Although the Vietnam War commenced in the November of 1955, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) did not begin its involvement in this war until 1964. When a flight of Caribou transports where first sent to the port of Vung Tau. The Vietnam War was one of the longest conflicts in which all three Australian services were involved; the dominant role being played by the Australian Army.
Australia first supported South Vietnam in the early 1960’s to stem the spread of communism in Europe and Asia. In July, 1964 the RAAF sent three Caribou transports to the port of Vung Tau, on the coast south-east of Saigon, to support the Vietnamese and American forces fighting against the Viet Cong. The Caribou provided light tactical transport with rear- opening ramp doors to allow rapid loading and unloading. These three Caribou were later joined in August, 1965 by a further three Caribou to form the RAAF Transport Flight …show more content…
During in this time the US government requested support from other ally countries. It was at this time that the Australian government dispatch the 1st Battalion in June 1965, the Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) to serve alongside the US in Bien Hoa province. After initially defending Bien Hoa airbase in conjunction with the US, the 1RAR steadily increased the scope of its patrols. Later the 1RAR assaulted a large Viet Cong headquarters complex believed to be concealed underground in the Ho Bo Woods as a part of a joint military operation with the US known as Operation Crimp. This was hailed as the first strategic intelligence victory of the Vietnam War. Subsequently the battalion completed a twelve month tour attached to the US forces, through this attached the 1RAR developed new tactics and techniques that later became standard for Australian battalions that would subsequently operate in