Australian International Airshow Preview

In April 1966, No 5 Squadron reformed at Fairbairn, and No 9 Squadron then deployed with the third batch of aircraft to Vietnam. Arriving at Vung Tau in June, 9 Squadron began immediate operations in support of Australian ground forces. Army roles included airlift and resupply, aeromedical “dustoff’ evacuation and insertion and extraction of SAS troops. Two of an enlarged version of the Iroquois, the UH-lD, were delivered over 1966-67 to Vung Tau as replacements. 65-10041 (c/n 5085) became A2-041 (later changed to A2-085). Six months later, in May 1967, 66-1166 (cin 5649) was received by 9 Squadron and although A2-166 was to be allocated, it became A2-649. It appears that there had been some confusion on allocating the last three of the constructor’s number or the last three of the US military serial.

The larger cabin of the “Delta” enabled carriage of an additional four passengers. A further six were delivered to 5 Squadron (A2-505 to A2-510 cin 9505 to 9510), but the UH-ID was soon superseded in production by the UH-lH, which had the same enlarged fuselage powered by the 1300shp T53-L-13. RAAF Deltas were later retrofitted to this Hotel standard.

Sixteen UH-lHs were ordered to replace the UH-lB in 9 Squadron and were delivered direct from the US Army to Vung Tau. A2-376 to A2-383 (cin 9376/9383, ex 67-17178/ 67-17185) were received in February 1968, followed in July by A2-766 to -773 (cin 9766/9773, 67-17568/67-17575). This enabled the withdrawal of the Bravo from Vietnam to Australia, where these aircraft were able to reinforce SAR flights at Darwin, Williamtown, Pearce and Butterworth, and the type was also flown by the Aircraft Research and Development Unit. As 5 Squadron was the training unit for 9 Squadron, the SAR flights and the RAN, in addition to providing Army support throughout Australia, a further seven UH-lH were ordered for 1970 delivery: A2-484 to A2-490 (cin 11772/11778) were ex 69-15484/15490. During 1969 gunship modifications were carried out on some aircraft by 9 Squadron. These aircraft could be converted from the “Slick” transport configuration to “Bushranger” gunships. Meanwhile 9 Squadron received two more Hotel models: A2-149 (cin 10149 ex 68-15219) and A2-110 (cin 11110 68-16451). With the loss on operations in October 1969 of A2-381 and A2-769 (both wrecks were later completely destroyed by SAS demolition teams), two replacements were ordered from the US Army. 69-15415 (cin 11703) and 69-15435 (c/n 11723) were delivered in July 1970 and serialled A2-703 and -723. With the subsequent loss of A2-768, -767 and -723, two further replacements were received in mid 1971: A2-455 (c/n 12455 70-15845) and A2-915 (cin 12487 70-15915). No 9 Squadron returned from Vietnam to Amberley in December 1971. Five more UH-lHs were delivered in 1973 and these later equipped 35 Squadron at Townsville: A2-278/279/295/296 and 310 (cin 1327&’13310).

The RAN has also operated the Iroquois: threeUH-lB and fourUH-lC models. Serialled N9-881 to N9-883 (c/n 881 to 883, ex US 63-12953 to 63-12955), the first batch were delivered in 1964. A further four UH-lCs, N9-3101 to N9-3104 (c/n 3101/3104 ex 64-17621/64-17623 and 65-12846) were delivered over 1965-66.

However, these seven were not the only Iroquois operated by the RAN. Aviators and ground crew fomied the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam flying American Iroquois as part of the US Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company. RAN crews flew the Iroquois on gunship and troop carrying missions from 1967 until 1971 from their base at Camp Blackhorse, 60 miles north-west of Vung Tau, and later Camp Bearcat, Bien Hou Province. The flight’s motto was appropriate – “Get The Bloody Job Done”. RAN aircrew also flew with No 9 Squadron in Vietnam. In Australia the RAN Iroquois served with HC723 Squadron at HMAS Albatross on utility, training and search/rescue tasks. After being withdrawn from seivice in 1987 the suiviving aircraft re-entered seivice due to the withdrawal of the Wessex. The final three ageing UH-ls (N9-887, N9-3101 and N9-3104) were then finally paid off from RAN service on May 31 1989.

A major though little !mown role for Iroquois detachments has been survey operations. Much work has been carried out over the past quarter century in mapping the remote areas of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. A different peacetime task has been providing support to United Nations peace keeping forces in the Middle East. All white RAAF UH-lHs with UN markings served with the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in Egypt at Ismalia (from 1976 to 1979) and with the UN Multi-National Force and Observers (MFO) in Sinai (1982-1985).

fu December 1984 the Bravos were replaced in service by the Squirrel in the training and SAR roles. The last UH-lB in service was A2-384, flown by 5 squadron up until March 1985. However, the last RAAF Bravo flight was on May 21 1985 when A2-1019, ear-marked for display at the Australian War Memorial, staged a ceremonial flight over Canberra. Suiviving aircraft were stored and offered for disposal in December 1985. Seven have since been exported to the USA

In August 1989 four UH-lH, from the batch that had been originally delivered as UH-lDs, were supplied to the PNG Defence Force. These PNGDF aircraft have been the subject of much speculation this year on the question of their possible use as gunships in Bougainville. The terms of the release of these helicopters to PNG were that they were not to be used for offensive purposes. PNG maintain they are armed purely for self defence. With the loss of the RAAF rotary wing capability, the remaining 25 Iroquois have been transfered to the Anny’s 171 Squadron and Aviation School at Oakey and 5 Aviation Regiment at Townsville. In August 1991 A2-376, of 171 Squadron, achieved 10,000 flying hours.

However, some aircraft remain in RAAF markings. A2-485 is still operated by ARDU at Edinburgh. A2-389 is restored at Fairbairn, and A2-1019 is stored for display with the Aus-tralian War Memorial. The Radio School at Laverton has A2-1020 and A2-1024 as training aids and the RAAF Museum has A2-384 and A2-1022. N9-3102 is displayed at the Naval Aviation Museum at HMAS Albatross, together with sections of N9-3103.

Rarely has an aircraft type seen such diverse operation with Australian forces and given such long and sterling service as the Iroquois.