Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report. The RAAF in SEA
Abstract
In 1964 President Johnson publicly urged other non-Communist nations to join in the effort to defeat Communist-supported insurgency in Vietnam. By 1966, seven had done so: Australia, New Zealand, The Republic of Korea, Thailand, The Republic of the Philippines, The Republic of China, and Spain. Of these, only Australia played a significant role in the air war. She furnished, along with other smaller units, bomber, transport, and helicopter squadrons which performed on a level of competence widely admired by the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam. On their own, these units developed tactics which were borrowed by Seventh Air Force (7AF) and put to good use. This was particularly true in the case of the Australian Canberra bombers. Because they could deliver ordnance with a precision no other aircraft in the theater could match under the same conditions, they were given targets that would otherwise have had to be attacked with expensive guided bombs. Over the years, the Australian cargo aircraft unit maintained consistently higher tons-per-sortie and operational-readiness averages than equivalent U.S. units. Furthermore, the Australians' employment of scout helicopters, forward air controllers, and targeting procedures in their area of responsibility was more successful in actually putting bombs on real targets than was the case in most tactical areas. At the same time, Australia was in Vietnam to learn what she could--by testing her doctrines and tactics for jungle warfare and by observing U.S. and Vietnamese methods. All in all, then, it was a fruitful association.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1970
- Accession Number
- ADA486703
Entities
People
- James T. Bear
Organizations
- Pacific Air Forces