RNZAF VIETNAM MEDALLIC RECOGNITION

[SEAN]

I just thought I would share with you all the story of how I have managed to apply for two Vietnam War related Official New Zealand Medals for my late Father, that I was totally unaware of his entitlement to.

I am shearing this info, as I am guessing there are people on this site that are unaware of their own entitlement to these Medals, and others (like me) that may know of friends and family that went to Vietnam, who could also have an entitlement to the same Medals.

The two Medals are the:
New Zealand General Service Medal (Clasp Vietnam) and the New Zealand Operational Service Medal

More info on these Medals can be found here medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/c/c2.html and here medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/c/c5.html For RNZAF personnel one sortie into the (war zone) operational area (Vietnam) is required to get eligibility for the New Zealand Operational Service Medal NZOSM, and the New Zealand General Service Medal with the Vietnam Clasp.

For me the story started in April 2016 when I was reading stuff.co.nz, when I came across this article:
www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/79218474/vietnam-veterans-journey-to-get-recognition-for-fellow-servicemen

I then got this thought in my head that I was pretty sure my Dad did some flights into Vietnam whilst he / us were in Singapore with 41 Squadron in the early 1970’s. Note I was only seven at that stage.

I then contacted Doug (Scotty) Wingfield who through his own experiences in trying to apply for his own Medals, has created a large database of names and flights (513) that the RNZAF did into Vietnam during the period 1965 to 1975. But Dad was not listed in any of them, so I started to think I may have had some false memories… My Mum has also passed on, and my siblings could not quite remember either.

So being a little unsure and disheartened, but not yet deterred, Scotty was able to guide me through the process of trying to get enough evidence to support any application for the Medals.

The first thing he suggested was that I obtain Dads Personal File (P/F) from NZDF Archives, which I did, but despite Dad having a large P/F, there was only a few pages from his / our time with 41 Squadron in Singapore.

Link to NZDF Archives nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-records/nzdf-archives/accessing-military-service-records.htm

The next thing Scotty suggested was to look through the old family photo’s to see if Dad took any photos whilst in Vietnam, which thankfully he had. There were about six random photos with “Vietnam” written on the back of them, and a date stamp from when the developer had developed them. Thankfully one of the photos was of The Bristol Freighter he flew there on, NZ5906. So bingo, I had photos, dates and an aircraft serial number.

I passed all this info back to Scotty, who was able to track down via his database a couple of possible flights that Dad could have been on prior to the photo development dates. But again Dad’s name was not listed in the Database.

But because of this info, Scotty now had the Aircraft Captains name, and contacted him and asked him to check his Log Books. Bingo again, Dads name was listed in his Log Book, and they also managed to find his name for another trip to Vietnam a few months later, as well as other flights.

So we now had the evidence required to support the application for the two medals. Once all the documents were obtained and certified, I applied for the Medals.

When Dad died he had two medals a MBE, and the AFA and Bar. Soon he will have five, including the DSM, GSM (Vietnam Clasp) and OSM. All this from a long distant memory of a seven year old kid.

Scotty is more than happy to help anyone else with research and guidance. He can be contacted via email [e-mail] or by phone on 03 3373 644 or 021 542 682.

Please note however Scotty can only help with the contributions of 41 Squadron RNZAF during the Vietnam War for the period 1965 to 1975, and not other wars or confrontations. To date Scotty has now assisted seven RNZAF Airmen to get Medals, and three more have applications in process.

It took a bit of time and effort, but the end result will so be worth it. Don’t be deterred.

Feel free to pass this info on to anyone who maybe interested.

[tbf25o4]

Hi Sean,

well done, I remember your Dad's administration of us young Kiwis who were posted to 41 Squadron 1971-1973, but were under the command of 9 Signals Regiment Australian Army, and employed by
the Royal Navy. (How about that for tri-service tri-nation co-operation) He was always helpful both at Changi and then Tengah

[Dave Homewood]

Great story and good sleuthing Sean, well done.

[suthg]

Agreed, a satisfying end to a puzzle and persistence! And a shared contact for others too! I have enjoyed researching personal records from the Archives for several people including one of my grandfather's and our project pilot P/O PM Price, quite rewarding and insightful. But, hat was a few steps deeper into research for proof of flights!

