The bigger picture re the 1960s
Hi TBM-Legend, Shark 06; let's consider the bigger picture regarding what was happening in the SE Asia/Australasia region during the 1960s.
The RAAF had 2 fighter squadrons (3&77) deployed to Butterworth Malaysia as part of the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve manned by Britain, Australia, New Zealand (over the period 1955 to 1971) for the defence of Commonwealth interests in the SE Asian region (see: Far East Strategic Reserve - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Additionally; a bomber squadron, an Iroquois squadron, a transport support flight, 4 RAAF Hospital, a large base squadron, sundry communications and headquarters elements. The composition of the flying components varied as Air Force Vietnam War commitments emerged. A smaller fighter squadron (79) drawn from Butterworth-based resources, was also deployed to Ubon Thailand as part of SEATO commitments, supporting USAF early Vietnam War operations.
Half of the RAAF fighter force was based remote from Australia, and during the period of Confrontation with Indonesia (1963 to 1966), another half squadron detachment of fighter aircraft (initially Sabres and later Mirage) was deployed to Darwin, manned from Williamtown based squadrons (75&76) for air defence to counter known intrusions of IAF Badger aircraft over mainland Australia. Sabre aircraft and pilot reinforcements were also sent to Butterworth and Singapore during 1963. The primary role of the fighter force during that era was air defence; but air to ground weapons training has always been a high priority activity since WW2 and is ongoing at the same tempo today.
The Vietnam War RAAF commitment (1966 to 1971) embraced 3 flying squadrons (Caribou, Iroquois, Canberras) and 2 sizeable base support units including airfield defence components, plus other joint headquarters elements. There was very frequent C-130 aeromedevac (558 Australians/New Zealanders killed and 2,485 wounded) and logistic support from Australia and LRMP aircraft were also pretty solidly committed to largely unspoken activities in the SE Asian region and escort for the logistic support aircraft carrier, HMAS Sydney.
Arguably, the regular Air Force was then the most heavily committed of the 3 Australian armed forces considering Army deployment of a brigade size force to Vietnam was only enabled by conscription applicable solely to that Service. Had Army conscription not been invoked, then maybe deployment of only a battalion group may have been sustainable over the 6 years of involvement.
Last edited by Bushranger 71; 22nd Jun 2011 at 22:05.