Vietnam warbird

By Lia Bichel
ALMOST 300 people attended a service at the Dandenong RSL on Saturday in recognition of the fifth anniversary of the Vietnam War Memorial.
The attendees celebrated the day with music from two live bands and food from a variety of stalls, blessed by the South Vietnamese community.
Dandenong RSL’s President of Vietnam War Memorial John Filmer said the day was a success, with a large turnout and co-operative weather.
He said it was important to commemorate the anniversary.
“A lot of it has to do with the flying of the flag of the Republic of South Vietnam, which was first flown in 2005,” he said.
“We do not fly it as a political statement, but as a historical recognition of reality – and in honour of those who made the supreme sacrifice fighting for what the flag represents. We accord the yellow flag respect as we accord respect to each of the other flags flying at our memorial.”
A Cessna Bird Dog, shot down in Vietnam, and since restored, flew over the crowd at 2pm. The wartime aircraft, which was used for forward air control, still contains bullet holes from when it was shot down during the conflict.
Graeme Dennerstein, who was a group captain in the air force reserve and a consultant in the Royal Australian Air Force medical branch, flew the aircraft over the Dandenong RSL.
Mr Filmer said the crowd loved the special appearance.
“(Mr Dennerstein) put the aircraft’s wing flaps down fully and almost floated across the sky above the celebrations. Everyone was clapping. Then he disappeared and came back, gave them a waggle of the wings and then everyone really cheered. It was terrific.”
Mr Filmer said the Cessna Bird Dog was an important feature on Saturday. “The aircraft is a symbol to all those who served in Vietnam. Its main purpose was to observe at very low altitude and to call in air strikes against the enemy,” he said.