2 Squadron RAAF South Vietnam March 1969 - March 1970 / Ron Fernance

[United States Airforce Base Phan Rang, Ninh Thuan Province Vietnam 1969-1970.] Duc Trang [posing for camera]. One of the civilian local Vietnamese who worked on 2 Squadron complex next to the flight line. The majority of rocket and mortar attacks were set up by the locals working on the base during the day estimating distances etc. Duc's favourite pastime was procuring a western style meal, he would bring plastic bags to work and would separate portions into each bag for his family of wife and six children. He would normally survive on a small bag of rice with what looked like centipedes mixed in it. A very hard worker and always liked a practical joke. 2 Squadron RAAF flight line [ at Phan Rang]. U.S Navy [Douglas A-1E Skyraider] aircraft being used by the South Vietnamese for low level bombing with long range fuel tanks. E model Hercules stopping to take wounded. Road to Cam Rhan Bay, the hill in the background contolled by the Viet Cong. 1500 French graves at the foot of the hill. The Filipino drivers were contracted by the US to run our 750lb bombs to the base. 2 Squadron ran shotgun for these convoys and were always a target beacause of their loads. Australian supply ship. Vietnamese off loading barges. The water was full of lice and water snakes. When doing guard duty on the ships, you had to drop grenades over the side a different intervals to ward off sabotage. so to relieve the boredom you shined a light into the water and the snakes would form a ball and you tried to hit them with the satchels. Two boats and a jeep were procured off the Yanks for the pleasures of our Yacht Club. We eventually received four wind surfer type craft to use as well. Cpl Danny Shanley on his Sunday off, as can be seen by the empties, it was a very hot day. South Korean soldiers. they play this game of balance. These soldiers helped us defend 15 square miles of this base day and night. they hunkered down in a fire base outside the perimeter. I spent four months putting a model plane togeter. Every time someone passed by my bed they asked "How's the plane going" thinking they were interested in the making of the plane. On the maiden flight and mine. As soon as I landed it all my work mates raced out from their billets and ceremoniously stoned it to death. One bloke made himself a radio controlled jet. It took of and wouldn't return, last seen heading north in VC country. Some VC probably claimed it shot down. A [wrecked USAF F-100 Super] Sabre [result of a] direct hit by a [Viet Cong] rocket. I kept a calender on my locker in my billet and marked off all the Sapper/Rocket/Mortar attacks we had, I counted 128 for the first six months I was there. The problem was we had the U.S. MARS facility up above us on the only hill on the base, with the Officers Club and Commanding Officers Quarters as well, quite an inviting target. As well we had an oxygen plant not 100 yards from us which the VC honed in on. They nearly always fell short and landed on us. The sapper attacks got that bad out chiefs decided we had to have our own compound. Spraying for mosquitoes. On the road to Phan Rang. South Korean concert. All the boys were told the girls were going to do a strip. No such luck. All they did was prance about and tell jokes in Korean. FAC [Forward Air Controller] aircaft coming in for re-fuelling. C-123 special Airman recovery ship, downed airman inflates balloons, attached to a harness and this aircraft would trap the balloon, lifting the pilot on a cable and would be winched into the rear. they also used them for Gatling gun sweeps. South Korean fire base. FAC aircraft brand new [USAF North American] OV-10 Bronco [FAC aircraft]. C-123 heading for a drop. Crashed helicopter. Scene off base on perimeter. Dusk at end of runway. We had to secure the ends of the runway, a favourite place for VC to have pot shots at the aircraft, a game of cat and mouse. Gunships - we could call on "Puff the Magic Dragon" and this AC-47D had four mini guns on board with heat seeking radar and would patrol the sky around the base during the night. You had to make sure of radio contact on the perimeter at all times or oyu would get your arse shot of by these buggars. Super Sabre coming in [to land] with engine trouble. Puff the old Dakota. On top of the hill looking 360 [degrees] around the base - 15 square miles. At work-up range .50 Cal. [Heavy Machine Gun] on scout truck. Me on the M60 [Machine Gun] - had blockages. grenade throwing practice. Railway line to North Vietnam, we didn't catch the train. Canberra's in the nest, ready for bomb run. On the side is a tonnage reckoner. Jeff Riley inspecting the Canberra. Martin B-57B USAF version of the Canberra bomber. Gun pads. Super Sabre. Flight line at Phan Rang. Maintenance hangars. [Arrival of] first Mirage ever to fly in to Vietnam. [Mirages A3-92 and A3-90 of 3 Squadron RAAF.] Yanks never seen them before [shows USAF personnel in Mirage cockpit]. Back up C-123 for Mirages. Lockheed C-130 Hercules evac[uation] bird for more wounded. Work-up area for weapons. Cam Rhan Bay bomb run. Flight Sergeants Ray Hall looking very efficient. Temple outside Cam Rhan Bay. fire Base. Bomb run - one didn't make it. Air America drop. what a sight, our life line. One a week our silver bird would drop in with suppl's, mail and sometimes take home a few caskets. Worst job on [Viet] Nam. [Transcription of commentary provided by Ron Fernance. Additions to commentary in square brackets]