Royal Australian Navy (RAN)

9 Sqn RAAF detachment

In 1967 No. 9 Squadron was operating in direct support of the 1st Australian Task Force at Nui Dat. Late that year the squadron was re-equipped with larger Iroquois helicopters than those with which it had previously operated and its strength doubled to sixteen aircraft. Already heavily committed in Vietnam, Malaysia and at home, the RAAF was short of trained aircrew. The RAN was approached to help temporarily by providing pilots, eight of whom joined the squadron in 1968. Many of these later flew operations with the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam.

---