Operation Windsor DPR/TV/927, 930 & 931

Accession Number F04240
Collection type Film
Measurement 6 min 57 sec
Object type Actuality footage, Television news footage
Physical description 16mm/b&w/silent
Maker Bull, Malcolm Norman
Place made Vietnam: Phuoc Tuy Province, Fire Support Base Dampier
Date made 28 September 1968
Access Open
Conflict Vietnam, 1962-1975
Copyright Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
Creative Commons License This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
Description

ANZAC troops of the 1st Australian Task Force have launched a new two-battalion operation in the north of Phuoc Tuy province. It is code named Windsor and has taken the 1 RAR and 3 RAR back to the jungle of the Hat Dich area, 10 miles from Nui Dat. This is the area of the recent Operation Hawkesbury in which about 40 enemy were killed. The Operation Windsor started with a heliborne landing by B Coy, 3 RAR, into Fire Support Base Dampier, on the Firestone Trail. Helicopter gunships fired rockets to help secure the landing zone - in the middle of a known VC area. Side gunners of the RAAF 9 Squadron Iroquois helicopters peppered the surrounding jungle with machine-gun fire as they lifted the first infantry units into the area. Within 10 minutes of the first assault landing, members of 6 Platoon, B Company, shot and killed a VC as they swept out to ensure the area was secure for the arrival of artillery. The enemy soldier was armed with an AK47 Chicom assault rifle and was carrying magazines, a diary and personal equipment. B Company continued to hold and secure the LZ as Chinook helicopters lifted 105mm artillery pieces and ammunition to establish the fire support base. The guns were closely followed by mortars as the defences for the operation built up. When the base is established the men of B Coy will start sweeping through the jungle to search out the enemy. (Also identified: Sgt Bob Power of Adelaide, SA; OC B Coy 3 RAR, Maj Bert Irwin of Hobart, Tas; Pte Jim Stark of Maroubra, NSW; Sgt Quan, interpreter. Also Lt David Barclay of Adelaide, SA; Pte Graham Smith of Brisbane, Qld, company signaller; Sapper Frank Sweeney of Bunbury, WA; Pte Hans Guther of Wollongong, NSW and CSM WO2 Gary Martin of Paddington, NSW.)

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  • Video of Operation Windsor DPR/TV/927, 930 & 931 (video)