Allies in Air Power: A History of Multinational Air Operations by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky
Published: 2020-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Military Regions of South Vietnam. The Corps Tactical Zones were renamed Military Regions on 1 August 1970. Map reproduced courtesy of the Australian National University, College of Asia and the Pacific (CAP), CartoGIS. © The Australian National University, CAP, CartoGIS.

As the number of missions with Vietnamese FACs increased, the exchange initiative was broadened in June 1970 to ensure greater understanding prior to the conduct of operations.77 So-called combat pidgin English was also used to facilitate communications between Australian and South Vietnamese personnel.78 As a consequence, a number of successful missions were conducted with South Vietnamese FACs. In one example, Pilot Officers John Kennedy and Alan Curr bombed an enemy position 5 miles (8 kilometers) southeast of Ben Tre, Kien Hoa Province. Six bombs were dropped 245 feet apart, destroying seventeen bunkers and twelve fortifications.79 During another strike in support of friendly troops in contact, a 2 Squadron aircraft killed nine enemy soldiers and destroyed or damaged twelve bunkers and seven fortifications in Chuong Thien Province. The Canberra was diverted from its intended target and was directed by a South Vietnamese FAC to attack an enemy formation within 1,600 feet of friendly troops in what Pilot Officer Ross Hardcastle described as “a very good, well coordinated mission.”80

Familiarization—ideally before operations but during if necessary—proved to be the keystone to making the multinational mix work. Education and familiarization efforts such as FAC University helped to ensure that the differences between aircraft and among techniques and procedures were understood and assisted in improving the effectiveness of multinational operations. Furthermore, the rapport that developed between FACs and the Canberra crews reassured the Australians that the targets provided to them were legitimate.81 Liaison between Australian and American forces reinforced the strong relationship that had developed between the air forces and helped to ensure that any difficulties could be resolved promptly. Underpinning the RAAF–USAF relationship were a mutual respect and willingness to cooperate.

PLAYING BY THE RULES: AUSTRALIAN RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

The RAAF was limited to operations within South Vietnam throughout its involvement in the Vietnam War. Cambodia was considered to be a particularly sensitive area, with the Military Working Arrangement between the United States and Australia stating explicitly that “provisions will be made to insure [sic] that Australian Forces do not become involved in any incident along the Cambodian border, and in particular, that No 2 Squadron RAAF will not be allotted targets which may involve any danger of violation of the Cambodian border.”82 Number 2 Squadron was initially prevented from operating within 10 kilometers of the Cambodian border, but that restriction was later amended to 10 nautical miles (18.5 nautical kilometers) due to an “inadvertent change of the unit of measurement during correspondence.”83

The limitations imposed on the RAAF necessitated that plans for the operation of 2 Squadron be changed. The MACV commander initially expressed the hope that, “if politically acceptable[,] RAAF squadron would also be employed to satisfy MACV requirements in Laos.”84 Although the restrictions, which were largely political in nature, were readily accepted by the 7th Air Force, they did cause an element of disappointment at the 35th TFW and among FACs.

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