Missing Vietnam War airmen home in Australia at last

[AVIATOR]

Canberra bomber Magpie 9-1 found in Vietnam after nearly 40 years

Homecoming: The coffins are carried off a Hercules at RAAF Richmond



   Australia closed a chapter in its military history today when the bodies of the last two Australian servicemen missing in Vietnam were returned home, nearly 40 years after their last wartime mission.

A Royal Australian Air Force Hercules carrying the remains of Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver touched down at the RAAF Richmond base in Sydney this morning.

The men were both aged 24 when their Canberra bomber went missing during a nighttime bombing raid over central Vietnam in November 1970.

The wreckage of the Canberra was found in remote jungle near the border with Laos in April and the men's remains were found in dense jungle last month.

A repatriation ceremony was held at RAAF Richmond today, with RAAF members carrying two flag-draped coffins from the Hercules transport.


"Flying Officer Herbert and Pilot Officer Carver were both enthusiastic airmen who were respected by their superiors," Mr Combet said in a statement.

"They paid the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country. Australia can finally lay these brave airmen to rest and honour their memory.

"The return of Flying Officer Herbert and Pilot Officer Carver completes the recovery of all Australian service personnel who were lost on operations and not recovered during the Vietnam War."

After 39 years  the crew of Magpie 9-1 are now home
Flying Officer Herbert was from Glenelg in South Australia and Pilot Officer Carver was from Toowoomba in Queensland.

[altus]

The reception parade:

[Gripen]

That Canberra bomber in altus's pick...would that be the one from Temora A.M?

[AVIATOR]

Yes Gripe.
The Temora Aviation Museum was honoured to take our Canberra bomber to Richmond for the ceremony. The Canberra provided a fitting tribute to the two airmen and an impressive backdrop to the entire ceremony. Museum Founder & President David Lowy AM, Chief Executive Kenny Love, Chief Engineer Peter Pring-Shambler and Temora Historic Flight Club pilot Rod Luke all attended the ceremony representing the Museum.


My information of other Canberras still flying in the world .........

The Indian AF still has one or two as target tugs. I further believe that Venezuela still has a couple of their version of the B(I)8 flying, but not operational as such. There are 4 PR.9s still flying with 39 Sqn at Marham and one as attrition spare, they also have four T.4s, two flying two in store. NASA has two long-wing WB-57Fs for upper atmosphere research (don't know if they both still fly, one does at least).

There are, however, five privately owned Canberras in the world - one in the UK, one in Aus and three in the US two of which are in revenue earning service with AirPlatforms Inc - all are ex-Brit airframes.

Anyone know any more on this?

[Webmaster]

- India has retired the last ones in 2007.
- Venezuela? They are long gone afaik. I guess you meant Peru, but they've been retired in 2008.
- RAF 39 Sqn retired them in 2006, now a UAV sqn.