Leading Aircraftman (LAC) John Henson, a crewman-gunner with No. 9 Iroquois Squadron, was the ...

Place Asia: Vietnam, Phuoc Tuy Province
Accession Number VN/67/0106/03
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white - Film original negative 120 safety base
Maker Ward, Barrie Thomas Burrill
Place made Vietnam: Vung Tau Special Zone, Vung Tau
Date made August 1967
Conflict Vietnam, 1962-1975
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Leading Aircraftman (LAC) John Henson, a crewman-gunner with No. 9 Iroquois Squadron, was the first RAAF battle casualty in the Vietnam conflict. He was wounded in the leg when his helicopter was struck by enemy ground fire during a re supply mission in Phuoc Tuy Province. While Recovering at 8 Field Ambulance, LAC Henson, was sketched by a war artist. He is pictured showing the sketch to (from left) LAC David Spalding, another crewman-gunner, and a Vietnamese housemaid. The scar on his leg is the rapidly healing wound.