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24.01.2022 Passing of 2782334 2LT Donald James Trick (DENNIS) RAA was posted to the Flight from 13-Aug-67 until 13-Aug-68. Post Vietnam Don Trick changed his last name to Dennis. Don passed away peacefully in Stanthorpe whilst in palliative care in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 22 April 2020.... Don was born on 20 April 1945 at Manly NSW. Prior to his number coming up for National Service he was a keen surfer and a competitive swimmer which included trying out for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. After enlisting in the Army he was selected for officer training at the Officer Training School at Scheyville in NSW on the 2/65 course. On graduation Don was allotted to the Corps of RAA and he was posted to the Army's 16 Light Aircraft Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley as Assistant Operations Officer. In August 1967 he was posted to 161 (Indep) Recce Flt Nui Dat in South Vietnam as the Operations Officer and Air Traffic Controller. Post Vietnam he was promoted to Captain and spent two years training with the Airforce and Department of Civil Aviation in control towers and schools around Australia. For the next few years he served as the Army Aviation Corps Senior Air Traffic Controll Officer at the Army's airbase at Oakey, QLD. After nine years in the Army Don returned to civilian life. He became involved in the Agent Orange debate and managed companies in Indonesia and Australia. In 1982 he formed his own software company and while managing the company he enjoyed writing. In recent years Don and his partner, Sarah, moved to Stanthorpe, in QLD. Don has written a number of books including One Day at a Time, The Guns of Muschu and Vietnam War Diary which is basically a rewrite of One Day at a Time. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sarah and Don's extended family members and friends. He will be dearly missed by those who had the honour of serving with him and sharing his friendship. May He Rest In Peace - Lest We Forget.

24.01.2022 To honour and remember those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts and in appreciation of their sacrifice. (Video, performance and arrangement by The String Family)

23.01.2022 Good morning everyone, Below please find details of a commemorative service to mark the 50th anniversary of the Battles of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral. A number of our pilots and maintenance support personnel were directly involved in providing Direct Support during the Battles of Coral and Balmoral. On 23 May 1968 Major George Constable was shot down and killed whilst flying an O1 Birddog on loan from the US Army. Major Constable was the third Possum Master to be ...posted to 161 (Indep) Recce Flt on 18 July 1967. May He Rest In Peace. Regards Len --------------------------------- 50th anniversary of the Battles at Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral. A national commemorative service to mark the 50th anniversary of the Battles at Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral will be held at 11.00am on Sunday 13 May 2018 at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial on Anzac Parade in Canberra. This is a free event and members of the public are encouraged to attend. This is not a ticketed event and limited, un-allocated seating will be provided for general public. Standing room will be available once the unallocated seating area has reached capacity. A Last Post Ceremony will also take place at 4.55 pm at the Australian War Memorial, conducted in honour of the veterans of the battles. The Australian Government, through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, will provide grant funding to enable Vietnam veterans associations to conduct commemorative activities outside of Canberra. The department will also provide financial assistance to bring two descendants of each serviceman killed in the battles to Canberra for the national commemoration. From: (http://www.anzaccentenary.gov.au//50th-anniversary-battles >. Photo of Major Constable below. The photo was taken in Vietnam in 1968.

22.01.2022 Australia Day Awards. Well done Dfa, D for Darts. Colin Bruce Darts has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division (OAM) for service to veterans and their families. 217334 Craftsman Colin Bruce Darts served with 161 (Indep) Recce Flt in South ... Vietnam from 01 July 1970 until 30 June 1971 as a Radio Mech. Colin was the President of the Legacy Club of Albury, 2014-2016. Is a current Legatee and has been a member since 2002. President of the Albury Sub Branch, Returned and Services League of Australia, 2010-2012. Former President, Secretary, Treasurer and Founding Member of the Murray Boarder Association, Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia.

21.01.2022 Keeping tabs on our 161 Possums. We are all aware of the devastating fire which have been and are currently causing so much destruction throughout Australia. What we don't know is if any of our 161 Possums have been impacted by the fires. If you have been directly impacted by the fires or you are aware of any of our 161 Possums who have been impacted by the fires can you please let us know so that we can possibly look at providing some direct assistance. Our thoughts and prayers are with all 161 Possums and their families. Regards Len.

21.01.2022 It is with deep sadness that we advise you that Frank Benfield passed away peaceful in palliative care after a battle with an aggressive brain cancer diagnosed back in February/March of this year. 243309 Francis Harding Benfield OAM, RAEME Date of Birth 06 December 1947 in Brisbane, QLD.... Date of Death 15 August 2020. Frank joined the Army in January 1963 as an Army Apprentice, he was an 18th Intake Vehicle Mechanic at Balcombe in Victoria. He retired as a Sergeant in 1983. He served in Vietnam with 161 (Indep) Recce Flt as an Airframe Fitter from 09 November 1970 until 11 November 1971. I was in Vietnam with Frank until 12 May 1971 when I returned home and we have been very good friends ever since. Because Frank was initially a vehicle mechanic by trade he developed into being an excellent All Trades within Army Aviation and preferred to be away flying and on trips than being back at Base. He served in PNG with 183 (Indep) Recce Ft from March 1973 until March 1975. He also did two years in Indonesia as a member of the Sioux Project Team. In June 2011 Frank was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to the veterans’ community. A link to details of his service and contribution to the veteran community is as follows; < https://www.afom.org.au//our-suppor/item/57-frank-benfield >. I have attached two photos of Frank from Vietnam and one of him and Clare taken when he was presented with his Medal of the Order of Australia in 2011. Frank and Clare have been wonderful friends to the Avery Clan for many many years. He will be dearly missed by us. May He Rest In Peace Lest We Forget. Regards, Len

20.01.2022 - ANZAC Day images from Trevor Hibbs in Blayney, NSW.

