SOUTH VIETNAM: AUSTRALIAN CANBERRA BOMBERS ARRIVE IN VIETNAM

Record ID: 358347

  • Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: AUSTRALIAN CANBERRA BOMBERS ARRIVE IN VIETNAM
  • Date: 21st April 1967
  • Summary: CANBERRA BOMBERS IN FLIGHT FORMATION; CANBERRA LANDING; AIR COMMODORE BOWLING SPEAKS, CREW MEMBERS. Initials PBS/V-S/MR/OS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 6th May 1967 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PHAN RANG, NORTHEAST SAIGON, SOUTH VIETNAM
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Reuters ID: LVA6HDVLLGC0CJQ0J4W3JT24S9GO
  • Story Text: NUMBER TWO SQUADRON OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE FLYING CANBERRA BOMBERS ARRIVED IN VIETNAM ON WEDNESDAY TO SUPPORT AUSTRALIAN GROUND FORCES. THE EIGHT BOMBERS FLEW INTO PHAN RANG AIRBASE, 160 MILES NORTHEAST OF SAIGON. THEY CAME FROM BUTTERWORTH, IN WEST MALAYSIA, WHERE THEY WERE PART OF THE COMMONWEALTH STRATEGIC RESERVE SINCE 1958.

    PHAN RANG IS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE AMERICAN 35TH TACTICAL FIGHTER WING.

    FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE BOMBERS WERE PLACED UNDER THE OPERATIONAL COMMAND OF THE UNITED STATES 7TH AIR FORCE.

    THE COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE U.S. 7TH AIR FORCE, LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILLIAM MOMYER, PERSONALLY WELCOMED THE 16 CREW MEMBERS. HE ACCEPTED OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE BOMBERS FROM THE COMMANDER OF THE R.A.A.F. IN VIETNAM, AIR COMMODORE J. BOWLING. WING COMMANDER R. ARONSEN, IS COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE SQUADRON.

    THE BOMBERS JOIN No.35 CARIBOU SQUADRON AND No.9 IROQUOIS HELICOPTER SQUADRON TO MAKE UP THE LARGEST R.A.A.F. FORCE ON COMBAT DUTY OVERSEAS SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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