To say this will be one of the most anticipated ANZAC Days of recent history is no exaggeration – with the forthcoming commemoration already having so much extra emotion attached to it.
After all, this is the first full, traditional ANZAC Day to be held since the Covid pandemic forced everyone into lockdown last year, resulting in the alternative -yet moving – driveway dawn service to be introduced instead.
This year also marks the 100th birthday of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), a magnificent milestone celebrated with the theme of “Flying Into a New Era: 100 Years of RAAF”.
Barwon Heads local Tony Wheal will be out in his driveway at 6am on Sunday, listening to the ABC broadcast, and waving to his neighbours.
Tony is a Vietnam vet, a Bells Iroquois (Huey) helicopter pilot in Nine Squadron who flew just above the tree canopy or at 1500 feet over the Phuoc Tuy province of Vietnam.
Tony says that the ‘Huey’ is the best aircraft he’s ever flown.
“They’re un-killable, and an absolute delight to fly,” he says.
“It was an experience I wouldn’t have missed for the world…but one I’d never want me or anyone else to repeat. It was a heavily politicised war, a wrong war led by the US.”
Tony’s Nine Squadron was stationed at Vung Tau US army base, supporting three battalions at famed Nui Dat.
His helicopter got shot at only once, with bullets luckily only hitting the sand around the aircraft.
Tony’s crew of four performed untold medical evacuations, while they also flew the Huey that lifted the original Long Tan Cross into the battle site, with the evocative cross now on display at Canberra’ War Memorial.
HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE: Australia’s 16 Hueys all came home…around 4000 US Iroquois didn’t.
