|
DATE |
EVENT |
|
3 August 1962 |
Captain B. R.
Tinkler arrives in South Vietnam to serve with AATTV - First member RA
Sigs deployed in the war.
|
|
1963-1964 |
RA Sigs re-organised
and re-equipped with US Radios (AN/PRC-25, AN/VRC-12 and AN/TRC-75)
and Shelter Equipments.
|
|
8 July 1964 |
Warrant Officer
Class Two Kevin Conway becomes the first Australian to die on active
service in South Vietnam.
|
|
10 November 1964 |
The Prime Minister
announces introduction of national service to increase the Army's
strength from 22,750 to 37,500.
|
|
April 1965 |
2 Signal Regiment in
Watsonia, Victoria, received warning order to form a composite troop
of 50 to move to a concentration area in Ingleburn, NSW - The start of
the deployment of 709 Signal Troop to South Vietnam.
|
|
29 April 1965 |
The Prime Minister
announces the dispatch of an infantry Battalion to South Vietnam, with
an armoured personnel carrier (APC) troop, a signals troop and
logistic support company.
|
|
25 May 1965 |
Captain Twiss, OC
709 Signal Troop, arrives in Saigon with small Force reconnaissance
party.
|
|
June 1965
(Early) |
709 Signal Troop
advance party arrives in Saigon by RAAF C130 aircraft - 7 members in
South Vietnam with two AN/TRC-75’s and four Generators.
|
|
June 1965
(Next day) |
First communications
(CW) by 709 Signal Troop to Australia (6 Signal Regiment - Melbourne,
Victoria) day after arrival.
|
|
8 June 1965 |
Main body of 709
Signal Troop arrive in Vung Tau, South Vietnam with the bulk of the 1 RAR Group on HMAS Sydney.
|
|
30 June 1965 |
First intake of
National Servicemen starts recruit training in Australia.
|
|
July 1965
(Mid) |
709 Signal Troop
having trouble manning rear and forward links (Saigon) and providing
services to 1 RAR Group at Bien Hoa.
|
|
July 1965
(Mid) |
Major W.R.T. Bodger
sent to South Vietnam to assess the Signals situation.
|
|
14 Sept 1965 |
527 Signal Troop
arrives with 2nd Lieutenant Jock Lonie and 29 NCO’s and
other ranks to assist 709 Signal Troop.
|
|
October 1965
(Late) |
HQ AAFV moved into
the Free World Military Assistance Organisation building - New
Communications Centre required but installed to fixed station
standards by detachment from 127 Signal Squadron.
|
|
November 1965 |
104 Signal Squadron
raised for service in South Vietnam at Wacol, Brisbane, Queensland.
|
|
December 1965 |
103 Signal Squadron
raised by 1 Signal Regiment for deployment to South Vietnam at
Ingleburn, Sydney, New South Wales.
|
|
April 1966 |
Australian forces in
South Vietnam increased to a Task Force (1 ATF) with two battalions
with supporting combat units plus RAAF Iroquis helicopters, Caribou
Transport aircraft and Canberra bombers. Also RAN maintained a
destroyer on station off Vietnam.
|
|
1 April 1966 |
First elements of
145 Signal Squadron arrived in South Vietnam. - 145 Signal Squadron
included a HQ Troop, 506, 520, 552, 527, 581 and 709 Signal Troop's.
Note: 527 and 709 Signal Troop's already in South Vietnam.
|
|
May 1966
(Early) |
103 Signal Squadron,
commanded by Major P.D. Mudd, arrive in South Vietnam by air and HMAS
Sydney and set up at Back Beach, Vung Tau.
|
|
26 May 1966 |
First National
Serviceman KIA.
|
|
June1966
(Early) |
103 Signal Squadron
deploys to Nui Dat by road and Chinook helicopters.
|
|
June 1966 |
The Australian
signal centre and switchboard at Bien Hoa closed and SDS from Saigon
to Bien Hoa ceased.
|
|
4 June 1966 |
Concentration of 1
ATF at Nui Dat is completed.
|
|
8 June 1966 |
547 Signal Troop
advance party arrives in Vung Tau.
|
|
14 June 1966 |
547 Signal Troop
arrives and deploys to Nui Dat.
|
|
17 June 1966 |
3 SAS Squadron with
its Signal Troop from 152 Signal Squadron deploy to Nui Dat.
|
|
24 June 1966 |
547 Signal Troop
starts EW operations.
