RAAF Hercules bring back the last Australian troops from Vietnam, December 1972

The RAAF which began active operations in South Vietnam in July 1964 with three transport aircraft appropriately closed the book on the Vietnam war regarding Australia's involvement yesterday when two Hercules C130 transports from RAAF Richmond brought out the last Australian troops. The Hercules flew into the sprawling Tan Son Nhut airbase at Saigon early yesterday morning and one hour and a half later with a minimum of fuss or ceremony they were rolling down the runway with more than 70 members of the Australian Army Advisory Group Vietnam (AAAGV) aboard. The troops, who had been brought to Saigon by road from their bases in Phuoc Tuy Province over the weekend, were informally farewelled at Tan Son Nhut by the Australian Ambassador Mr A M Morris, the Commander of the Australian Army Advisory Group, 2283 Brigadier Ian Aubrey Geddes and the Embassy Air Attache, O11403 Group Captain Harold Kevin Parker. The training team members led by their Commanding Officer 337629 Lieutenant Colonel Peter Thomas Johnston flew into RAAF Butterworth for an overnight stopover before flying to Australia. [transcribed from PR storyline]. Also identified is the Visnews cameraman and correspondent Neil Davis seen filming the departure of the Australian troops]