The RAAF were supporting the Australian Army, in particular, 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian ...

The RAAF were supporting the Australian Army, in particular, 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR), with the supply of food, water and ammunition. The large contact of Australian Forces with the Viet Cong (VC) in the Nui Dinh Mountains, north of Vung Tau, near Ba Ria, called for heavy mortar and artillery barrage. The helicopters were the only means of access in the rugged terrain. In two days the six RAAF helicopters flew in over 2,000 mortar bombs and completed over 400 sorties. No 9 Squadron, RAAF, were also responsible for quickly flying the wounded Australians (mainly from booby traps with claymore mines) back to skilled medical attention. Here, the helicopter has just completed dropping in on troops to bring them a hot breakfast, water and ammunition to the battler headquarters and the Mortar Platoon. In the mountain range behind the rising helicopter is a VC stronghold which had been mortared throughout the night, with ammunition supplied by the Iroquois.