. |
batman |
Posted: Nov 22 2010, 07:25 AM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) Group: Members Posts: 379 Member No.: 3,524 Joined: 7-April 10 |
Vark, I have feelers out for a pic for you - so far 2 guys were away that week on R&R and never heard about it, and one can remember but no pics.
Re serial numbers I will narrow it for you. The final run of Mirage IIIOA aircraft from A3-80 to A3-100 had extra fuel with a wet leading edge. This batch equipped 3SQN when it moved from WLM to BUT. So the 2 aircraft are in that batch somewhere! |
Aardvark |
Posted: Nov 22 2010, 08:47 AM
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General Dynamics F-111 (A8) Group: Members Posts: 241 Member No.: 3,706 Joined: 1-October 10 |
Batman, the tail number request was to keep the thread raging, I did not expect such a quick response on the original post.
I was in 3Sqn July 74 to late 76 then went to 75Sqn, I remember all the 80, 90 series aircraft including 100, Bomball's jet, can't remember the dual. We also had an odd one out 26 it also had wet leading edges. I have a picture of the wreck in the transport section yard. |
batman |
Posted: Nov 22 2010, 09:05 AM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) Group: Members Posts: 379 Member No.: 3,524 Joined: 7-April 10 |
A3-26 was the IIIOA prototype, ie before the aircraft A3-51 and subsequent production run. I didn't know it had the wet wing, perhaps it was the prototype too for this mod.
I will let you all know if a pic of Miracles at PRG surfaces. |
Rod Farquhar |
Posted: Nov 22 2010, 09:31 AM
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C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 789 Member No.: 4 Joined: 1-June 05 |
A3-107 was the dual when I left 3Sqn in 1974, it had some corrosion problems in the cockpit floor so it might have changed later.
Rod. |
Aardvark |
Posted: Nov 22 2010, 11:07 AM
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General Dynamics F-111 (A8) Group: Members Posts: 241 Member No.: 3,706 Joined: 1-October 10 |
Yes 107 sounds familiar.
26 did have wet leading edges, that is why it was with 3 and not 75, all 3 Sqn jets had wet leading edges, no confusuion when refuelling. Can't remember if 75 had all dry's or a mixture. We were told that 26 was delayed at the factory and did not arrive until the 80's were delivered. The explanation for the mods is probably the reason then, don't actually know when it was delivered, just more stories you hear in the squadrons. |
batman |
Posted: Nov 22 2010, 11:32 AM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) Group: Members Posts: 379 Member No.: 3,524 Joined: 7-April 10 |
A3-26 was handed over to RAAF by GAF on 8 NOV 68. As it had been retained for mods, it was delivered at the same time as A3-98 and A3-99.
It went to 2 OCU initially, then to BUT on 26 SEP 69 for 3 SQN. It was the aircraft struck on the runway by the landing A3-64 on 6 JUL 76. |
Rod Farquhar |
Posted: Nov 22 2010, 01:24 PM
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C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 789 Member No.: 4 Joined: 1-June 05 |
Initially 26 was with 75 Sqn but was transferred to 3Sqn around 73/74 to make up for crashed aircaft, there is a pic of mine in the gallery of it with a neat black and white bow and a sign with words to the effect that it was donated to 3Sqn by 75Sqn.
I am also trying to track down one of the Armourers who accompanied the aircraft to Clark. Rod. |
Brendan Cowan |
Posted: Nov 22 2010, 03:58 PM
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Messageboard Co-ordinator Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,458 Member No.: 48 Joined: 20-September 05 |
I'd never heard of RAAF Mirages transiting SVN before.
I wonder, given that they were transiting an active theatre: - Would they have been armed or not? - Was there any agreed ROE if that found themselves in the middle of something that they didn't expect? As transits flights, you would not want to get into any trouble - but you would have to consider the risks. Fascinating! BC |
Rod Farquhar |
Posted: Nov 23 2010, 06:58 AM
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C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 789 Member No.: 4 Joined: 1-June 05 |
BC, given that the USAF had absoloute air superiority over the south it is unlikely that they would have been armed, transports and indeed our own Canberras flew unhindered right throughout the conflict(except for SAMs up near the border).
