DEFENCE MEDIA ALERT
Issued by Coordination and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 6265 6946
CPA 083/08
Thursday, 3 April 2008
CARIBOU FLYOVER RECOGNISES AIR FORCE VIETNAM
VETERANS
What:
A flyover of the Australian War Memorial by a Royal Australian Air
Force (RAAF) Caribou aircraft.
When:
Friday, 4 April 2008. The flyover will occur shortly after 2.05pm.
The efforts of RAAF personnel who operated Caribou aircraft during the Vietnam
War will be recognised in a ceremony in Canberra tomorrow.
A plaque will be unveiled at the Australian War Memorial commemorating the
service of RAAF Caribou personnel. Surviving members and families of those who
have passed away will also be presented with the United States Air Medal during the
ceremony.
The ceremony will be attended by US Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Mr
Robert McCallum Jr; Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Dr Mike Kelly
MP and Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd AO.
A RAAF Caribou will conduct a flyover of the Australian War Memorial during the
ceremony.
The first Caribous arrived to form the RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV) at
Vung Tau in South Vietnam in 1964, becoming the first RAAF unit in the country.
By 1966, seven aircraft were flying with the RTFV and it was reformed as No. 35
Squadron. The unit became widely known as ‘Wallaby Airlines’ due to its call-sign
of ‘Wallaby’.
Caribous remain in service today as a combat airlift aircraft with No. 38 Squadron at
RAAF Base Townsville.
Media note:
The Caribou will approach Canberra from the direction of Black Mountain, flying
over Lake Burley Griffin and over Anzac Parade, before circling the Australian War
Memorial and departing back towards Black Mountain. The aircraft will be no lower
than 150 metres during its fly-past.
Defence seeks media assistance in advising the public of the fly-past.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
