Historic Military Interviews

We talk to Mark Franklin about his time when he joined 1 Special Service Battalion and what he remembers of this experience. Mark achieved the rank of sergeant and trained on both armoured vehicles and tanks and was involved in the Angolan Bush War.

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We sit down with a retired Lieutenant Colonel Leon Lombard to hear first hand accounts of his experiences serving in the 1 Special Service Battalion an Armoured Reconnaissance Unit during the Angolan Bush War. Leon discusses joining 1SSB and how an armoured unit was structured and worked.

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Join us in this compelling video as we sit down with a retired Lieutenant Colonel Leon Lombard to hear first hand accounts of his experiences serving in the 1 Special Service Battalion an Armoured Reconnaissance Unit during the Angolan Bush War in the South African army. Gain insights into his journey and the profound impact of his service. Don't miss this engaging story of life in the military.

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The National Vietnam Veterans Museum is a non-profit organisation that was set up to remember and recognise Australian diggers who returned from Vietnam. The museum is not focused on the war aspect but more on the everyday stories of diggers and the challenges during their time in Vietnam and after their return. The museum houses many artefacts such as medals, letters and photos donated by veterans, but it also has a unique collection of military equipment such as helicopters, trucks and jeeps. There are displays that tell you about life on base camp, daily activities and what it was like when they were at war.

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It's not easy for Vietnam veterans to find support, or even to talk about their experiences. It's even harder when they come home and realize that their friends and family don't understand what they've been through. That's why John Methven, a retired Australian Army officer and Vietnam veteran, established the National Vietnam Veterans Museum in Victoria, Australia. The museum is dedicated to helping veterans find their own stories, as well as providing them with resources to deal with any issues they might be facing after coming home from war.

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This audio is about a group of volunteers restoration of a Vietnam Era de Havilland DHC-4 Caribou aircraft at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum in Victoria Australia. During the Vietnam War, the Caribou was used primarily for transport of troops and equipment. Its ability to land and take-off on short airstrips made it a great workhorse. With thanks to the National Vietnam Veterans Museum, Phillip Island, Victoria Australia

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Air Vice Marshall Alan Reed would fly RF-4c Phantom Bombers during the Vietnam war. He would fly more than 100 missions over North Vietnam doing arial reconnaissance. The RF-4C Phantom was designed by McDonnell Douglas in response to a US Air Force request for a photo-reconnaissance aircraft with two crew members, supersonic speed, and a high altitude capability. The prototype first flew in May 1966 and entered service in November 1967 with the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat RTAFB, Thailand. The RF-4Cs were used extensively during the Vietnam War. They provided reconnaissance support for ground troops, performed battle damage assessment photography, and took pictures of enemy installations that were used to plan strikes by B-52 bombers against those targets. In this video, Captain John Methven (Ret) shares Australian soldier experiences as a platoon commander and Regiment Signals Officer with the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment that was stationed at the Australian base at Nui Dat. John has dedicated his life to fighting for the recognition of Vietnam Veterans and assisting veterans dealing with PTSD and the impacts of agent orange. John is the founder and curator of the National Vietnam Veterans Museum at Philip Island in Victoria Australia.

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The Vietnam War was a very stressful time for soldiers. They were away from their families, they had to deal with being in a war zone and they were often subjected to violence. When soldiers would return from combat missions they found ways to relax. Often this would involve drinking large amounts of beer and watching movies and live shows when available. It's easy to see why they wanted to escape their memories and enjoy themselves once they were back at base! In this video, Captain John Methven (Ret) shares Australian soldier experiences as a platoon commander and Regiment Signals Officer with the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment that was stationed at the Australian base at Nui Dat. John has dedicated his life to fighting for the recognition of Vietnam Veterans and assisting veterans dealing with PTSD and the impacts of agent orange. John is the founder and curator of the National Vietnam Veterans Museum at Philip Island in Victoria Australia.

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Air Vice Marshall Alan Reed would fly RF-4c Phantom Bombers during the Vietnam war. He would fly more than 100 missions over North Vietnam doing arial reconnaissance. The RF-4C Phantom was designed by McDonnell Douglas in response to a US Air Force request for a photo-reconnaissance aircraft with two crew members, supersonic speed, and a high altitude capability. The prototype first flew in May 1966 and entered service in November 1967 with the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat RTAFB, Thailand. The RF-4Cs were used extensively during the Vietnam War. They provided reconnaissance support for ground troops, performed battle damage assessment photography, and took pictures of enemy installations that were used to plan strikes by B-52 bombers against those targets. In this video, Captain John Methven (Ret) shares Australian soldier experiences as a platoon commander and Regiment Signals Officer with the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment that was stationed at the Australian base at Nui Dat. John has dedicated his life to fighting for the recognition of Vietnam Veterans and assisting veterans dealing with PTSD and the impacts of agent orange. John is the founder and curator of the National Vietnam Veterans Museum at Philip Island in Victoria Australia.

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The Vietnam War was a brutal conflict that saw many soldiers from Australia lose their lives. The Australian government also sent two war artists to Vietnam to capture the horrors of war in their artwork. One of these war artists was Lt Bruce Fletcher, who was seriously wounded upon arrival in Vietnam by a round that went off when a soldier carrying a number of enemy rifles dropped one of them which unfortunately still had a round in the chamber which went off. On debarking from the ramp at the back of the plane where he had just landed, Lt Fletcher was struck by this stray round and suffered serious injuries to his leg. Despite this unfortunate accident, Lt Fletcher went on to complete several sketches and paintings of Australian soldiers during his time in Vietnam, documenting their bravery and sacrifice for future generations. In this video, Captain John Methven (Ret) shares Australian soldier experiences as a platoon commander and Regiment Signals Officer with the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment that was stationed at the Australian base at Nui Dat. John has dedicated his life to fighting for the recognition of Vietnam Veterans and assisting veterans dealing with PTSD and the impacts of agent orange. John is the founder and curator of the National Vietnam Veterans Museum at Philip Island in Victoria Australia.

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