Burned out remains of RAAF De Havilland Caribou transport aircraft A4-193 in a metal mesh parking ...

Accession Number	P03654.001
Collection type	Photograph
Object type	Black & white - Print silver gelatin
Maker	Adler, Fred
Place made	Vietnam: An Giang Province, That Son, Vietnam: South Vietnam
Date made	30 March 1970
Conflict	Vietnam, 1962-1975
Copyright	Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright

Burned out remains of RAAF De Havilland Caribou transport aircraft A4-193 in a metal mesh parking area adjacent to the base fuel dump. On 29 March, the 35 Squadron RAAF aircraft had just landed with its load of drums of helicopter fuel when it came under very accurate enemy mortar fire. The port wing suffered a direct hit and the rear fuselage was riddled with shrapnel. Fortunately none of the crew of four were seriously injured and managed to escape to the safety of a nearby bunker. In the early hours of the next morning the enemy attacked the airfield again and further mortar rounds set the aircraft on fire completing its destruction. Burnt out fuel drums litter the site and a US Chinook helicopter is hovering in the rear.