Image Gallery: December 2007
Lance Corporal Gillespie repatriation
18 December 2007
The remains of Lance Corporal (LCPL) John Gillespie, a Medical Assistant, formerly of 8th Field Ambulance, were repatriated from Hanoi to Australia today.
LCPL Gillespie was killed when the 9th Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) UH1H (Huey) helicopter he was travelling in was shot down over South Vietnam on 17 April 1971. The helicopter was tasked to evacuate a wounded South Vietnamese soldier in the vicinity of the Long Hai hills near Vung Tau, South Vietnam.
On impact, the helicopter caught fire. LCPL Gillespie was trapped in the wreckage of the helicopter and could not be rescued because of the ferocity of the fire. Due to the intensity of the fighting, the remains of LCPL Gillespie could not be recovered.
In recent times, a group of former servicemen formed an organisation, Operations Aussies Home (OAH), dedicated to finding and repatriating the remains of the six Australian Servicemen left in South Vietnam after Australia withdrew from the country. So far, OAH, in conjunction with the Australian Army, has identified and repatriated three of the missing servicemen.
| 20071218adf8239682_073 Private Adrian Bustamante and Private Sarah Wassom guard the remains of Corporal (LCPL) John Gillespie whose body was lost in Vietnam nearly forty years ago. (Date taken: 18 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_141 Soldiers from 1st Combat Service Support Battalion carry the remains of Corporal (LCPL) John Gillespie at Hanoi Airport in Vietnam. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_142 The Bearer Party made up of soldiers from 1st Combat Service Support Battalion, Darwin, carry the casket of Corporal (LCPL) John Gillespie onto the C130J Hercules at Hanoi Airport. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_148 Widow of Lance Corporal (LCPL) John Gillespie, Carmel Hendrie and daughter Fiona Pike pay their respects to their loved one. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_157 The Bearer Party prepare to lift the casket of Corporal (LCPL) John Gillespie, to place it on the Royal Australian Air Force plane at Hanoi Airport in Vietnam. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_160 Soldiers from 1st Combat Service Support Battalion form the bearer party for the remains of Lance Corporal (LCPL) John Gillespie at Hanoi Airport in Vietnam. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_161 Soldiers from 1st Combat Service Support Battalion bear the remains of Corporal (LCPL) John Gillespie whose body was lost in Vietnam nearly forty years ago. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_162 A bearer party made up of soldiers from Darwin's 1st Combat Service Support Battalion carry the third Australian MIA casket onto the RAAF plane for its long journey home. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_229 Widow of Lance Corporal (LCPL) John Gillespie, Carmel Hendrie and daughter Fiona Pike at the ramp ceremony, Hanoi airport in Vietnam. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_246 The widow and daughter of Lance Corporal (LCPL) John Gillespie, Carmel Hendrie and Fiona Pike look on as nearly forty years of waiting comes closer to a conclusion. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_284 The coffin of Lance Corporal (LCPL) John Gillespie will be brought home to Australia by a Royal Australian Airforce C130J Hercules aircraft. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_317 The Hon Alan Griffin MP (Minister for Veterans Affairs) lays a wreath in honor of Lance Corporal Gillespie at Hanoi Airport in Vietnam. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_420 Chaplain Ted Macmillan gives blessing to the casket of Lance Corporal Gillespie at Hanoi Airport in Vietnam. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_477 Covered by the Australian National Flag, a slouch hat and a bayonet, the casket of Lance Corporal John Gillespie waits to begin its long journey home from Vietnam. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8239682_483 A photo of Lance Corporal (LCPL) John Gillespie stands by his casket at the ramp ceremony, Hanoi airport, Vietnam. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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