The Unit Citation for Gallantry was awarded to the 1st Australian Task
Force (Fwd) on 13 May 2018 for action during the battles of Fire Support
Bases Coral and Balmoral. Although 161
(Independent) Reconnaissance Flight is not listed on the Citation, there
were certain Air Crew and Maintenance personnel attached to, or who
provided direct support to the 1st Australian Task Force (Fwd) during Operation THOAN THANG, including:
MAJ George Constable |
2LT Bill Heron |
CPL Dave Manfield |
CAPT Roger Colclough |
2LT Steve Tizzard |
CPL Fred Baker |
LT Paul (Paddy) O'Brien |
2LT Dick Tippet |
CFN Dave Shearer |
2LTJohn Coggan |
2LT Don Moffatt |
CFN Phil Watson |
2LT Peter Spoor |
2LT Glen Duus |
CFN Stephen Giles |
2LT Peter Muir |
CPL Rod Morris |
PTE Chris Ham |
Note:
This list is not exhaustive and there may be additional 161 members who
were directly involved in support of the Operation.
|
MAJ George Constable
was Possum Master #3 and was shot down and killed on 23 May 1968 whilst
providing convoy escort to an Australian convoy going to, or returning
from, FSBs Coral and Balmoral. |
The Citation states:
The Battle of Coral/Balmoral began on
the morning of 13 May 1968, when 102 Field Battery and mortars from 1
RAR were attacked by 1000 plus fresh and well armed NVA where the ratio
NVA to Australian was 13:1. Bloody hand to hand fighting pursued until
the impact of 102 Battery firing spintex at point blank range into the
massed NVA broke up the attack and saved what was left of the mortars
and the guns of 102 Field Battery. Throughout the remaining 26 day
duration of the deployment, elements of the Australian Task Force,
including 1 and 3 RAR, A Sqn 3rd Cav Regt, C Sqn 1st Armoured Regt, 12
Fd Regt RAA(-) and 1st Fd Sqn, RAE with other TF supporting elements
were involved in defending brutal and continual regimental and battalion
attacks on the two fire support and patrol bases enduring mortar, rocket
propelled grenade and recoilless-rifle fire, whilst conducting offensive
action against a well prepared and defended bunker systems. The Task
Force's persistence slowly turned the battle from a desperate defensive
battle into a battle of domination. Throughout the period 12 May - 6 Jun
68, extraordinary individually and collective gallantry was displayed on
numerous actions that warranted recognition by way of awarding the Unit
Citation for Gallantry to units and men of 1ATF(-).
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