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In 1962, in response to a threat to Thailand from across the Laotian border, four member nations of SEATO, the US, Britain, New Zealand, and Australia, sent armed air units to create a holding force in Thailand. These units were intended to withstand any initial attack until full scale reinforcements could be sent. Australia's contribution would be no. 79 Squadron, equipped with big-engined Commonwealth CA-27 Avon Sabre jets, which would be based at Ubon, then a small airfield near the Laotian border.
The airfield at Ubon didn't have much in the way of facilities, except for a runway and control tower. Some RTAF T-28s operated from Ubon, and the US had set up a LION radar site. No. 79 Sq. established an operating base there, with tents, ground support equipment, and squadron supplies flown in from Australia by C-130 Hercules cargo planes. The first CA-27 Sabres flew in on 1 June 1962. Four days later, the Sabres were operational, and would remain so for the next six years.
No. 79 Squadron's primary mission was air defense of the area. But because of political constraint's, they would be unable to contribute to the shooting war in the north. To achieve this mission, during daylight hours, two Sabres were rmed with 30mm HE ammunition and two AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles. The Sabres could be scrambled within a two minute alert time. As the war in Vietnam intensified, a large buildup of Ubon was undertaken by the US. Eventually, it became a major F-4 Phantom operating base and home of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, `The Wolfpack'. By this time, No. 79 Sq. had a more permanent camp, with accommodation and recreation facilities on one side of the runway, with maintenance hangars and aircraft key-ways on the other. Our American friends called it "Kangaroo Valley".
To maintain a constant state of readiness, our two alert Sabres were usually scrambled at least twice per day, then guided by ground radar to intercept the returning Wolfpack F-4s. These intercepts had been organized by 8th TFW Commander, Col. Robin Olds, due to his concern that many of his new pilots from the the States had little or no air to air combat experience. The F-4C had no gun, so combat training had been denigrated in favor of missile tactics.
With the cooperation of the no. 79 Sq. commander, Col. Olds planned and organized an effort to give his returning pilots some `air combat experience'. Returning F-4s were routinely bounced by the Australian Sabres. Col. Olds' flight leaders were notified of the impending Sabre attacks', but the returning element leaders, wingmen, and their back-seaters were not.
Because of the high performance of the Commonwealth Sabre, and its very low profile, it was an ideal substitute for a simulated MiG-17 attack. The RAAF pilots, who were frustrated by political direction that they could not cross the borders of Thailand, had a great time `hassling' with the returning Wolfpack F-4Cs. And many memorable `dogfights' took place over the Laotian border.
Quite a few new F-4 pilots got a big fright when they thought they were being bounced by North Vietnamese MiGs. Later, on the ground, until the situation was explained, some very terse exchanges took place between members of the Wolfpack and the Australian Sabre pilots.
Some of the USAF squadron commanders with Korean War experience, remembering shootdowns across the Yalu River near Antung, recalled the MiG-15s vulnerability. In particular, "Hoot" Gibson, Commander of the 433rd TFS "Satan's Angels, was insistent that all his combat crews were to be `intercepted' by the Australian Sabres at every opportunity. Although uncomfortable for the tired returning F-4 aircrews, he said at this training was invaluable in ensuring their survival around Hanoi.
Later, in a `bell ringing' ceremony in the 0-Club, Col. Olds praised the 79 Squadron pilots, stating that "many of the air crews in the Wolfpack who were present, owed their lives to the lessons learned while hassling with the 79th Sabres." The Commander of the 79th Squadron, and the RAAF Base Commander, were then awarded Lifetime Honorary Memberships in the 8th TFW as a token of its appreciation. This more than made up for the few black eyes and fat lips that were incurred earlier in the program.
And the esprit and camaraderie between the US Air Force and the RAAF remained at a very high level, where it has always been, and where it remains to this day!
(editor's note: An indepth article on the CA-27 Avon-powered Sabre will be found in a forthcoming issue of SabreJet Classics)
No portion of this article may be used or reprinted without permission from the President of the F-86 Sabre Pilots Association or the editor of Sabre Jet Classics magazine.