WONZ 251 - Max Speedy's Vietnam War

[Dave Homewood]

The Wings Over New Zealand Show Episode 251 is now online. In this episode, NZ-born Royal Australian Navy Vietnam veteran and historian Max Speedy starts off by giving an overview of the background history of the Vietnam War, and how the Australian and New Zealand forces ended up there. He then details the Battle of Long Tan, which involved the Australian and New Zealand armies versus the North Vietnamese, and some of the No. 9 Squadron Iroquois RAAF crews.

Then Max moves into his own personal story of flying UH-1 “Huey” helicopters as a Royal Australian Navy pilot, posted in 1968 as 2iC of the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam with the US Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company. During his year-long tour in Vietnam, he flew 1250 hours on combat assault missions with American and South Vietnamese troops. He was 1st Slick Platoon Leader for about 4 months (leading 10 Slicks in combat assaults) and later Air Mission Commander directing the Slicks and Gunships from the Command & Control aircraft. He flew most of the aircraft that were in Vietnam in that period, but mostly the UH-1H Slick and the UH-1C gunship.

Max was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross which was presented by HM The Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. He also has 12 US Air Medals and two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry.

cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2021/12/wonz-251-max-speedys-vietnam-war/

[Dave Homewood]

I have to say I am so pleased to have been able to record this interview, and others, with Max. He is a member of the WONZ Forum here, and he contacted me a few months back to ask if I could help with details of a P-40 gun sight, as he was trying to write something about his father, Ian Speedy's, service in those fighters. It was only through our corresponding through emails that he mentioned that he'd flown in the Navy. I asked what he'd done, out of interest and that was when I learned about all the things he'd flown in, and they included the Bell UH-1 Huey with the Royal Australian Navy in Vietnam.

I knew that the RAN had some Iroquois in their fleet back in the day but I did not have any clue that their crews and ground staff were posted to Vietnam and flew Hueys with a US Army unit. I am not sure many people know this. So, I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to record the story of one of their senior pilots.

The RAN experience was quite different from that of No. 9 Squadron RAAF, it seems. So this adds to the history hopefully. And even cooler that Max was originally a Kiwi too.

[ZacYates]

A fascinating episode, thank you Max for sharing your story and the background, and Dave for recording it for us all to enjoy.

I must say I was surprised when Dave asked about the origins of the Vietnam War Max started with the US involvement rather than the French colonial background and subsequent.

[Dave Homewood]

That Zac is because we were concentrating on the Australian and New Zealand contribution to the war.

[ZacYates]

Thanks Dave, I missed that point.