royal australian air force

U.S. and Australian forces have fought side-by-side in every major conflict since World War I, and some 60,000 Australian service members served in the Vietnam War. August 18 is Vietnam Veterans Day in Australia, and in honor of that commemoration we bring you the personal story of an Australian helicopter pilot who served in Vietnam in 1970 and ’71.

The Royal Australian Air Force hosted two flying wings from the Iowa Air National Guard for a three week exercise for dissimilar air combat training. The Iowa Air Guardsmen were invited to the annual Sentry Down Under Exercise to put 132nd F-16 pilots and crew against RAAF F-18 fighters. The 185th Air Refueling Wing provided support to both forces. Interview with TSgt Dave Henson of Cherokee, Iowa. Video by MSgt Vincent De Groot, 185th ARW Public Affairs, Iowa National Guard. Photo by SSgt Linda Kephart, 132nd FW Public Affairs, Iowa National Guard.

The Commonwealth Boomerang was designed and built in Australia in response to the impending Japanese invasion of the Australian mainland. It’s main issue was that it sucked as a fighter! But it could attack the ground, and found a use in the war.