Phan Rang is not far from the coast so it would only have been on approach and takeoff that they were actually over "enemy territory". Because of the long over water flights involved they would have had a gun bay fuel tank fitted anyway to give them max range. Rod. |
Aardvark |
Posted: Nov 23 2010, 10:57 AM
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General Dynamics F-111 (A8) Group: Members Posts: 241 Member No.: 3,706 Joined: 1-October 10 |
Just spoke to the chap who helped rufuel them, said the yanks had fire trucks around them beacause they were paranoid about the spilt fuel from the jugs when they were being refuelled and we all remember the mess the crossfed caused with the overflow from the main tank caps when they got near full.
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a45521 |
Posted: Dec 26 2010, 11:02 AM
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Maurice Farman MF.11 Shorthorn (CFS) Group: Members Posts: 9 Member No.: 236 Joined: 5-December 06 |
This has turned into a fascinating thread about the Mirage. I have a few bits to add.
I have seen a colour slide of some 75Sqn mirages transiting through Phan Rang, date unknown, but it was taken by LAC Bob Gittus, (Junior to his friends). he showed me the slide at Williamtown in 1974, just before I departed on posting to 3Sqn at But. There were, from memory about 6 aircraft in 2 revetments, and there are USAF aircraft also in the photo. Butterworth didn't get revetments until 1976. A3-26s crash happened while they were being built. So there is no chance that I am confused with the revetments at But. Bob Gittus was an orderley room clerk at 2SQN in Phan Rang and was a Corporal at 481Sqn in Wlm. I have lost touch with him for several years, so perhaps someone reading this may know him and be able to copy the slide. Returning to the thread, 3Sqns dual was A3-107, apparently the corrosion problem had been fixed and the only other problem that it suffered was some serious burning to the rear fuselage when the aircraft was flown from Tengah, Singapore back to Butterworth with ferry tanks and the Centreline goodies tank, and was flown back with mini AB selected, which caused a major overheat in the rear fuselage. 107 was grounded for quite awhile. Regarding the spilt fuel on the ground under a Mirage, I was always of the opinion that it actually flowed into my socks and Tboots. It certainly felt that way. |
Rod Farquhar |
Posted: Jan 4 2011, 12:00 PM
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C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 789 Member No.: 4 Joined: 1-June 05 |
I have been pondering on the info supplied by A45521 and have a couple of problems.
1 we are talking about two only 3Sqn aircraft. 2 The attached pic is of the Phan Rang revettments in 1967 with 2Sqn lines at the top, there is no way three Mirages could be parked in one space. 3 The smaller revettments at the bottom house F-100s, simmilar in size to a Mirage, again would not fit three. 4 These are not taxi through revettments as were built at Butterworth so a towbar would have been required to back them in. Methinks the pic must have been taken somewhere else. Rod. Attached Image |
batman |
Posted: Jan 4 2011, 01:23 PM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) Group: Members Posts: 379 Member No.: 3,524 Joined: 7-April 10 |
I agree Rod. It might be possible to squeeze two Miracles in one of the revetments, but unlikely.
