Members of the 135th Assault Helicopter Company (135th AHC), United States Army, and the 2nd ...

Members of the 135th Assault Helicopter Company (135th AHC), United States Army, and the 2nd Contingent, RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam (RANHFV), an integrated unit designated an ‘experimental military unit', with the nickname EMU. Identified are 2267 Sub Lieutenant Charles Robert Richmond (Charlie) Rex, RANHFV (right) and Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Bob Merkley, Pilot, 135th AHC (second from left, facing camera), who had been shot down on three separate occcasions. The other servicemen are unidentified. The 135th AHC lost 13 members killed in action, 22 wounded in action and 25 aircraft destroyed from 1968 to 1969. Aircraft numbers were reduced from 31 to 17 with 15 having to be supplied for combat every day. Instead of flying 1500 hours per month which was planned, the unit regularly flew 3600 to 4100 hours per month and the resupply of stores could not keep pace. Pilots flew around 150 hours per month and their total hours of over 1200 were far above the 200 to 250 per year in peace time back home. Throughout their service in Vietnam members of RANHFV provided tactical airlift and gunship support for Australian and allied ground forces.