[Dave Homewood]

A news story on this:

Government plea to 'missing' Vietnam War veterans
04/08/2018
Erin Speedy

The Government is pleading for members of an Air Force Squadron sent to the Vietnam War to come forward and claim their medals.

An admin error after the war saw all records chucked out for ground crews from 41 Squadron.

Declined his own medals, it spurred Vietnam War Vet Doug "Scotty" Wingfield to spend the next decade of his life finding evidence of their service.

"I thought this can't be true, this can't be right. I was abused when I came back to New Zealand as a Vietnam veteran and I thought on top of that now I can't even get some recognition for it," Mr Wingfield says.

He spent more than 7000 hours looking for traces of 41 Squadron across the world. Page by page, he searched through Unit Histories. Contacting RNZAF pilots, he tracked down flight authorisation books, manifestos, passenger lists and records of ground crew air movements.

"Scattered amongst them there are ground crew names, and I've found 137 of them," Mr Wingfield says.

Dubbed Scotty's List, it's now an official reference point for the Defence Force - records dating back from the first flight into Vietnam in December 1962, to the last flight out on March 21, 1975.

One-hundred-and-thirty-seven names of Kiwi service records that were lost are now found.

The 34th and latest airman to be ticked off that list is 81-year-old Tony Batchelor. Twenty-three years of his life were dedicated to the Air Force.

"I loved the Air Force. There was never a day I didn't want to go to work. My other claim is there was never a day I rung in sick. That doesn't mean to say I wasn't sick but I'd go to work," Mr Batchelor says.

He was based in Singapore as a loadmaster for 41 Squadron flying in and out of Vietnam from September 1964 to December 1966.

"I actually don't consider myself to be a real war veteran, not like the Army that were on the ground for months at a time and in the jungle, and fearful for their lives every day. We had it pretty easy I think."

It hasn't been easy flying. Tony was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 - an official medical condition recognised by the Defence Force for serving in Vietnam.

Initially declined his veteran status, it's a battle he has been fighting on his own.

Using Scotty's research, the pair have been able to sign off a statutory declaration proving his service.

"That's really sad that somebody has to go to this much trouble."

A medal arrived in the post this week.

More importantly, he's now declared a Vietnam War veteran, meaning he's entitled to Government support.

"One never knows what help one might need as time goes on, so I'm certainly going to be recorded as a prostate sufferer and through my Vietnam medal I'm entitled to be on that list," Mr Batchelor says.

Mr Wingfield says it's now beyond his resources to track down the men, and he thinks the Crown should step.

"They've missed out on getting their service recognised; they missed out on getting their apology from the Government; they missed out on their families being able to be proud of the affect their father served in Vietnam," he says.

"I've done all the legwork to get the research done and its actually independently verifiable. I don't have to prove anything else; the evidence is there all we've got to do is find them."

Minister for Veteran Affairs Ron Mark says the Defence Force is doing its level best.

"I think it will be a collaborative effort between the veterans, Scotty and the Defence Force."

The minister is urging families to contact Veteran Affairs if they think a loved one may have even landed in Vietnam while serving in the Defence Force. He wants these men to receive what they're entitled to and says it's important they're recognised.

"We actually need these families to go on to the website to check it out.

"I think it's time that people check themselves; that would be helpful."

The minister says he is incredibly appreciative and thankful to Mr Wingfield for what he has done.

If you think you or a loved one could be on Scotty's List or served in 41 Squadron contact:

Personnel Archives & Medals, Private Bag 905, Upper Hutt 5140, New Zealand
Phone: [phone], email: [e-mail]
Scotty Wingfield, PO Box 33 134, Barrington, Christchurch 8244, New Zealand
Phone: [phone]


www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/08/government-plea-to-missing-vietnam-war-veterans.html

[vansvilla]

Not to undermines Scotty's Sterling efforts I got mine by applying to archives for the pay docs which would have shown allowances for my trip to Vietnam.
I simply told them that I needed the evidence to show eligibility for the medal. Within 10 weeks the medal turned up.
I had originally asked Scotty for help but he was unable to come up with anything for me.