AHSA Monthly Meeting 27 July 2022 (GPCAPT Macauley Cottrell: Forward Air Control Operations In Vietnam)

27/07/202208/11/2022

Our July 2022 Melbourne meeting, held in collaboration with the Friends of Air Force History and Heritage, was held in person at the RAAF Association meeting room in Hawthorn and also “broadcast” to interstate members via Zoom. Group Captain Macauley “Mac” Cottrell gave a talk about his experiences flying Forward Air Control (FAC) missions during an assignment to the US Air Force during the Vietnam War.

For nearly seven months in 1968, Flying Officer Macaulay Cottrell served as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) with the United States Air Force (USAF) in the Republic of South Vietnam. He described his early Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) training, travel to Vietnam, in-country training, and his Tactical Air Control Post (TACP) assignment. An outline of the Tactical Air Control System was followed by a description of FAC aircraft, missions and tactical aircraft employed.

The recording of this presentation is available for members only. You may view a recording of the presentation by clicking the video player below:

1924 WGCDR Stanley Goble and FLTLT Ivor McIntyre continued their around-Australia flight in Fairey IIID A10-3 on Thursday 1 May 1924 (journey day 26). At daylight on the 1st, they were ready to leave Carnarvon for Fremantle but the engine had dropped from 1,650 rpm to 1,500 rpm, insufficient to lift the heavy seaplane off the waters. An examination disclosed that two valves were burnt out; it was impossible to take them out without stripping the engine and Gottschalk decided to try to grind them in the cylinders. This took two days, but after testing the engine, it still did not develop enough power and required a top overhaul. Two mechanics with a spare engine left Perth on Monday 5th May, by train to Mullewa and then by truck to Carnarvon, where they arrived on the night of Thursday 8th May. Mr. Faulkner of the North West Department got a small crane on to a bridge against which the seaplane was moored; work began at daylight on the 9th and by 3:00 pm, the engine was fitted, tested, and ready for the air. Considering the lack of facilities, Gottschalk did an excellent job. He, Goble and McIntyre were ready to go on the 10th, but the night tide did not arrive and the Fairey was left high and dry. Another night had to be spent at Carnarvon. Source: The First Round-Australia Flight, 1924 by Neville Parnell, AHSA Journal, vol 6, no 12, December 1965 and NAA: A9376, 92, Round Australia seaplane flight 1924 - Wing Commander Goble and Flight Lieutenant McIntyre

1994 de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth VH-UNA operated by Robert W "Bob" Copas crashed at Luskintyre Airfield, Hunter Valley, NSW at 1355 hrs on 1 May 1994. The aircraft was taking off towards the north-west for a wing-walking demonstration. At a height of about 150 feet the engine lost power. The aircraft entered a spin to the left and crashed onto the airfield; bursting into flames on impact. There were 2 fatalities. Sources: ATSB; aviation-safety.net website