Bell 47G-3B1 Sioux  




 

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History of Bell 47G-3B1 Sioux Helicopter


A1-402 Nui Dat

OPERATIONAL SERVICE IN SOUTH VIETNAM 

Thirty Seven (37) Bell 47G-3B1 Sioux Helicopters were sent to in South Vietnam with 161 Recce Flight & 161 (Indep) Recce Flt during the period of September 1965 and September 1971. 

The first two aircraft to go to Vietnam were A1-394 and A1-395.

The last Sioux to be flown in Vietnam was A1-738 on 13 Sept 71, by Mick Reynolds.

Eight of the Siouxs sent to Vietnam were shot down or damaged beyond repair and were written off (CAT 5).

Thirteen of the Siouxs which went to Vietnam did a second tour of duty with the Flight.

Whilst in Vietnam the Siouxs flew a total of 43,911 hours and 66,069 sorties.

Summary of Aircraft Tail Numbers and Dates of Service in Vietnam.
Aircraft No Dates in/out 161 Aircraft Status
A1-394 28 Sept 65 to 30 Apr 67  
  Aug 67 to Oct 68 CAT 5 - Tocumwal - New South Wales - 15 Nov 69.
A1-395 28 Sept 65 to 10 Oct 66 CAT 5 - Vietnam - Pilot Bill Davies
A1-396 Jun 67 to Dec 67  
  Oct 68 to Jun 69  Indonesian Aid 78 - H4712.
A1-397 Jun 67 to Oct 67  
  Jan 68 to Sept 68 Currently being rebuilt to flying status at Bankstown Airport.
A1-398 Dec 67 to Jan 68 Training Aid at RAAF Base Wagga 1975.
A1-399 Feb 68 to Nov 68 Training Aid at RAAF Base Wagga 1975.
A1-400 Jun 66 to 22 Nov 67 CAT 5 - Vietnam - Pilot Roger Colclough
A1-401 Nov 66 to 20 Nov 67 CAT 5 - Vietnam - Pilot Paddy O'Brien
A1-402 Jun 68 to Apr 69 Training Aid at RAAF Base Wagga 1975.
A1-403 Apr 67 to 02 Jun 67 CAT 5 - Vietnam - Pilot Ross Hutchinson
A1-404 07 Jun 66 to 30 Apr 67  
  Nov 67 to Sept 68 Static Display at Australian War Memorial - Canberra.
A1-405 Feb 68 to Sept 68 Static Display at RAAF Museum Point Cook - Victoria.
A1-407 May 67 to Feb 68 Static Display at Army Museum at Bandiana - Victoria.
A1-408 Jun 66 to Sept 67  
  Dec 67 to Oct 68 Sold - VH-KSO - 18 Aug 84.
A1-409 Jun 66 to Sept 67 CAT 5 - Vietnam - Pilot Blair Weaver
A1-635 Nov 68 to Apr 69  
  Sept 69 to 25 Mar 70 CAT 5 - Vietnam - Pilot Bob Hills
A1-637 Jun 70 to 09 Nov 70 CAT 5 - Vietnam - Pilot Terry Hayes
A1-638 Dec 68 to Jun 69  
  Jul 70 to Jan 71 Indonesian Aid 78 - H4711.
A1-639 Dec 68 to 18 Feb 69 CAT 5 - Vietnam - Pilot Ted Brooker
A1-640 Mar 69 to Aug 69 Static Display at Naval Air Museum at NAS Nowra - NSW.
A1-641 Jul 70 to Mar 71 CAT 5 - Lanefield - Queensland - 28 Sept 71.
A1-644 Apr 69 to Sept 69 CAT 5 - Tinaroo - Queensland - 29 Mar 71.
A1-645 Nov 68 to May 69 Indonesian Aid 78 - H4710.
A1-646 Apr 69 to Sept 69 Indonesian Aid 78 - H4709.
A1-673 Nov 68 to Jun 69 Sold - VH-HMI - 29 Mar 85.
A1-720 Nov 68 to Jul 69 Static Display at Museum of Australian Army Flying Oakey.
A1-721 May 71 to Aug 71  Indonesian Aid 78 - H4708.
A1-722 Aug 69 to Mar 70  
  Sept 70 to May 71 CAT 5 - Mt Wilhelm - Papua New Guinea - 29 Nov 73.
A1-727 Apr 70 to Jul 70  
  Nov 70 Aug 71 ?????
A1-728 Apr 70 - Aug 70  
  Mar 71 to Aug 71 Indonesian Aid 78 - H4706.
A1-729 Apr 69 to Feb 70  
  Aug 70 to Apr 71 Indonesian Aid 78 - H4705.
A1-731 Jun 69 to Mar 70 CAT 5 - West Malaysia - 05 Mar 73.
A1-732 Jul 69 to Apr 70  
  Oct 70 to Jul 71 Static Display at Museum of Australian Army Flying Oakey.
A1-734 Apr 70 to Oct 70  
  May 71 to Aug 71 CAT 5 - Ioma - Papua New Guinea - 24 Aug 72.
A1-736 Apr 69 to Feb 70 Indonesian Aid 78 - H4702.
A1-737 Jun 69 to Apr 70 Indonesian Aid 78 - H4701.
A1-738 Aug 69 to Apr 70  
  Jan 71 to 13 Sept 71 Static Display at Museum of Australian Army Flying Oakey.

 

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