All,

I am rebuilding ex-Army Cessna A98-063 to configuration / markings as used during its 3 tours in SVN. I'm very eager to contact any ex-RAEME maintainers who may have had contact with the type either in Vietnam or Australia.

I have been in touch with MAAF at Oakey who have been very helpful and also the 161 Recce Assn. There remain considerable gaps in the detail and I'd like to cast the information net further. I have an appeal burst detailing what I'm after. As I can't attach it to this email, if you could email me I can send it to you for a bulk re-transmit to your members.

Any assistance appreciated.

Regards
Darryl Hill

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For those interested in such things. A documentary on the battle at Fire Base Balmoral will be aired shortly on the ABC. The doco “The Crater” will be shown nationally on ABC TV at 2130 on the 3rd of April 2015 for those interested.

Coral and Balmoral, Battle of Fire Support Bases

During the "Mini-Tet" offensive mounted by Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces in May 1968, the 1st Australian Task Force deployed two battalions to an area 20 kilometres north of Bien Hoa city to intercept and disrupt enemy forces withdrawing from the capital, Saigon, and the Bien Hoa–Long Binh base complex. Several fire support bases (FSB) were established to provide defended firing points for artillery and mortars which would cover foot patrols to be sent out by the battalions (1RAR and 3RAR). One of these FSBs was dubbed "Coral", situated 7 kilometres.....

CORPS HISTORY PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT

I advised recently on the RAEME National Website, and in the last edition of the RAEME Association Queensland ‘Spanner News’ for 2014, that the final manuscript for the CHP book was with the publishers, and a number of our team were collaboratively completing the final editing process. I am happy to report the book was provided to the printers shortly thereafter.

Australian American Association Dinner and Dance