From SAMVO International Chairman , Veteran Tony Macquet
"I have taken a personal interest in Vietnam Day, mainly because a good mate of mine was killed there in 1968. John was born in the USA, but he and I went right through high school together in Pietermaritzburg. His dad was an executive of Combined Harvester, hence their moving to Australia, and then South Africa. John was in my class right through from about Standard 5 to Matriculate in 1962. In 1963, he decided to do his degree back in the States. Whilst in SA, he naturalised and became a South African.
On the 18th August each year, the RSLs and the RSAs commemorate Vietnam Veterans’ Day on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966.
Because of my personal interest, I then found out about a second South African born pilot, Lofty Lance. We talked to our local RSL and we were invited to lay a SAMVOA wreath on behalf of these two veterans.
A number of the Australian Vietnam veterans present last year, were present on the day of Lofty’s death, and they recall Lofty’s chopper going down. This was very close to where a number of them were operating. Here is a bit of its story, as received from a Vietnam Veteran:
Monday 7 June 1971
Temperature: 76.4 F (24.7 C) Humidity: 84% Rainfall: 1.48 inches (37.6 mm)
3 RAR
• Bn HQ redeployed to FSB Pamela (YS4892)
• A Coy at YS5294
• B Coy at YS5093
• C Coy at YS5092
• D Coy at YS5295
• Sp Coy at FSB Pamela (YS4892)
4 RAR
• Bn HQ at FSB TRISH (YS5288)
• B Coy at YS5390
• C Coy at YS5491
• D Coy at YS5592
• Sp Coy at FSB TRISH (YS5288)
• Victor Coy at YS5289
2 SAS Squadron has 8 LRRPS deployed.
At 1055 New Dustoff required urgently as Albatross 07 is shot down. Greg Forbes the co-pilot recalls “We flew to the FSB to get ammunition for B Coy 3 RAR, who we were told was in heavy contact. As we were loading a Sgt from 3 RAR (the paymaster Sgt Jimmy Griffith) told us that he was coming with us to help lower the ammunition down. As we were lowering the ammunition, we started to take ground fire. The Captain Lofty Lance tried to fly out, but we had no engine. Last thing I remembered was a tree branch coming through the window. Then I recall that Peter Vidler, a crewman was pulling at the collar of my flying suit. His arm was hanging at a funny angle. I looked over at Lofty and he was dead. As I struggled to get out of my seat, some soldiers arrived and told us to get away as the chopper was on fire and the ammo was about to explode.”
Jimmy Griffith fell 35 metres to the ground after hitting the tall trees on the way down. He never fully recovered from his burns and broken bones. The door gunner Corporal David Drubber was killed when the helicopter turned on its side. David was trapped under the skids.
If you have not already done so, I suggest that you ask your Clubs / Regions to approach their RSL / RSAs with this information, and you will likely find that you will receive the same invitation to lay a wreath, as we did at the Warragul Club.
Below are condensed writeups on both John and Lofty, as sent to members of our SAMVOA Warragul Club. If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to ask me."
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Lt John Louis Molyneaux Jr. Killed in action towards the end of Operation Marmaduke Thrust, on the 31st August 1968. He won the Purple Heart for falling on an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) to protect his men.
He was born in Chicago, did his primary school education in Australia, then completed his high school education in South Africa, where he became a naturalized South African. He returned to the USA to do his degree and was called up for Vietnam.
He is much remembered by his surviving class mates of the Class of 1962, St Charles’ College in Pietermaritzburg.
2 Lt Everitt Murray (Lofty) Lance (called Lofty due to his height) earned the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) in Korea as a South African pilot. He then served as a fighter pilot with the Canadian and Royal Air Forces, before joining the Australian Air Force, where he flew helicopters.
9 Squadron RAAF started their involvement in Vietnam on the 6th June 1966 sending eight Iroquois helicopters of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), landing at the Vung Tau airbase, Vietnam in support of the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF).
Flight Lieutenant ‘Lofty’ Lance lost his life on the 7th June 1971 when his helicopter was shot down. His remains were sent back to Australia and he was buried with ‘Full Air Force honours’ a week after his death on the 16th June 1971 in the Woden Cemetery, Canberra, Australia. He was survived, at the time, by his Australian wife, Margaret, and their three children.
~ Salute, Lest We Forget
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