|
|
July 1966
(Mid) |
145 Signal Squadron
installed VHF radio relay trunks using the AN/MRC-69 system
interconnected HQ AFV at Cholon to 1 ALSG at Vung Tau via a repeater
at VC Hill in the Vung Tau area. Another link from Nui Dat to Vung
Tau provided channels from HQ 1 ATF to I ALSG and HQ AFV.
|
|
7 July 1966 |
Communications
centre opened at Vung Tau by 581 Signal Troop (part of 145 Signal
Squadron). At Nui Dat, the task force signal squadron (103 Signal
Squadron) opened its communications centre, along with cipher, radio,
switchboard and SDS services.
|
|
29 July 1966 |
547 Signal Troop
detect enemy 275 Regiment transmitter moving towards Nui Dat.
|
|
14 August 1966 |
547 Signal Troop
detect enemy 275 Regiment transmitter in the area of Long Tan.
|
|
18 August 1966 |
Battle of Long Tan -
Task Force, 6 RAR and Artillery Command Radio Nets provided good
communications to support the battle.
|
|
January 1967 |
SAS RA Sigs members
now Detachment 152 Signal Squadron. Note: 152 Signal Squadron part of
SAS Regiment.
|
|
March 1967 |
139 Signal Squadron
raised as a reinforcement unit for 104 Signal Squadron at Enoggera,
Brisbane.
|
|
March 1967 |
Elements of 110
Signal Squadron, commanded by Major E.H. Hynes, arrived to begin the
relief of 145 Signal Squadron and by end of May, 110 Signal Squadron
had taken over all responsibilities for force signals.
|
|
28 March 1967 |
Signalman B. A.
Logan of 552 Signal Troop, 145 Signal Squadron KIA whilst attached to
US 11 ACR on Operation PORTSEA.
|
|
16 April 1967 |
104 Signal Squadron
Farewell Parade part of the Corps Day Parade by 4 Signal Regiment, 7
Signal Regiment and 129 Signal Squadron at Wacol.
|
|
April 1967 |
104 Signal Squadron
deploys to Vietnam under the command of Major G.L. Lawrence to replace
103 Signal Squadron at Nui Dat and takes over the 1 ATF signals
communications.
|
|
July 1967 |
Signalman Reginald
Armstrong from 104 Signal Squadron WIA at Blackhorse.
|
|
August 1967 |
547 Signal Troop
starts ARDF missions in Cessna 180A aircraft.
|
|
9 August 1967 |
Corporal D. J.
Donnelly of 104 Signal Squadron accidentally killed cleaning F1 Sub
Machine Gun in unit lines at Nui Dat.
|
|
September 1967 |
6 Signal Regiment
(Melbourne, Australia) converted their end of the link to AFV to fully
automatic operation.
|
|
6 May 1968 |
Viet Cong force
reached the north west corner of the Phu Tho compound (Saigon) and
rear link communications to Australian cut.
|
|
11 May 1968 |
The AUSTCAN Receiver
Station located at Long Binh (with US STRATCOM receivers) was attacked
with 120mm rockets. Signalman James Cole 110 Signal Squadron WIA.
|
|
12 May 1968 |
Elements of 104
Signal Squadron with advance party of HQ 1 ATF deployed to FSPB Coral.
|
|
13 May 1968 |
Main body of 1 ATF
arrives at FSPB CORAL to bring the 104 Signal Squadron signals group
to 51 including two 3 man detachments from 110 Signal Squadron and the
7 man detachment of US 53 Signal Battalion. Signalman Rowan Gamble 104
Signal Squadron WIA.
|
|
16 May 1968 |
Signalman A.H. Young
from 104 Signal Squadron KIA at FSPB Coral and two other 104 Signal
Squadron Signalmen WIA (John Koosache and Ian Crosthwaite).
|
|
1 June 1968 |
Signalman John Veall
from 110 Signal Squadron WIA at the Canberra BEQ in Saigon.
|
|
August 1968 |
110 Signal Squadron
relocated its HQ and Q Store from Saigon to Vung Tau.
|
|
9 August 1968 |
AUSTCAN Transmitter
Station installed and began continuous operation from Nui Dat.
|
|
29 September 1968 |
Signalman D. E.
Abraham from 104 Signal Squadron, KIA near Blackhorse (Long Khanh
Province) in US Huey Helicopter.
|
|
September 1968 |
AUSTCAN Receiver
Station installed and operating Type 1 Rhombic Antennas at Long Binh.
|
|
October 1968 |
547 Signal Troop
deploys experimental DF equipment at Nui Dat. Known as 'The Cell'.
|
|
November 1968 |
104 Signal Squadron
deploys COMMCEN to FSPB Lion in ACV for the first time.
|
|
27 December 1968 |
104 Signal Squadron
started section patrols for one or two days outside the 1 ATF base
perimeter.
|
|
6 May 1969 |
Warrant Office Class
Two M.W.T. Gill a member of RA Sigs KIA while serving with AATTV.
