| Accession Number | VN/67/0029/08 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Negative |
| Maker |
Ward, Barrie Thomas Burrill |
| Place made | Vietnam: Vung Tau Special Zone, Vung Tau |
| Date made | March 1967 |
| Conflict |
Vietnam, 1962-1975 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
O310798 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Philip Kenneth (Phil) Cooke, of Watson, ACT, (left), O33062 ...
Description
O310798 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Philip Kenneth (Phil) Cooke, of Watson, ACT, (left), O33062 Wing Commander (Wing Cdr) Roy Stewart Royston, of Canberra, ACT, (centre) and O316957 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) William Allen (Bill) Gill, pilot of Canberra, ACT, (right) stand in No 9 Squadron, hangar, looking at a large bell presented to the squadron by the 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) after a joint operation in the hills north of Vung Tau. Flt Lts Cooke and Gill served together in the Royal Air Force (RAF) No 72 Squadron flying Wessex helicopters shortly before they were due to complete their RAF service. At that time Wing Cdr Royston was senior air staff at Australia House, London from 1963 to 1965. He interviewed both RAF officers when they applied for commissions in the RAAF, recommending that they be granted. As luck would have it all three ended up serving together in Vietnam for the No 9 Squadron.