Only RAAF Caribou Lost to Enemy Action

On the 29th of March 1970, 35 SQN RAAF suffered its only combat loss of a Caribou after it was destroyed by enemy mortar fire whilst on the ground at That Son, Vietnam.

Aircraft A4-193 was issued to RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam in July 1964 and transferred over to 35 SQN on its formation in 1966. On the 29th of March 1970, it was carrying aviation fuel to the base at That Son, 12km from the Cambodian border. The aerodrome was on the valley floor and in close proximity to Cambodia, which made it easy for the enemy to rain mortars and rockets from the surrounding hills before making a quick escape into neighbouring (and ostensibly neutral) Cambodia.

On touching down, the crew began to rapidly unload the aircraft. The first mortar round hit a wing, disabling the aircraft and starting a fire in one of the fuel cells. The crew immediately evacuated the aircraft, moving to a bunker about 30m away. More mortar rounds rained down and the Vietcong launched an attack on the perimeter. The aircraft was destroyed in the ensuing barrage. 34 Vietcong were killed, no crew were injured when the aircraft was destroyed.

A4-193 was 35 SQN’s only aircraft loss during combat. Two other Caribous would be lost during accidents.

Source: Caribou's in Vietnam 35 sqn RAAF

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Redfox wrote:Thank you for the information, interesting, in addition I will receive some 1/144 scale models and there's one caribou.

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