Chopper crash Digger’s remains found
A TEAM has found the remains of Australian soldier Lance Corporal John Gillespie, who died in a helicopter crash during the Vietnam war in 1971.
Jim Bourke of the the group Operations Aussies Home, said the remains were dug up at a crash site.
Gillespie died on April 17, 1971, in the crash of a RAAF Iroquois helicopter in the Long Hai hills of Phuoc Tuy province.
From the Australian War Memorial
Lance Corporal John Francis GILLESPIE , 24, of Carnegie, Vic., was serving as a helicopter medic with 8 Field Ambulance. On 17 April 1971, during a “dustoff” (medical evacuation) operation in the Long Hai hills in Phuoc Tuy province, Gillespie’s helicopter was hit by enemy ground fire and crashed. His body could not be recovered from the burning wreckage.The helicopter burned on impact and it was believed at the time that all human remains had been consumed in the blaze. Mr Bourke said the Vietnamese government had agreed with the assessment of the Australian forensic experts that the remains were those of Gillespie. The remains could be returned to Australia as early as next week, he said. Earlier this year, Mr Bourke’s group found the remains of two other Australian soldiers killed in Vietnam in 1965. The discovery of Gillespie’s remains leave just three other Australians missing in action from the Vietnam conflict. They are;
Private David John Elkington FISHER , 23, was a national serviceman of Balgowlah Heights, NSW. He served with 3 Squadron, SAS. On 27 September 1969 , Fisher was a member of an SAS patrol which had contacts with parties of Viet Cong in south-eastern Long Khanh province, about 30 kilometres northeast of the 1st Australian Task Force base at Nui Dat. During a “hot extraction” by helicopter Fisher fell about 30 metres into dense jungle from a rope attached to the helicopter. He was believed killed but searches for six days failed to recover his body.And two RAAF Officers lost while flying a mission in a Canberra Bomber Pilot Officer Robert Charles CARVER, 24, of Toowoomba, Qld, and Flying Officer Michael Patrick John HERBERT, 24, of Glenelg, SA, both of No. 2 Squadron, RAAF, were both career air force officers. On 3 November 1970 they were believed killed when their Canberra bomber disappeared while flying a night bombing mission in the northern 1 Corps region of South Vietnam. An extensive aerial search of the area failed to find any trace of the aircraft or crew and was called off after three days. Jim Bourke and crew need some recognition for what they have accomplished to date. I trust it is in hand Via 1735099
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I don’t know what the correct procedure is for a private citizen to nominate someone for an Order of Australia, but I wrote a letter to Bruce Billson, MP, earlier this year and asked him if he could do something about ensuring Jim Bourke and his team got some recognition from the Government.
I got a letter back later from Mr Billson’s office thanking me for my letter and stating that the Government was very aware of Jim and his team’s contribution to the discovery of our MIA’s remains and that the nation was very grateful for their efforts.
I interpret this as meaning that they will have made the appropriate nomination(s) and I hope to see Jim’s name in the Australia Day lists, along with members of his team.
At long last also, declaring LCPL John Gillespie as officially KIA is another step in the long process of declaring the Vietnam War finally over.
It has been a long and bitter forty years for this country, still divided, and many are still pointing scornful fingers at the Diggers who fought the war.
(To their everlasting shame, I might add.)
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Kev, Heard that they are keeping the media in the dark about the recovery of Johns remains at the request of family and Jim Bourke. Believe his remains will be back next Monday. What have you heard ?
Macca
Received this email from the SAS Asscn network
Here are the details for arrangements for the Late L/Cpl John F. Gillespie
who was lost in the Long Hai hills SVN on 17APR71 when a 9 Sqn Dustoff was
shot down.
The retrieval group will accept John’s remains from the Vietnamese
Government on Monday the 17th December. His remains will arrive at Melbourne
– Avalon on Wednesday 19th December at 1000 hours.
The funeral will take place on Saturday 22nd December.
The Service will be Requiem Mass at 1030 hours at St. Anthony’s R/C Church,
78 Grange Road, Glen Huntley, Vic, 3163.
The service will be followed (by internment) at Springvale Cemetery, Princes Highway, Springvale, Vic, 3171.
A gathering is planned for the Noble Park RSL, 1138 Heatherton Road, Noble
Park Vic 3174.
For further information contact Jim Bourke (representing the Gillespie
Family) (Contact me for Jim’s mobile – too many weirdos read this site to publicly list it – Kev)
Members attending are requested to wear their medals or miniatures.
Thanks for that.. I have been in touch with my sister who was a close friend of the family and I think she might have got a few details screwed up. Appreciate the info and stay safe..and yeah have a great xmas and have a great 2008. see you soon