Re: Australian Vietnam MIA's Wreckage Found

Date: March 27, 2004

"Chopper wreckage found in Vietnam

by Nick Papps

A SEARCH is to be launched for an Australian soldier missing in action in the Vietnam War.

The US army will lead the search after a team of Australian Vietnam veteran investigators found helicopter wreckage in bushland.

It is believed the wreckage is from a helicopter carrying Lance Corporal John Gillespie, shot down in 1971 during a medical evacuation.

The Melbourne man's remains have never been found. US authorities said they expected to visit the area by July.

Lance-Cpl Gillespie, a medical assistant, is believed to have died in a fire in the crash; three other soldiers died under the chopper.

The wreckage was found by Vietnam veteran Peter Aylett and a former Viet-Cong guide last month.

They used a report on the helicopter crash prepared by former Vietnam veteran Lieutenant Colonel Jim Bourke. They have located an antenna, circuit boards, wiring and screws believed to be from the chopper.

The new search will be spearheaded by the United States Army's Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, which searches for all missing US soldiers from all wars.

JPAC's Lieutenant Colonel Gerry O'Hara said the helicopter wreckage was "a potentially great discovery".

He said JPAC's investigation team would pick up the wreckage and return it to Hawaii for analysis in April.

It will be the same team the Herald Sun reported was searching near Morwell earlier this month for the remains of a US pilot.

After analysis, forensic experts are expected to visit the crash site.

Yesterday Gillespie's daughter, Fiona Pike, said she hoped the discovery of the crash site would help other families, but said her family had "closure" over the death.

"My father has left some wonderful memories and we would like to enjoy those memories and not go through the pain and suffering of people reliving the tragedy," she said.

The case is being investigated by JPAC because a US soldier died underneath the crash.

In December 2002, Mr Bourke's report identifying the crash site was handed to the Defence Department, but it refused to conduct a search.

In November last year, the Herald Sun revealed the Australian Government had refused a United States military request for DNA relating to the six Australian soldiers missing in Vietnam: Lance-Cpl Gillespie, Private John Fisher, Lance-Cpl Richard Parker, Pte Peter Gillson, Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver.

Defence Minister Mal Brough later ordered Defence to ask the families for DNA, but according to Defence they declined to give samples.

But Michael Herbert's sister, Kerryn, told the Herald Sun she was never asked if she wished to give a sample: "I was not contacted by the ADF."

After the Herald Sun reports, at least one relative of a missing soldier gave DNA to JPAC via Jim Bourke and his group, Operation Aussies Home.


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