Sharing stories of service: Jon Raymonde Fallows A111496 Vietnam Veteran
In 1964, at just 17 years old, Jon Raymond Fallows joined the Royal Australian Air Force. After his initial recruit training, Jon completed more specific training at Wagga Wagga in NSW to qualify as an Armament Fitter. His first posting was to a maintenance squadron at Amberley Air Force Base in Queensland. After some time there, he moved onto the Flight Line (where he helped prepare aircraft for practice bombing missions and did minor aircraft maintenance and servicing) with No. 6 Squadron.
Jon volunteered to serve in Vietnam in 1968 and just one month after his 21st birthday he boarded a chartered QANTAS flight to Darwin, Singapore and finally Tan Son Nhut airport in Ho Chi Minh City, known at the time as Saigon. Along with the other men heading to Phan Rang air base, Jon flew to his destination in a C123 that had seen better days. Their plane lost an engine during their flight and was forced to use a large parachute thrown out the back to assist with braking on landing. This was an interesting introduction to Vietnam.
As a trained Armament Fitter, Jon’s time in Vietnam was split between working on the flight line and in the Unit Armoury with a six-month stint in each. During his first six months on the flight line his responsibilities involved some minor aircraft maintenance and servicing, preparing aircraft for sorties or bombing runs and bombing up or equipping aircraft with their bombs for each mission. They were doing eight to ten sorties per day, so the work was repetitive. They would collect the bombs from storage, fit them to the aircraft, sit the pilots in their plane and help them with anything they needed before they left on a sortie. The men on the Flight Line completed 12-hour shifts, six days a week, alternating between day shifts and night shifts. When doing night shifts, they could sleep till about 2:30 am. Night operations started at about 3 am when the pilots did bombing runs from 20,000 feet with the assistance of a radar operator.
Those serving in South Vietnam with Australia’s military made good use of their days off. They were able to take their rest and recreation at beaches in safe areas and at canteens and officers' messes on base. Some also found a way to be useful to the local population. The men from Jon’s unit helped with the construction of a nursery at a local catholic orphanage.
Jon’s second six months in Vietnam was spent in the Unit Armoury. His responsibilities there involved ensuring the serviceability of weapons, keeping track of ammunition and giving monthly reports to NATO on the amounts used. He also dealt with explosives and the demolition of unexploded ordnance found in the field. One of his favourite duties was to forensically analyse ammunition at a scene to see if the forces who fired it could be identified. Sadly, close to the end of his deployment, Jon injured his back lifting heavy bombs from a semi-trailer and had to be medevacked home for treatment.
Once back in Australia, Jon refused the recommended back surgery and instead found successful treatment with a chiropractor. He was then posted back to No.3 Aircraft Depot, Amberley in Queensland.
While Jon was in Vietnam he wrote letters to Vicky, the sister of a fellow serviceman. Eight months after recovering from his back injury, he left the RAAF and travelled to Tasmania to visit Vicky, who he subsequently married. Jon drove mining trucks in Tasmania before furthering his education which allowed him to get into maintenance management consultation in the mining industry. In this role he travelled to many countries around the world before his wife’s illness led him to return to Brisbane. Sometime after Vicky’s death Jon remarried. Now, both his son and stepson are serving in the RAAF.
Jon’s service in the RAAF and particularly in Vietnam, have had a lifelong effect on him.
For many years Jon didn’t commemorate Anzac Day, but now commemorates by attending the service and marching at his local RSL. He spends the day catching up with others who have a similar service history.
Jon’s collection of photographs held at State Library of Queensland covers his tour of Vietnam with shots of the base he spent the majority of his time on, the aircraft he worked with, the bombs and other weapons he looked after in the Unit Armoury, recreational pursuits of some servicemen and local villages near Phn Rang Air base. A written recollection and a video oral history form the rest of his fascinating collection which is accessible on State Library of Queensland’s online catalogue. His oral history can also be viewed on the interactive touch screens in the Anzac Square Post 1945 Gallery and on our website. They give an insight into the psychological cost of wartime service and offer some understanding of the environment and activities of our servicemen and women in Vietnam.
This year to commemorate Anzac Day we will be featuring stories of service of three Queensland heroes; Francis Armstrong (WWI), Alice Imison (WWI & WWII) and Vietnam veteran Jon Fallows. We encourage you to share your stories of service with us. To learn more about this campaign and how you can contribute, as well as upcoming events visit our website: https://www.anzacsquare.qld.gov.au/commemorate/anzac-day
View Jon Fallow’s oral history: https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/tqqf2h/alma99183933521302061