BATTLE OF BRITAIN ‘LACE’
The No 37 Squadron RAAF Association is proud to announce the dedication of a memorial plaque at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum on Phillip Island.
The No 37 Squadron RAAF Association invites all interested parties to join them on Sunday 9 November 2025 to pay tribute to their enduring legacy.
This event honours the 50th anniversary of the HQRIC Detachment S deployment, a pivotal response to the humanitarian crisis in Southern Vietnam during March and April 1975.
As North Vietnamese forces advanced towards Saigon, Australia deployed eight Hercules aircraft from RAAF Base Richmond in New South Wales and three Dakota transport aircraft from Butterworth in Malaysia. Involving 185 dedicated RAAF personnel, including aircrew, nurses, doctors, airfield defence guards, air movements staff and support teams, this operation provided critical aid amid the turmoil.
A key element was Australia’s involvement in the US-led Operation Babylift, which saw the evacuation of infants and orphans from Saigon to Bangkok. From there, QANTAS charter flights brought them to Melbourne and Sydney for adoption by Australian families, offering new beginnings in the face of adversity.
Building on the successful gathering in Canberra on 23 July, this dedication is particularly meaningful for Melbourne-based Vietnam Veterans and the broader community. Attendees can explore museum displays from 1000hrs, witness the plaque unveiling in the Garden of Remembrance at 1100hrs and join RAAF aircrew alongside Vietnamese community members for lunch at the Phillip Island RSL from 1145hrs.
For complete details, visit our association website at https//37sqnassoc.org/blog/.
This commemoration serves as a reminder of the courage and compassion shown by RAAF personnel during a challenging time in history.