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Victor SMITH

 I was born in East Fremantle, 17 September 1948. My Father was Leslie Victor James SMITH and Mother was Dorothy Claire SMITH (Nee HALE). We lived, briefly, in South Fremantle before we moved to Victoria. I believe we lived in Berwick.

My brother Graham (Scruff) was born there in September 1949 and sister Cary some time later. We returned to WA and lived, for some years at Jandakot. My first Primary School was Beaconsfield, then Jandakot Primary School. Our parents split up and, later Mum met a Prison Officer (Widower) William ‘Bill’ John Murphy, who worked at Bartons Mill. Bill had three children of his own. They were Lorraine, Gary (RIP) and Charles. Around 1955, Mum agreed that we would move to Bartons Mill where she would help Bill to look after his family as well as us. They later married and Brett and William John Jnr were born.

We children went to Pickering Brook Primary (Headmaster Mr Rose). Following Primary School, both Gary and myself attended Kalamunda High School (we were the second intake after the School opened). I completed three years there, not very successfully only passing French and English.

I remember doing some part time pea picking in paddocks near Pickering Brook Primary (Davies family?). Following High School, both Gary and I worked as wood cutters. Initially cutting for Vic Hawkins. And, occasionally, travelling with him to the wheatbelt areas to bag sheep manure. Gary and I then bought our own little truck and carted to wood to Jack Honor (I think) in Kalamunda. We also bagged and delivered chook manure to places like King’s Park.

I joined the RAAF in 1966 and, following Recruit training at RAAF Base Edinburgh, S.A., I trained as an Airfield Defence Guard (ADG) at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. From there, I was posted to the Rifle Flight, Base Squadron RAAF Base Fairbairn around about October 1966.

From there, in March 1967, I went to Base Squadron, RAAF Ubon Ratchatani, Thailand. I had my 19th birthday there and, in October, 1967, went to Base Support Flight, Vung Tau, Vietnam. Duties of an ADG at Vung Tau included static guard duties on watch towers, main gate guard, roving picquets and convoy escorts etc. Additionally, ADG’s were seconded to RAAF No.9 Squadron (Iroquois helicopters) for duties as door gunners. Typically, most of us would also do an attachment for a month to RAAF No. 2 Squadron (Canberra Bombers) at Phan Rang. Duties for an ADG at Phan Rang also included off-base patrols and night ambushes. From Vietnam, I was posted, in March, 1968, to Rifle Flight at RAAF Base, Williamtown, NSW.

