RAAF Flight suit : Lieutenant R S Vihel, United States Air Force

Green cotton one piece poplin flight suit. All zippers and snap fasteners are brass. The makers name 'LIGHTNING' is stamped on each zipper and 'CARR EAST / AUSTRALIA' is stamped on each button. The suit has a fold down collar and a pair of shoulder straps that are fastened to the suit with snap fasteners. The zippers above the waist line also have a knotted nylon toggle attached through the zipper loop to make accessing the pockets easier. The shoulder straps have Australian Flying Officer rank slides displayed on them. The left sleeve has a single combination vertically zippered pocket with a double pen pocket sewn on the outside. The pen pocket has a clip with two spring retainers attached. The suit has a throat to crutch zipper and a pair of zippers in the waist to access a uniform underneath or for venting. Located forward of the waist zips are adjustment tabs that are secured by snap fastener to a choice of three receivers. The suit has a pairs of zippered pockets at the breast, thigh and shin. The right thigh pocket has a leather bound spring clip sewn to the outside. On the inside of the flight suit just below the collar is the maker's label. The label is white cotton with the maker's details printed in black lettering 'M. PENNISI / 1968 / BROAD ARROW / SIZE 4 / 8415-66-013-1558'. Written on the label in permanent black marker is the number '3'.

Worn in Vietnam by Lieutenant R S Vihel, USAF, this Australian made, Green cotton poplin flight suit was obtained in a trade with RAAF personnel during his attachment to 161 Recce Flight. Richard Stephen Vihel was born in 1948 in Arizona, USA. After completing school, he enlisted into the USAF Academy on 29 June 1964. After four years, he graduated as a second lieutenant on 5 June 1968. He was posted to pilot training on 25 July where he learned to fly Cessna T-37 'Tweet' trainer jets and the Northrop T-38 'Talon' jet, the world's first supersonic trainer aircraft. Vihel successfully completed the training and graduated on 2 August 1969. He was posted to Vietnam on 5 November. Initially he joined the 5th Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Division as a Forward Air Controller (FAC), flying Cessna O- 1 'Bird Dog' aircraft from the main street of Song Be City. He was promoted to first lieutenant on 5 December. On 1 May 1970, Vihel was posted to the 18th ARVN Division and flew FAC missions from Xuan Loc. In June, he underwent training as a combat instructor which he successfully completed in July. Vihel was assigned to 1 Australian Task Force in September. He flew missions from Vung Tau in conjunction with 161 Recce Flight. During this time he was involved in instructing the Australian pilots in general flying practices as well as combat flying. On his last night with 161 Recce Flight, Vihel was given a farewell evening to remember by several of the pilots from the unit. He left Vietnam on 31 October and travelled to Australia. After one month on leave, where he travelled the country, Vihel returned to the USA. In December 1970 he was assigned to Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma to fly 'KC-135' air refuelling tankers. In February 1972, he was assigned to Goose Air Force Base, Labrador, Canada where he flew U- 1 'Otter' aircraft. He flew several variants of the aircraft equipped with floats, skids and wheels. On 25 July 1973, Vihel left the USAF. He has gone on to have a successful legal career and continued to fly after he completed his service.