Diesel Fitter
21st Apr 2009, 08:22
An Australian investigation team believes it has found the aircraft flown by the last two Australian Defence Force members missing in Vietnam.
Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver disappeared without trace in 1970 while on a bombing mission.
The Defence Department says a recovery team sent into the region a week ago found what it believes to be the wreckage of their Canberra bomber in thick jungle in a remote area near the Laotian border.
While no human remains were found, a number of military artefacts have been discovered including a club badge which was unique to RAAF's No 2 Squadron.
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, said the team had spent a week in the isolated province gaining information and hiking in to the wreck site.
"These brave airmen gave their lives in the service of their nation and locating the crash site is an important step in accounting for them, " he said in a statement.
"Relatives of the two crewmen have been advised of the discovery and Air Force will continue to keep them updated."
Mr Snowdon praised the team's use of innovative modelling techniques to narrow the area of interest.
He said the expertise of the Army History Unit in supporting the Air Force investigation was also priceless.
"Invaluable assistance has also been given by a number of former North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers and their commanders, as well as many local villagers, and their compassion and commitment in assisting us is humbling," he said.
Mr Snowdon said the next step would be an archaeological dig to confirm whether there were any human remains at the site.
Missing Australian bomber 'found' in Vietnam - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/21/2548783.htm?section=world)
Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver disappeared without trace in 1970 while on a bombing mission.
The Defence Department says a recovery team sent into the region a week ago found what it believes to be the wreckage of their Canberra bomber in thick jungle in a remote area near the Laotian border.
While no human remains were found, a number of military artefacts have been discovered including a club badge which was unique to RAAF's No 2 Squadron.
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, said the team had spent a week in the isolated province gaining information and hiking in to the wreck site.
"These brave airmen gave their lives in the service of their nation and locating the crash site is an important step in accounting for them, " he said in a statement.
"Relatives of the two crewmen have been advised of the discovery and Air Force will continue to keep them updated."
Mr Snowdon praised the team's use of innovative modelling techniques to narrow the area of interest.
He said the expertise of the Army History Unit in supporting the Air Force investigation was also priceless.
"Invaluable assistance has also been given by a number of former North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers and their commanders, as well as many local villagers, and their compassion and commitment in assisting us is humbling," he said.
Mr Snowdon said the next step would be an archaeological dig to confirm whether there were any human remains at the site.
Missing Australian bomber 'found' in Vietnam - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/21/2548783.htm?section=world)