Australian Army troops set up a defensive perimeter in sand dunes to protect a RAAF working party ...

Australian Army troops set up a defensive perimeter in sand dunes to protect a RAAF working party engaged in recovering a No 9 Squadron Bushranger helicopter gunship from the sea just north of the Long Hai Mountains in Phuoc Tuy Province. The helicopter was hit three times by enemy ground fire late on Saturday afternoon on 20 June 1970, but due to fading light and rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, it was impossible to attempt recovery until the following morning. By that time the heavy surf and unusually high tides had swamped the machine, breaking of the tail boom and causing severe structural damage. A Chinook heavy lift helicopter later lifted the Bushranger helicopter to Vung Tau airbase for repairs.