And then there were none... - Aircraft of World War II

Wildcat · 08-02-2009, 05:53 AM

Great news chaps, the last two missing Aussies from the Vietnam war have finally been found..

Quote:

he remains of the final two missing Defence personnel from the Vietnam War have been found.

Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver's Canberra bomber went missing in November 1970.

Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, says their remains were found in an extremely remote area of Vietnam near the Laotian border.

"An Air Force investigation team which recently deployed to Vietnam have found human remains at the site where the wreckage of a Royal Australian Air Force Canberra bomber was located in April this year," Mr Combet said.

"The aircraft, which went missing on 3 November 1970, was flown by Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver."

Mr Combet says the recovery team transported the remains to Hanoi, where Vietnamese and Australian forensic specialists identified them as those of Michael Herbert, from South Australia, and Robert Carver from Queensland.

"Relatives of the two crew members have been advised of the discovery and Air Force will continue to keep them updated. These airmen gave their lives in the service of their nation. I hope finding the remains of the airmen will bring some comfort to the families," Mr Combet said.

"This is an excellent result for the investigation team and the cooperation of the Vietnamese authorities has been exceptional and highly valued by the team and the Government of Australia.

"Invaluable assistance has been given by a number of former North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers and their commanders as well as many local villagers. Their compassion and commitment to assisting this vital mission is greatly appreciated."

Mr Combet praised the work of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation in using innovative modelling techniques in order to refine the area of interest, plus the exhaustive and skilled research and expertise of the Army History Unit in supporting the investigation.

He also acknowledged the efforts and commitment to the recovery of Australian war dead shown by Jim Bourke and Operation Aussies Home.

A timetable for the return of the airmen's remains to Australia has yet to be agreed between the Australian and Vietnamese Governments.

Mr Combet says details of the airmen's burials are a private matter for their families.

Missing Vietnam airmen's remains found - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Also check out the video in the link above.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 08-02-2009, 08:16 AM

Bring them home!

Marcel · 08-02-2009, 09:04 AM

lesofprimus · 08-02-2009, 09:20 AM

Im sure there are alot of people who are able to sleep soundly at night now, great news to hear....

vikingBerserker · 08-02-2009, 10:49 AM

Nice.

FLYBOYJ · 08-02-2009, 10:51 AM

ToughOmbre · 08-02-2009, 11:08 AM

Glad to hear it!

TO

evangilder · 08-02-2009, 11:46 AM

Excellent news. Welcome home, boys.

syscom3 · 08-02-2009, 12:45 PM

RIP!

wheelsup_cavu · 08-02-2009, 04:49 PM

R.I.P.

Wheels

Thorlifter · 08-02-2009, 09:09 PM

Fantastic news

Gnomey · 08-02-2009, 09:13 PM

Aaron Brooks Wolters · 08-02-2009, 09:35 PM

Airframes · 08-03-2009, 04:42 AM

Always good to hear about this sort of 'discovery'. RIP.

RabidAlien · 08-03-2009, 01:28 PM

Rest well!!

And another

to those who went out, found them, and are now working to bring them home.

08-02-2009, 08:16 AM	#2
DerAdlerIstGelandet Der Crewchief Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany Posts: 33,152	Bring them home! __________________ fly boy:"isnt that the first jet bomber becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles"[/I]

08-02-2009, 09:04 AM	#3
Marcel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dordrecht Posts: 3,834	__________________ " The knack of flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."

08-02-2009, 09:20 AM	#4
lesofprimus Minister of Whoopass Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi Posts: 17,495	Im sure there are alot of people who are able to sleep soundly at night now, great news to hear.... __________________ My IL2 Video Tribute to My Grandfather: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtzN5RuNNJk

08-02-2009, 10:49 AM	#5
vikingBerserker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,722	Nice. __________________ "Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it" "Those who dwell in the past, condemn the future"

08-02-2009, 10:51 AM	#6
FLYBOYJ IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 16,049	__________________ "IF ITS RED OR DUSTY, DON'T TOUCH IT"

08-02-2009, 11:08 AM	#7
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,230	Glad to hear it! TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

08-02-2009, 11:46 AM	#8
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,807	Excellent news. Welcome home, boys. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

08-02-2009, 12:45 PM	#9
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,277	RIP! __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

08-02-2009, 04:49 PM	#10
wheelsup_cavu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Corona, California Posts: 1,534	R.I.P. Wheels __________________ Cheers Wheelsup_cavu Wheels's Photos - Time lapse build of an F/A-18 Super Hornet - Lock N' Load

08-02-2009, 09:09 PM	#11
Thorlifter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 4,345	Fantastic news __________________

08-02-2009, 09:13 PM	#12
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 15,218	__________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

08-02-2009, 09:35 PM	#13
Aaron Brooks Wolters Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Abingdon, VA. Posts: 2,283

08-03-2009, 04:42 AM	#14
Airframes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,030	Always good to hear about this sort of 'discovery'. RIP. __________________

08-03-2009, 01:28 PM	#15
RabidAlien Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hurst, Texas Posts: 2,823	Rest well!! And another to those who went out, found them, and are now working to bring them home. __________________ Pillage, then burn. Argue not with dragons, for thou art crunchy and go well on toast.

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