  • I had been working as a Wood Cutter before joining the RAAF in May 1966 and training as an Airfield Defence Guard (ADG). Following No. 3 ADG Course, I was posted to Rifle Flight, RAAF Base Fairbairn around October 1966. From there, in March, 1967, I was posted to Base Squadron Ubon, Ubon Ratchatani, Thailand.
  • Duties for RAAF Airfield Defence Guards at Ubon included roving picquets, main gate guard, flight line guard, convoy escort, ready reaction force and off base patrols. At the time, apart from the Thai forces and some Service Police, MP’s etc, ADG’s were the only personnel permitted to patrol off base, fully armed. I had my 19th Birthday at Ubon, a month later, I was stepping out of a C130 onto the hardstand at Vung Tau, Vietnam on a six month posting to Base Support Flight, Vietnam.
  • Duties at BSUPFLTVT included those at Ubon plus manning of various watch towers. During that six month period, I spent a month on attachment with No. 2 Squadron at Phan Rang plus an attachment to Army Units at Nui Dat with about a week at Fire Support Base “The Horseshoe”. From Vietnam, I was posted to Rifle Flight, Williamtown, NSW.
  • Time at Williamtown included participation in several major exercises. In October, 1970, I was sent to No. 1 Operational Support Unit (formerly BSUPFLTVT) on a 6 Month posting. No.9 Squadron had a requirement for replacement helicopter door gunners. As the majority of these positions, at that time, were filled by ADG’s, I applied for and was accepted to undergo training. With that, I had to apply for a 6 month extension of my posting. I completed 6 months with No.9 Squadron including serving as a Gunner on the “Bushranger” Gunships.
  • Following that tour, I was again posted to Rifle Flight, Williamtown. While on leave prior to taking up the posting, I was advised of my promotion to Corporal.
  • In May, 1972, I opted to take discharge and did so at Base Squadron, RAAF Base Pearce. In early 1975,
  • I decided to re-join the RAAF and did so as a Supply Trainee. Following Supplier training at RAAF Base WAGGA WAGGA, I was posted to No. 1 Stores Depot. During my time at 1SD, I completed a Supplier Explosives Course and several other courses. From there, in 1978 to RAAF No. 4 RAAF Hospital, Butterworth where I was promoted to Corporal, then Base Squadron Butterworth. I was a member of the RAAF Butterworth Archery Club, and the Penang Bowmen’s Club. During a training session at the Archery Field, Penang Botanic Gardens, I met a Chinese Lady, Cheng (Joyce) who I later married.
  • Our son Darren Victow was born at the RAAF No. 4 RAAF Hospital, Butterworth. Further postings over a long period of time were to Air Movements, Base Squadron Richmond where I completed Air Loader and Air Movements Operator courses. From Richmond to No. 1 Stores Depot, Tottenham, Victoria, where I was advised that I had been promoted to Sergeant (with 2 Years seniority). We lived in West Sunshine, and our Daughter, Jessica, was born during this period. Then to Services Air Movement Control Office, Tullamarine for about two years. To Canberra on promotion to Flight Sergeant with jobs in various sections including Directorate of Supply Operations, Directorate of Facilities Management (where I was promoted to Warrant Officer), Supply Musterings Review team and Stores WOFF at the Defence Academy.
  • From there to Air Movements Tindal for about 18 months and another year as the Stores WOFF. My time there included assisting with the 1998 flood relief efforts. That year, I was posted to Amberley for duty as a Load Team Leader at Air Movements. When, No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron was formed I became the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Amberley Detachment.
  • My Air Movements time at Amberley included two four month tours of Bougainville for OP BEL ISI Air Movements duty, Air Load team Leader with 383 Expeditionary Support Squadron for duty in East Timor in 2000. In 2003, I transferred to the Active Reserve and continued links with Air Movements as Reserve Air Load Team Leader at Amberley. This time also included several periods of continuous full time service for relief manning and, also, a period with the Air Load Team at Al Minhad Air Base, Dubai. In 2010, following a failure to complete pre-deployment training for a second tour to Al-Minhad, I opted to discharge.
  • I am a Gold Card TPI. I have been involved with RSL Sub Branches such as Pickering Brook, Western Australia, Nelson Bay and Stockton RSL’s, NSW and, now, Ipswich RSL for many years.

 

In summary:

1966-72
I served as an RAAF Airfield Defence Guard for 6 years 1966 to 1972. This included a tour of Base Squadron Ubon, Thailand followed by BSUPFLTVT. A second Vietnam tour in 1970/71 with No. 1 Operational Support Unit and No. 9 Squadron as a Door Gunner.

1975 – 2003
Re-enlisted as a Supplier. Many postings and attachments. Qualified as an Aircraft Loader and Air Movements Operator. Overseas service for 2 ½ years at Butterworth, met and later married my wife. Our son born in Malaysia. Our Daughter born in Victoria. Two Deployments on Peace Monitoring Air Movement duties to Bougainville (Nov 98/March 99 and Nov 02/March 03).

2003-2010
Transferred to Active Reserve with various periods of continuous full-time service for relief manning or other tasks. Including my last deployment which was to Al Minhad Air Base for Air Movements duties.
RSL activities. I have been a member of various RSL SUB-Branches (including Pickering Brook SB) for many years. My longest membership of a Sub-Branch is here at Ipswich. I have previously served as a Deputy President for this SB and represent the SB as a Director on the Board of Club Services Ipswich. When possible, I assist with various functions by helping to set up or by selling badges etc.

Volunteering.
I am a volunteer in the display area at Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre, which is located on Base at RAAF Base Amberley, QLD. Also, I have spent a period of time as a member of Legacy assisting with their work.