www.monumentaustralia.org.au

Transport Flight No 35 SquadronPrint Page Print this page

14-September-2014
14-September-2014

Photographs supplied by Russell Byers / John Huth

The plaque commemorates No. 35 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force which served in the Vietnam War.

Known affectionately as "Wallaby Airlines", it was the first Royal Australian Air Force (R.A.A.F.) Unit in Vietnam in August 1964 and the last out in February 1972.

Australia's military involvement in the Vietnam War began with the arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in South Vietnam during July and August 1962.  Australia's participation in the war was formally declared at an end when the Governor-General issued a proclamation on 11 January 1973.

However, the end-date of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War has officially been amended to 29 April 1975 to reflect Australia’s further involvement in the war during the fall of Saigon in 1975.  The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Australian War Memorial, in Canberra now recognise this new date.

Location

Address:7 Pathfinder Drive, Queensland Air Museum, Caloundra, 4551
State:QLD
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -26.798321
Long: 153.109207
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
View Google Map

Details

Monument Type:Plaque
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:Vietnam
Approx. Event Start Date:August-1964
Approx. Event End Date:February-1972

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Saturday 4th July, 2009
Front Inscription

RTFV / No. 35 Squadron, RAAF

"Wallaby Airlines"
RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV), later to become No. 35 Squadron, formed in 1964 and was equipped with DHC-4 Caribou tactical transport aircraft to support the operations of Australian and allied forces in South Vietnam.  It was the first RAAF unit deployed to Vietnam and the last squadron to leave in 1972.

Over the eight years 586 "Wallaby Airlines" ground crew professionally supported 204 aircrew flying 81,000 sorties ( totalling 44,000 hours) on combat support throughout South Vietnam, carrying 680,000 passengers and 46 million kilograms of cargo.

In honour of all who served

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au