Your tarmac pic was taken in 1967 (as evidenced by all the B-57s before they were replaced by more F-100s). By 1969 (time of the 3 SQN transit) a large transit aircraft tarmac had been built beside the 2 SQN Hangar (to the left of the hangar in your pic and above the 2 SQN Canberra lines). Transit aircraft were refuelled on that open tarmac. This post has been edited by batman on Jan 4 2011, 01:27 PM |
xa-coupe |
Posted: Jan 5 2011, 04:23 PM
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Unregistered |
I spoke to my dad about this and whilst he cannot obviously guarantee anything, this is his response:
Haven’t heard this one before. Possible but unlikely because: Using a war zone as a training mission staging base would be crazy. Unarmed, ‘strange’, combat aircraft in a hot war? Probably get identified as a Mig 21 and shot down by the Americans. Can’t think of any essential training/trials available at Clark that would justify transiting unarmed fighter aircraft through VN. Ferrying Mirages via Phang Rang to Clark means the aircraft departed another foreign country, probably Malaysia and/or Thailand. This implicates them in the VN war. Malaysia was particularly touchy on that subject. Mirage ferry would require at least one C 130 support aircraft with ground crew and equipment, and possibly an Orion surveillance aircraft. Both at risk in VN. Can’t see politicians having the balls to approve that. The ALQ pod was standard USAF equipment. Our pilots could be trained by the USAF using USAF aircraft at Clark. No Mirage required. All Mirage/ALQ compatibility trials would have been conducted by ARDU, in Australia, when the ALQ was first bolted to the Mirage. Neither Radford nor Searle were Test Pilots. The value in having squadron pilots conducting ‘trials’ escapes me. OCU pilots would make more sense as they could then train the squadron pilots. and Googled Bruce Searle Fighter Pilot; The Vietnam Forward Air Controller Association lists Bruce [now deceased] as serving as a FAC in Vn from Nov 69 to Jun 70. Allowing for pre embarkation leave [married with kids] and any other training required before departing Aust, the value to the RAAF in sending him to Clark on a Mirage development mission in August 69 seems hard to imagine. This post has been edited by xa-coupe on Jan 5 2011, 04:23 PM |
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batman |
Posted: Jan 5 2011, 04:54 PM
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Lockheed Hercules (A97) Group: Members Posts: 379 Member No.: 3,524 Joined: 7-April 10 |
xa-coupe
I just about disagree with everything you have said. To transit SVN to Clark for the trial would have involved a lot of diplomatic pressure and clearances, it was not as you state "a training mission" and the US had full air superiority and radar control over the South. No big deal - we transitted regulalrly from Butterworth to PRG with Canberras, coasting in at the bottom of the delta (IV Corps) at that stage under US radar and air traffic control. And Malaysia were happy as long as there were approved Dip Clx and flight plans. What they had been sensitive about was the 79 Sqn Sabre rotations from BUT to Ubon. You can’t think of any essential training/trials available at Clark? The USAF had the EW training range there that the RAAF wanted to test ALQ-72 against. It was the only one in SEA. There was no EW training range available then in Aust, or anywhere else handy. This later was the range for Cope Thunder trials and training. "Mirage ferry would require at least one C 130 support aircraft with ground crew and equipment, and possibly an Orion surveillance aircraft." Probably did have a C-130 to accompany - or maybe just risked it with Mirage qualified groundies at PRG. Don't forget, 478 SQN at BUT did our D servicings, and guys from there were posted to PRG, and like Rod, would have experience on both aircraft. So no P-3, and probably no C-130, or even a TSF C-47. "The ALQ pod was standard USAF equipment." Yes, but not on a Mirage it wasn't. We had an "export" version, so whatever USAF had probably had no similarity to what we were sold. Also fuselage blanking under the rear fuselage of the Miracle would have been a concern. Perhaps some carriage trials were undertaken by ARDU, in Australia, but there were no resources to trial its effectiveness. "Neither Radford nor Searle were Test Pilots." Yes both were experienced Mirage pilots and that would have overridden any of your desire to involve OCU pilots or tps - it's not their job and I'm sorry if that escapes you. Yes, Surly Bruce then went as a FAC 4 months later from Nov 69 for the duty 6-month tour - he was there when I was. There would always be a pilot from each squadron in VN on a FAC tour - if they were from BUT then that was no big deal - his family was already installed in quarters at BUT or on the island, he had previously done his FAC course at 4 FLT WLM, and he probably only had one weeks pre-embark leave before getting on the Herc from BUT to Tan Son Nhut or Vung Tau. It was no big deal. I have seen the 3 SQN A50 about this deployment so was able to provide the dates. That seals it for me. |
xa-coupe |
Posted: Jan 5 2011, 06:00 PM
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Unregistered |
No use berating or asking for clarification from me, I had just stopped crapping nappies at the time.. please read what I said rather than flying off and typing in a frenzy: I spoke to my dad who was mirage aircrew at the time.