Warrant Office Class Two Simpson received the Victoria Cross trying to
save Gill.
|
|
November 1969 |
AUSTCAN Receiver
Station relocated from Long Binh to Vung Tau.
|
|
February 1970 |
547 Signal Troop new
ARDF equipment located in Pilatus Porter aircraft.
|
|
June 1970 |
104 Signal Squadron
patrol under the command of SSM WO2 A.B. Huston engage 20 enemy 4
kilometres east of Nui Dat.
|
|
25 August 1970 |
Signalman S. T.
Moore from 110 Signal Squadron dies of neuroblastomma in Repatriation
General Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria after becoming ill in Vietnam
in September 1969.
|
|
September 1970 |
Signalman D. A. B.
Wallis from 110 Signal Squadron returns to Australia and
died on the 17 March 1972 in the
Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria.
|
|
30 October 1970 |
MRS Vung Tau
activated with MRS Saigon closing a few days later.
|
|
November 1970 |
Call home service
opened for Australian Soldiers using 4 wire telephones.
|
|
January 1971 |
AUSTCAN Transmitter
Station relocated from Nui Dat to Vung Tau.
|
|
February 1971 |
EMU Switchboard (Vung
Tau) TC-10 replaced with an AN/MTC-1.
|
|
May 1971 |
110 Signal Squadron
handled 156,000 messages of which 117,800 passed through the MRS, the
greatest number ever handled by RA Sigs MRS in Vietnam.
|
|
August 1971 |
EMU Switchboard
handled an average of 8,000 calls a day - the highest load ever.
|
|
August 1971 |
547 Signal Troop
relocate to Vung Tau with only the ACV detachment remaining at Nui Dat.
|
|
18 August 1971 |
The Prime Minister
of Australia announced that the Vietnam Force would be withdrawn.
|
|
October 1971
(Mid) |
104 Signal Squadron
relocated to Vung Tau with a few detachments remaining at Nui Dat to
help complete the withdrawal.
|
|
October 1971 |
Last members of
Detachment 152 Signal Squadron (SAS) leave Vietnam.
|
|
17 October 1971 |
547 Signal Troop -
AVC last vehicle to leave Nui Dat.
|
|
6 November 1971 |
104 Signal Squadron
main body boarded HMAS Sydney for the return trip to Australia and its
new home in Ingleburn.
|
|
13 December 1971 |
547 Signal Troop
stops operations in South Vietnam.
|
|
16 December 1971 |
HF rear link to
Melbourne was formally closed at 0005z after 61/2
years of continuous operations and carrying 1.3 million messages.
|
|
23 December 1971 |
547 Signal Troop
departs South Vietnam for Australia.
|
|
19 January 1972 |
MRS Vung Tau closed
and reopened in Saigon. EMU switchboard cut over to SB-86/PT.
|
|
1 February 1972 |
Vung Tau Area COMMCEN (110 Signal Squadron) closed at 2400z.
|
|
February 1972 |
AUSTRALIAN ARMY
ASSISTANCE GROUP VIETNAM (AAAGV) - Signal Detachment formed and starts
taking over communications to Australia from 110 Signal Squadron.
|
|
February 1972
(Late)
|
EMU switchboard (110
Signal Squadron) closed. |
|
29 February 1972 |
SDS and ADS (110
Signal Squadron) discontinued.
|
|
12 March 1972 |
110 Signal Squadron
leaves Vietnam.
|
|
17 December 1972 |
Last message
transmitted from South Vietnam by AAAGV. Total of 1,790,000 messages
transmitted by RA Sigs during the war.
|
|
18 December 1972 |
Australia's military
commitment to South Vietnam ends with AAAGV leaving Vietnam, with its
Signal Detachment.
|
|
30 April 1975
(Noon) |
North Vietnam Army
tanks smash through the gates of the presidential palace in Saigon -
The war is over.
|
|
18-24 November
1979 |
The remarkable and
striking painting 'Signals in Vietnam' is hung in the foyer of the
School of Signals at Watsonia and dedicated by Brigadier K. P. Morel
during RA Sigs Corps Week.
|
|
3 October 1987 |
25,000 men and women
of the Australian Vietnam Veterans community march through Sydney,
which marked their 'Welcome Home' from Vietnam.
|
|
3 October 1992 |
Australian Vietnam
Forces National Memorial is dedicated at its sacred site on ANZAC
Parade in Canberra. |
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