Encyclopedia

Australian servicemen listed as missing in action in Vietnam

A total of 507 Australians died in Vietnam (478 army personnel; fourteen RAAF; eight navy; and seven civilians). This number includes six Australian servicemen (four army soldiers and two RAAF airmen) who were classified "missing in action" in four separate incidents. All six are presumed to have been killed in action.

Lance Corporal Richard Harold John ("Tiny") PARKER, 24, of St Leonards, NSW, and Private Peter Raymond GILLSON, 20, of Holsworthy, were both regular army soldiers with 1RAR. On 8 November 1965, during Operation Hump in Bien Hoa province, both soldiers were observed by their comrades to be hit repeatedly by enemy machine-gun fire at close range. Despite brave attempts by other soldiers, their bodies could not be recovered, owing to heavy enemy fire which pinned down their company.

Private David John Elkington FISHER , 23, was a national serviceman of Balgowlah Heights, NSW. He served with 3 Squadron, SAS. On 27 September 1969 , Fisher was a member of an SAS patrol which had contacts with parties of Viet Cong in south-eastern Long Khanh province, about 30 kilometres northeast of the 1st Australian Task Force base at Nui Dat. During a "hot extraction" by helicopter Fisher fell about 30 metres into dense jungle from a rope attached to the helicopter. He was believed killed but searches for six days failed to recover his body.

Pilot Officer Robert Charles CARVER, 24, of Toowoomba, Qld, and Flying Officer Michael Patrick John HERBERT, 24, of Glenelg, SA, both of No. 2 Squadron, RAAF, were both career air force officers. On 3 November 1970 they were believed killed when their Canberra bomber disappeared while flying a night bombing mission in the northern 1 Corps region of South Vietnam. An extensive aerial search of the area failed to find any trace of the aircraft or crew and was called off after three days.

Lance Corporal John Francis GILLESPIE , 24, of Carnegie, Vic., was serving as a helicopter medic with 8 Field Ambulance. On 17 April 1971, during a "dustoff" (medical evacuation) operation in the Long Hai hills in Phuoc Tuy province, Gillespie's helicopter was hit by enemy ground fire and crashed. His body could not be recovered from the burning wreckage.

Note: The remains of Private Gillson and Lance Corporal Parker were located in southern Vietnam in April 2007. They were repatriated to Australia in June 2007. Human remains located in February 2004 were positively identified as those of Lance Corporal Gillespie early in December 2007. He was repatriated to Australia later that month.

More About: