Cessna 180

History of Cessna 180

161 War Bird!

A98-063 Vung Tau 1966-67

OPERATIONAL SERVICE IN SOUTH VIETNAM
WITH 161 RECCE FLIGHT

Only seven Cessna 180s were deployed to South Vietnam for operational service with 161 Recce Flt from September 1965 until February 1971.

The first two Cessnas to go to Vietnam were A98-043 & -045. The aircraft were off-loaded from HMAS SYDNEY off the coast of Vung Tau on 28 September 1965 by a US Army CH-34 Choctaw helicopter to Vung Tau airfield, where they were re-assembled before being flown to Bien Hoa on 01 Oct 65. The attached photo features A98-045 being off loaded from HMAS SYDNEY.

Both of these aircraft had major 'E' Servicings (1200hrs) carried out on them by members of 161 (Indep) Recce Flt at Vung Tau at the end of 1966 and early 1967.

Only three of the seven Cessnas were lost/destroyed whilst in Vietnam, and no pilots were lost whilst flying Cessna 180s.

Note: Maj George Constable, whilst flying a Cessna O-1G Bird Dog (which was on extended loan from the US Army) was shot down by enemy small arms fire and crash landed. Maj Constable died in the aircraft, which was destroyed.

In 1971 the Cessnas were finally replaced in Vietnam by the Pilatus Porter and the last flight of an Australian Cessna 180 in Vietnam was carried out on 14 Feb 71. The pilot was Dennis Coffey and with an escort of Porter aircraft, flew in formation to mark the end of the Cessna's service in Vietnam.

Cessnas A98-043, -044, -045 and -063 were all D Models while A98-146, -148 and -150 were E Models.

Whilst in Vietnam the seven Cessnas flew a total of 16,150 hours and carried out 11,169 sorties.

Aircraft Tail Numbers and Dates of Service in Vietnam with 161 Recce Flt.

Aircraft Serial No	Dates Aircraft in/out of 161	Vietnam Service and Current Aircraft Status
A98-043	Sept 65 to 16 Dec 66	E Service carried out by members of 161 (Indep) Recce Flight at Vung Tau (Between 16 Dec 66 and 25 Jan 67).
	25 Jan 67 to 29 Aug 68	CAT 5 - Vietnam - Pilot was Steve Tizzard (29 Aug 68)

A98-044	22 Nov 67 to 04 Oct 68	Oct 68 Acft returned to Australia for E Service.
2nd Tour	08 May 69 to 10 May 69	CAT 5 - Vietnam - Pilot was Errol Driver (10 May 69)

A98-045	Sept 65 to 15 Nov 66	E Service carried out by members of 161 (Indep) Recce Flight at Vung Tau (between 15 Nov 66 and 11 Dec 66).
	11 Dec 66 to 10 Jan 68	Jan 68 Acft returned to Australia for E Service.
2nd Tour	Oct 68 to 22 May 69	May 69 Acft returned to Australia for E Service.
3rd Tour	Nov 69 to 14 Feb 71	Feb 71 Acft returned to Australia for E Service.
	As at 14 November 2001	This aircraft is currently on display at the Museum of Army Flying at Oakey in QLD. Last flown 19 April 1988.

A98-063	16 Jun 66 to 23 Mar 68	Mar 68 Acft returned to Australia for E Service.
2nd Tour	28 Sept 68 to 11 Jul 69	Jul 69 Acft returned to Australia for E Service.
3rd Tour	10 Jan 70 to May 70	May 70 Acft returned to Australia.
	1975 Sold
	As at 14 November 2001 Civil Registration - VH-TVB	2002, this aircraft is currently owned and flown by Nick Challinor. The aircraft is hangared at Mothcair Aviation Services at Murwillumbah Airfield, NSW.

A98-146	12 Jan 68 to 14 Dec 68	Dec 68 Acft returned to Australia for E Service.
2nd Tour	12 Jun 69 to 28 Oct 69	CAT 5 - Vietnam - Pilot was Barry Donald (28 Oct 69)

A98-148	22 May 68 to 16 Dec 68	Dec 68 Acft returned to Australia for E Service.
	1975 - Sold to Queensland Police Department. Civil Registration - VH-PFM	Dec 80 - This aircraft was destroyed in storm at Archerfield Airfield, QLD.

A98-150	11 Jul 69 to 11 Jan 70	Jan 70 Acft returned to Australia for E Service?
	1975 - Sold to Government Aircraft Factory in Victoria Civil Registration - VH-AUT (De -registered after being damaged in 1986).	09 Aug 86 - Aircraft damaged on landing Avalon Airfield, VIC. Aircraft was rebuilt at Lismore Airfield and was test flown November 2003. Aircraft is owned by Carl Boulton from Grafton in NSW.

Post Vietnam.

A98-045 returned to Australia and after being 'ground looped' on 26 Mar 1973, the aircraft was retired from service. The aircraft was to be written off however, it was rebuilt and flew again on 01 Sep 74 at Oakey QLD.

A98-045 is currently on display at the Museum of Australian Army Flying at Oakey. Its last recorded flight was on 23 Sep 1987 and the total airframe hours at that time were 6346.8.

Other aircraft: Bell 47G-3B1 Sioux Helicopter | Pilatus Porter | Bell OH58-A Kiowa Helicopter | Birddog | Bunny II

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