Gun Club at Nui Dat DPR/TV/1419

Members of the 1st Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam, have added a Gun Club to their already numerous recreational facilities. The ear shattering sound of the 105 millimetre Howitzer, frequently heard at Nui Dat, has been replaced on Sundays, operations permitting, with the sharp crack of double-barrelled shotguns picking clay pigeons out of the air. The 105mm Howitzers give support to Australian soldiers operating in jungles in Phuoc Tuy Province. Members of the Nui Dat Gun Club come from all units in the Task Force. Many have not taken part in clay pigeon shooting before, although all have a grounding in weapon handling before arriving in Vietnam. 235285 Captain Eugene Patrick Esmonde of Brisbane, Qld, and other soldiers adopt a firing position for a recent shoot. Instructions of the working of the clay pigeon releasers are given by 3791408 Second-Lieutenant John Fraser Ainsworth (left) of Plympton, SA, to Captain Esmonde (right) and 2791344 Private William Thomas (Bill) Murphy (middle) of Orange, NSW. The all important releasing of the "birds" during this shoot was performed by Sapper Henry Elfenben of Maitland, SA, assisted by Private Murphy. The club began shooting in March last year, with guns provided by the Army Amenities Organisation, after several inquiries from interested soldiers of the Task Force. A safety survey was carried out and a trap and six trap-guns were obtained for the club. The shooting trap was built with five concrete walk-up lanes and a concrete lined trap house. The club has more than 60 members and about 30 shoot each Sunday for two hours under The Australian Clay Target Association's rules. After the clay pigeons are released by Private Murphy, and shot down by competitors, the scores are recorded by Private John Wright of Bryon Bay, NSW. Marksmen take on all jobs associated with trap shooting including scoring, loading the trap and operating the release mechanism. During a shoot club members compete in events ranging from a five bird eye opener to deauville doubles and walk-up shoots.