The commemorations were held at the Fleet Air Museum on Monday, October 16. 

Chief of Navy Tim Barrett presented a memorial plaque and dedicated the memorial to the service of the men of the Royal Australian Navy Flight Vietnam, and the Royal Australian Navy Detachment Vietnam.

Mr Barrett shared some of the experiences of the young Australian troops in Vietnam and how they found themselves there. 

“The RN helicopter flight Vietnam was formed in a response to a request from the US for more helicopter pilots in South Vietnam and because of Australia’s other Vietnam commitments, the only available pilots were from the Navy’s Fleet Air Arm,” he said. 

“Following just an eight-week training period the first contingent arrived in Vietnam 50 years ago today.” 

Mr Barrett said the unit was nicknamed ‘EMUs by the Americans.

“Because the unit was experimental in nature, the Americans nicknamed it the ‘EMU’, clearly not understanding their own research and realising that emus don’t fly,” he said. 

Thirty-seven ‘EMUs’ were honoured at the commemorations, with Nowra Hill Public School students pinning poppies in on the Honour Roll. 

Year six student Charlize Watson also delivered a poem by George Mansford, ‘The women who loved and lost’, in honour of war widows and their families. 

The event also included a veterans tour of Albatross and a ceremonial sunset service later in the day. 

A memorial march will also be held in Bomaderry on Tuesday, October 17. 

The first contingent of eight pilots, four observers, four aircrewman, 24 technical sailors and six support staff consisting of cooks, stewards, writers, medics and storemen was formed under command of the then LCDR (now RADM retired) Neil Ralph in July 1967 as part of 723 Squadron at HMAS Albatross.

The helicopter, perched at the entrance of Nowra was one of the seven Iroquois helicopters the aircrew trained on before the first contingent arrived in Vietnam in October 1967.

Between 1967 and 1971 the RANHFV was fully integrated with the US Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company, flying Iroquois helicopters in both utility and gun-ship configurations, providing tactical air movement of combat troops, supplies and equipment in air-mobile operations, including army medical services, search and rescue and the provision of a command and control aircraft capability to supported units.

The relationship between the RAN and the US Army was a unique one.

They were officially designated EMU – Experimental Military Unit – with the unique motto, “Get the bloody job done”.

Throughout Helicopter Flight Vietnam’s deployment there were many acts of bravery and sacrifice.

The names on the RAN Roll of Honour includes Lieutenant Anthony Casadio who was decorated four times during his ten months active service in Vietnam.

Lieutenant Casadio was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross by the US in November 1967, when he landed his damaged helicopter and saved the aircraft and the lives of other crew members.

His action was termed “heroism beyond the call of duty”. Lieutenant Casadio survived this incident only to be killed on August 21,1968 when his gunship crashed.

The service of RANHFV members was recognised by the award of three Members of the British Empire, eight Distinguished Service Crosses, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, one British Empire Medal, twenty-four Mentioned-in-Dispatches and numerous Vietnamese and United States decorations.

During its four year deployment over 200 FAA personnel had rotated through RANHFV in four contingents.

The Unit was continuously engaged in offensive operations in its four-year deployment to Vietnam earning not only the aviators, but also the maintenance and support staff of the flight, a reputation for “getting the bloody job done.”