He also clearly states that what he says is not incontrovertible fact, just what he had to say about it. Given the limp nature of every political party involved, I really cannot see anyone sending two unarmed and essentially unsupported fighters via a war zone to anywhere. Full air superiority doesn't guarantee it won't get shot down by ground fire leaving the base or by a trigger happy American who had never seen a mirage before. If you have evidence to disprove everything, let's see it. |
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Aardvark |
Posted: Jan 6 2011, 07:33 PM
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General Dynamics F-111 (A8) Group: Members Posts: 241 Member No.: 3,706 Joined: 1-October 10 |
I started the thread based on first hand account from a person who was there at PRG when they arrived and then helped refuell them. As stated in the opening post I got the story from two different (unrelated) sources.
As batman says it is recorded in the 3SQN A50. We do not know the circumstances surrounding the trip and the level of secrecy that was applied and at what level in the squadron it was a 'Need To Know' event. This is maybe why a lot of people did not know about it and why some may still not accept that it happened. As for unarmed aircraft in SVN, I flew in and out of TSN in Qantas and PanAm 707's and they did not get shot at, well not the ones that I was on anyway. Has it been established that the Mirages were unarmend or has that been assumed As for political issues with Malaysia a 35 Sqn Caribou flew to Butterworth each month for a compass swing (a different aircraft each month). RAAF C-130's were in and out of SVN weekly via Singapore and Butterworth. The Medivac hercs overnighted in Butterworth with the patients being housed at 3 RAAF Hospital. I am reasonably confident that the Malaysian Government knew what was going on. . |
xa-coupe |
Posted: Jan 7 2011, 03:25 PM
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Unregistered |
Don't get me wrong, I would love to be proven incorrect. I often wondered about this myself given the proximity of Ubon and BW. Given how every man and his dog had a camera over there, I am surprised no one took a picture given how unusual it was.
What I don't like is being borderline abused for presenting something I bothered to ask someone in the know about. At no time did I say it was gospel and certainly didn't wish that any of it was true, it was just a relay of someones opinion. I do trust that we can all get back on track and hopefully someone has some actual evidence. sweet.. I have made a shorthorn ..... bring on a tiger moth. This post has been edited by xa-coupe on Jan 7 2011, 03:26 PM |
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Rod Farquhar |
Posted: Jan 8 2011, 10:30 AM
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C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 789 Member No.: 4 Joined: 1-June 05 |
Don't despair xa-coupe, I have been "CORRECTED" myself a few times.
As for proof I can only add this response I recieved from a fellow Armourer after I made enquiries on the Gunnies forum, I have known him for years and would vouch for his story. I remember the Mirages coming in to land at Phan Rang while I was with 2 Sqn. We all turned out to watch them along with a lot of Yanks who were interested to see what they looked like. There must be a few gunnies from that era who took photos but it was not me. Expected the Mirages to show off on departure but probably due to fuel constraints, they took off, slowly climbed and then faded into the distance. Mick Boyle As far as photos go, cameras were not as common as you may think. The use of 35mm colour slides had only just taken off and most people were using rangefinder cameras, there were some single lense reflex cameras about but they were expensive still. Both of these had the problem of either guestimating exposure setting or using a fiddly light meter. I was very fortunate in being posted to Butterworth in 1966 and that coincided with the release of Minoltas SRT-101 with a through the lense light meter, the forerunner of todays point and shoot, it was available and affordable, it and cameras like it made photography easy and popular. Just about everyone used 35mm slide film and for awhile slide shows were all the go, unfortunately once print film became more affordable slides went out of favour and no doubt many were just discarded or left in cupboards to go mouldy. So we have to have someone with that pic who kept his slides in good conditions until slide scanners were invented a few years ago and then digitised it, reads our forum and sends it in to us. No doubt there is a pic somewhere, if we are lucky we may see it but pics from that era are rare, just check out the image gallery for Sabres, Canberras and Mirages from that time frame, there are not that many. Anyway thanks for taking the trouble to make some enquiries. Rod. This post has been edited by Rod Farquhar on Jan 8 2011, 10:37 AM |
Martin Edwards |
Posted: May 12 2015, 07:41 PM
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FA-18F Super Hornet (A44) Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,206 Member No.: 27 Joined: 25-June 05 |
I thought I would resurrect this thread in case some new information has surfaced.
