11.       The first Australian killed in the Vietnam War was in 1963. What was his occupation?

 

The answer is: Military Advisor

Interesting Information:

In 1963, Australia sent over 30 Military Advisors as a show of support to the USA. Over the duration of the war, many Advisors led South Vietnamese companies into battle. In fact the only Victoria Cross Medals awarded during the war (4 in total) were to Advisors.

12.       What was the standard issue Australian infantry weapon during the Vietnam War?

 

The answer is: L1A1 SLR

Interesting Information:

The L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR) was made under licence at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory in Australia and was based on the Belgian FN. The SLR was a semi-automatic, gas operated weapon that fired the NATO 7.62mm round from a 20 round magazine. It was preferred over the M16 by Australian troops because of its greater stopping power (usually one hit – one kill). It could be converted to automatic fire (by grinding down the safety sear) but became hard to control. The SLR served the Australian Army for nearly 30 years before being replaced by the Austeyr 5.56mm rifle.

 

13.       What happened on May 7, 1954 at a place called Dien Bien Phu?

 

The answer is: French defeat

Interesting Information:

It was a battle between the French and the Communist Vietminh. Fiercely fought for 57 days, the French suffered 1,726 killed, another 1,649 missing in action and over 5,000 wounded. The Vietminh never divulged their losses but they attacked with roughly 100,000 men against 15,000 Frenchmen. A conservative estimate of 8,000 killed and 15,000 wounded according to the French General Staff. As a result of this battle the impetus would now shift to the United States, which gradually became increasingly involved in Vietnam.

14.       How many crew members were on a typical bombing flight during missions over Vietnam?

 

The answer is: 6

15.       What Vietnamese Nationalist eventually changed his name to Ho Chi Minh?

 

The answer is: Nguyen That Thanh

 

16.       Both sides of the war used helicopters, but who used the famous “Huey”?

 

The answer is: United States of America

Interesting Information:

Japan did not play a part in the war. After World War Two Japan had to disband its armed forces completely in view of the acts of aggression that the country had committed from 1931-45. When it was allowed to rebuild its armed forces again from 1954 onwards their purpose was defined in the Japanese Constitution as purely for self-defense, and there were restrictions on their use.

 

17.       How many Air Force F-4C/D/E Phantom II aircraft were lost between 1964-1975?

 

The answer is: 382

Interesting Information:

Air Force F-4C/D/E combat losses; 33 to MiG fighters; 30 to Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM), and 307 to multiple forms of ground fire.

 

18.       During the Vietnam War, what did soldiers and Marines call the M60 machine gun?

 

The answer is: a pig or hog

Interesting Information:

Servicemen called the M60 machine gun a pig or a hog. It received that name because of the ammo it ate.

 

19.       During WWII, after most of France was occupied by Germany, the French were obliged to give up their land holdings in what had become French Indochina. To what country did the spoils go?

 

The answer is: Japan

Interesting Information:

Quite naturally, the riches of Vietnam’s rubber plantations, along with the resources of wealth owned by its near neighbors were exploited in turn by Japan to aid its own war-making capabilities.

After WWII, the French returned …

 

20.       What did MACV stand for?

 

The answer is: Military Assistance Command – Vietnam

Interesting Information:

**MACV was the Military Assistance Command-Vietnam. It was based at the Tan Son Nhut Airbase. It was first established in 1962 and wound up in 1973. Over the years it was commanded by Generals Harkins, Westmoreland, Abrams and Weyand.

**MACV controlled all the US Military Forces that were in Vietnam and reported to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC).

 

To be continued…