18.01.2022 Ray Andrews and Frank Pittorino at Yelarbon, QLD, for ANZAC Day 2018. Ray was in country from 20-Nov-67 until 24-Sep-68 while Frank was in country from 20-Jan-70 until 17-Dec-70.

17.01.2022 Tribute to Barry Donald and Alan Jellie. We will remember them. KIA 03 December 1969.

15.01.2022 Book - Possums and Bird Dogs by Peter Nolan. We currently have available a limited number of Peter Nolan's book, Possums and Bird Dogs. The cost of the books are a special price of $30 plus postage. This may be your last chance to get a copy of this book. If you would like a copy of the book please Email me at < [email protected] >. Cheers Len.

12.01.2022 We tragically lost another mate on Friday, 17 January 2020. Craftsman Colin Pugh passed away peacefully after suffering a terrible head injury on Thursday. Colin served with 161 (Indep) Recce Flt as a Radio Mech from 03 March 1970 until 04 March 1971. Colin was born on 30 October 1949 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. He is survived by his wife Lynda and daughters Kristy and Rachel and their extended families. He was a very proud 161 Possum and enjoyed catching up with his mates on ANZAC Day and at Possum Reunions. I had the pleasure of serving with Colin in Vietnam and our friendship has remained strong ever since. He was a wonderful husband, father and friend. May He Rest In Peace - Lest We Forget. Enjoy the pictorial tribute to Colin.

07.01.2022 They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down on the sun, we will remember them. Lest We Forget.

06.01.2022 - ANZAC Day in Melbourne - 2018. Photos taken by Susan Gordon-Brown and sent through by Rod Petty. Well done boys and girls.

05.01.2022 Frank Benfield to 161 Possums - Vietnam And Beyond G'day All. On 03 April 2018, the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal (DHAAT) delivered to Minister, the Hon Darren Chester MP, its Report of the Inquiry into Unit Recognition for Service at the Battles of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral. In the first of its recommendations, DHAAT stated: Recommendation 1: To recognise all participants in the battles, the Tribunal recommends that the 1st Australian Task Force ... (Forward) be awarded the Unit Citation for Gallantry for extraordinary gallantry in action at the Battles of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral, between 12 May 1968 and 6 June 1968. Concerning the Service rendered by Members of 161 Reconnaissance Flight during those Battles, the DHAAT concluded as follows: Recommendation 4: With regard to the unique contributions of No 9 Squadron RAAF and 161 Reconnaissance Flight, the Tribunal recommends that any 9 Squadron or 161 Reconnaissance Flight members who flew missions in direct support of the Battles of Coral and Balmoral, or who were forward deployed to the Fire Bases and therefore attached to 1st Australian Task Force (Forward), be entitled to wear the insignia (of the Unit Citation for Gallantry - the UCG). The Report is silent with regard to how eligible Members of 161 Reconnaissance Flight will be identified for the purposes of being issued the UCG. The 161 Assn will have to develop some procedures for this and I know Len Avery in his usual efficient manner is looking into this. It would be useful if eligible Members made contact with Len or John Custance as the appropriate 161 Assn Office-Bearers. You will find the complete DHAAT Report which makes for interesting reading, not least given in its comments about Defence's approach to these awards: https://defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au//Coral-Balmoral-Re I wasn't able to recognise any submission from any 161 Possum of Vietnam to the DHAAT Inquiry and so it is gratifying that the role of 161 Reconnaissance Flight is finally acknowledged with the award of the UCG in the Report. Congratulations to all concerned. Kind regards. Frank.

04.01.2022 ANZAC Day in Brisbane - Mike Meehan. 2018.

04.01.2022 From Leanne (Avery) and her family. BIGBIRD (as many know and love you) On this Anzac day I want to shout out to my incredible dad - Len Avery.... this photo I remember this day like yesterday when you were honoured with you OAM medal... ... To say we am proud of you is a massive understatement!!! If my boys turn out half the man you are I will be incredibly lucky! You ARE our HERO!!! For what you did when you were in Vietnam with the incredibly brave soldiers you served with (many of which we consider are our family) - for everything you have done for your fellow service men and women - we all salute you and your fellow servicemen and women... we love you all so so much!!! I raise my glass to all those that served with 161 Recce Flight - those incredible men we have lost - lest we forget (taken way too soon) and for those we are still blessed to have with us and love - you ARE ALL HEROS in our eyes! We send you all our love and strength for today and every day that follows. Today we honour you all x Love you forever and always!!!! #homefront #myhero #prideofourfamily #161recceflight #161recceflight #possums

04.01.2022 A few images from our 69-70 collection;