161 Reconnaissance Flight was raised at RAAF Base Amberley in June 1965 under the command of Major Paul Lipscombe. The reason for raising 161 was to support the Australian involvement in Vietnam.
On 11 September 1965, 161 departed for Vietnam aboard the troop carrier HMAS Sydney and arrived at Vung Tau, South Vietnam on 28 September. The flight then deployed to Bein Hoa airbase where it became part of the 1RAR Group operating with the United States 173 rd Airborne Brigade.
Further expansion of the Australian involvement in Vietnam began in April 1965. This included creating a logistics Base at Vung Tau, Phuoc Tuy province in preparation for creating a major Task Force Base further inland near Route 2, a position chosen that would enable the Australian Forces to deny the Vietcong the surrounding rice growing areas. The selection of the base area at Nui Dat was a critical factor in the success of future Australian operations as it placed a large fighting force right in the middle of what had until then been regarded by the VC as their territory, and served notice that they were now being challenged in their own backyard.
161 Reconnaissance Flight continued operating from Vung Tau, with aircraft being deployed forward to Nui Dat daily. On 7 June 1966, four additional Bell 47 G3B-1 Sioux's and a Cessna 180 arrived at Vung Tau aboard HMAS Sydney. Total strength was now six rotary wing and three fixed wing. The flight was then redesignated 161 Independent Reconnaissance Flight.
On the 18 th of August 1966, D Company, 6 RAR while on patrol in the Long Tan area, contacted a large enemy force moving towards Nui Dat with the intention of over running the newly occupied and yet uncompleted base area. The resulting Battle of Long Tan was a resounding defeat for the enemy which completely threw them off balance and decimated their forces. As a result the VC were never able to really challenge Australian Forces in Phuoc Tuy province for the remainder of the war.
The airstrip at Nui Dat was built by 1 Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers and opened on 5 December 1966 by the Commander of the 1 ATF, Brigadier O.D. Jackson. Named Luscombe Field in memory of Captain Luscombe RAA, it commemorated the first Australian Army pilot to lose his life on active service since WW1.
On 22 March 1967, the flight moved to Nui Dat and began operations from Luscombe Field. There it remained until its withdrawal to Vung Tau on 5th October 1971, along with the Australian Task Force.
Total hours flown in Vietnam operations by 161 were 72,000 hours. Three pilots and thirteen aircraft were lost in operations in Vietnam. Full statistics of this involvement are available from the 161 website at: http://www.161recceflt.org.au/UnitHistory/unit_history.htm
Frames from digitized 8mm movie taken 1967 of a fixed wing recon around Phuoc Tuy province. These recons were flown several times a day using both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Although recons were on a regular basis, particularly the first and last light recces, routes and actual times were varied to minimise the predicatability factor. These sorties often detected preparations for enemy operations.
161 operated several US Army Bird Dogs while in Vietnam. One Bird Dog was built using parts salvaged from US "bone yards", test flown, then on 161's return to Australia, stripped down and returned as "spare parts". Hidden for several years at Oakey it later emerged to be re-assembled and flown again. It now resides in the Museum of Australian Army Flying at Oakey.
"Bunny 2". Now on display after restoration, this Bird Dog is possibly the most immaculately restored example in existence. The story of how this aircraft came about will be told here soon.
Photos: On finals, The 161 Collection. "Bunny 2", the Museum of Australian Army Flying, Oakey
