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No 2 Squadron flew its final Canberra bombing missions of the Vietnam War before withdrawing from its base at Phan Rang, in Ninh Thuan Province.

Canberra bomber A84-228 belonging to the RAAF’s No 2 Squadron was preparing to bomb a target 80 kilometres west of Hue, South Vietnam, when it was struck by two surface-to-air missiles (SAMs).

The Headquarters of the Integrated Air Defence System (IADS) was formed at Butterworth, Malaysia, to provide for the air defence of Singapore and Malaysia.

The first five of 24 F-4E Phantom aircraft, arrived at RAAF Base Amberley.

On this day No 4 Forward Air Control Flight was formed as an independent unit at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, to train RAAF, RAN and Army pilots in all facets of Forward Air Control (FAC) work.

In the early hours of 11 February, an eight-man section of RAAF Airfield Defence Guards on listening patrol outside the US airbase at Phan Rang, South Vietnam, fought an enemy party of unknown size.

Ten Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Sabre Mk 32s were officially handed over to the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

The ‘Telstars’ gave their final public performance of formation flying after five years as an official Air Force aerobatic team.

Australia’s initial order for ten P-3B Orions to equip No 11 Squadron for maritime patrol duties was delayed in 1968, not arriving until this day.

On the morning of 21 January 1968 People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces made their first attacks on the United Sates Marine Corps outpost at Khe Sanh. What followed was a 77 day siege whereby no one could get in or out. Indeed, the outpost could…

The RAAF received its first Aermacchi MB-326H (Macchi) in October 1967. The aircraft were selected by the RAAF as replacements for the Vampire and Winjeel trainer in 1965. The Macchi was a two seat advanced pilot and lean-in-fighter trainer. It was…

A crewman with No 9 Squadron in Vietnam, Corporal John Coughlan, volunteered to be winched down to provide assistance to the badly injured crew of a crashed US helicopter while ammunition exploded around him.

First medical evacuation flight direct to Australia from Vietnam.

Australian infantry heavily engaged in the Long Tan rubber plantation near the Australian base at Nui Dat, South Vietnam, were faced with vastly superior numbers of enemy forces. No 9 Squadron re-supplied the Australian infantry and later evacuated wounded following the enemy withdrawal.

On 12 June 1966 No 9 Squadron arrived at Vung Tau, Vietnam. The Squadron was equipped with UH-1 Iroquois helicopters affectionately known as the ‘Huey’. The Iroquois is inextricably linked with the Vietnam war and it is interesting to learn that…

The main party of Base Support Flight departed from Sydney and proceeded to Saigon via Manila, to provide the domestic services (barracks, catering, motor transport, etc) and personnel administrative functions required by the growing Air Force contingent in South Vietnam.

Motto: Adroit No 1 Combat Communications Squadron was first formed on 20 September 1965 as the Air Transportable Telecommunications Unit (ATTU). The Squadron is part of No 95 Wing of the Combat Support Group. The squadron's headquarters are…

When the Australian Government announced its decision to commit an infantry battalion for ground combat service in the Vietnam War on 29 April 1965 the Navy and Air Force were also given notice to move. The First Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment…

Air Marshal Sir Frederick Scherger became the first Australian airman appointed to Air Chief Marshal as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC). He was also the first Chairman and the first graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, to reach four-star level.

Three DHC-4 Caribou Mk 1 transports arrived at Vung Tau, marking the start of an Air Force presence during the Vietnam War which would last until February 1972.

Three DHC-4 Caribou Mk 1 light transports arrived at RAAF Base Richmond on delivery from the De Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada.

Selected to replace the Avon Sabre as the RAAF's fighter aircraft in 1960, the Mirage was the first aircraft in RAAF service capable of flying at twice the speed of sound.

Headquarters RAAF Station Canberra ceased to function on 31 May 1952 and Headquarters RAAF Canberra was formed the next day. Ten years later, on 19 March 1962, the name was again changed, to Headquarters RAAF Fairbairn, in honour of J.V. Fairbairn, the former Minister for Air who died in an air crash in Canberra on 13 August 1940.

The Department of Air began to occupy permanent offices at the Russell Hill Defence precinct in Canberra.

The RAAF’s two squadrons of Sabre jet fighters at Butterworth airbase in Malaya were both used on an Operation Firedog mission on this day.

The first C-130A Hercules touched down at Richmond airbase on delivery from the United States, beginning a new era in RAAF airlift.

Canberra aircraft of No 2 Squadron made the RAAF’s first jet bomber strike on this day, carrying out an Operation Firedog mission against Communist terrorists in Malaya.

Three squadrons were presented with the first Squadron Standards awarded to any Royal Australian Air Force units.

Three Neptune maritime patrol aircraft from No 11 Squadron arrived back at Richmond, New South Wales, after completing Operation Westbound—the first round-the-world flight by the RAAF.