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Warhawk |
Posted: May 14 2015, 01:15 PM
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ADF Serials Research Co-ord Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 1,981 Member No.: 82 Joined: 9-March 06 |
At least I can supply the A50 per August 69 per PR
BTW, A3-107 was an original 69ner, and seemingly, from what I gathered, fitted for Recon back in the first year? Hand held camera? or a photo nose or pod? Gordy Attached Image |
Warhawk |
Posted: May 14 2015, 01:48 PM
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ADF Serials Research Co-ord Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 1,981 Member No.: 82 Joined: 9-March 06 |
I do know that the ECM Pod in question,... (, looking further on a few years, when ARDU carriage clearance trials were done in 1972), was the AN/ALQ-72 ECM Pod , which was capable of jamming the S-125 Neva (SA-3) Radar Guidance system.
This was for the F-100 size Tac Air Fighters and was a development of the AN/ALQ-71 Pod. This later pod was sent into the Vietnam War in late 68-70, but was never flown operationally during the war. Per the Sam 3 threat, the Huns were operating below the DMZ Per the Mirage in SVN,......we were worried with the possible use of the Mirage aircraft in lieu of Canberra's, whether a implication of possible French embargo was going to be thrown in our face. Bad enough regarding the Swedish Carl " Charlie Guts ach" Recoilless 84mm AT Rifle ban on use in SVN, then purchased for our boys. Gordy |
Martin Edwards |
Posted: May 14 2015, 10:20 PM
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FA-18F Super Hornet (A44) Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,206 Member No.: 27 Joined: 25-June 05 |
Thanks Gordy
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Aardvark |
Posted: Oct 20 2016, 07:58 PM
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General Dynamics F-111 (A8) Group: Members Posts: 241 Member No.: 3,706 Joined: 1-October 10 |
I has been a while since there was any movement on this thread.
Yesterday I received what you have all been waiting for, the image. I was sent an extract of Phan Rang news edition #117 and in it was an article by Bob Howe 2Sqn RAAF about the event and 'The Image' attributed to John Richards, later of 2Sqn RAAF. They transited through PR on the 10th and 16th of August 1969 and stayed for about one and a half hours for refuel and rest. They went to Clark AFB to do trials with the AN/ALQ-72 ECM pod subsequently obtained by the RAAF. Tail markings are absent. My associate who drove the tanker said the yanks were paranoid about the leaking fuel during the refuel and had fire trucks on stand by. Attached Image |
Martin Edwards |
Posted: Oct 20 2016, 10:51 PM
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FA-18F Super Hornet (A44) Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,206 Member No.: 27 Joined: 25-June 05 |
Thanks Aardvark.
Good things come to those that wait! |
Luig |
Posted: Feb 15 2017, 04:07 PM
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FA-18F Super Hornet (A44) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 2,011 Member No.: 80 Joined: 8-March 06 |
Have not had time to read the text in this Miracle History PDF but it may mention Vietnam - dunno:
The RAAF Mirage Story WingCo Susans 1989 http://www.radschool.org.au/Books/the_raaf...e_story_opt.pdf (15.4Mb) This post has been edited by Luig on Feb 15 2017, 04:11 PM Attached Image |
Aardvark |
Posted: Feb 15 2017, 09:55 PM
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General Dynamics F-111 (A8) Group: Members Posts: 241 Member No.: 3,706 Joined: 1-October 10 |
No !
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