Chapter 4.4 (161 Recce)

The Army pilots, familiar in their Army helicopters, were allocated in direct support of 4 RAR/NZ. Arriving at first light daily and departing at dusk (if lucky) they spent many an hour serving the Commanding Officer in an immediate reconnaissance and overhead command capacity.

Ever keen, the "Red Barons", John, Digby, Terry, Frazer, Tom, Blue, Mick and Kiwi Grant (ex 4 RAR/NZ platoon commander), were usually found in the Intelligence Section terminal (on "The Hill"), fabricating plots in an attempt to log even more hours in support of the Fourth. No task was ever too big, or too small, for them to successfully complete on our behalf. Typically, our direct support Kiowa A24 was airborne for eleven hours, twenty minutes on 21 September 1971, dropping in much needed ammunition to D Company.

The Porters rendered us less spectacular service but could be seen above the province throughout the day - and night.

Possum grew up in South Vietnam. The old, familiar, reliable Sioux gave away to the more sleek and speedy Kiowa. That first day though was a little embarrassing when, all set to give the ground soldiers a demonstration of the new article, the aircraft broke down. Next day, however, they did "produce the goods" and many more demonstrations were to follow, particularly in air reconnaissance flights to convince us that not only the Kiowa, but also the pilots were worth their weight in gold.