Chicom Type 56 Assault Rifle : Viet Cong

Chicom Type 56 automatic assault rifle. Pressed steel receiver and machined bolt mechanism. The action is marked with a 66 in a triangle and the serial number. The three chinese character type code has been erased. Wooden butt, pistol grip and two piece fore end. There is a bullet hole in the right hand side of the pistol grip. The rifle is complete with a magazine and a multi piece tool kit in a tubular steel container in the butt trap. The rear sling swivel is missing. There are holes drilled in the barrel and the bolt face is welded to render the weapon inoperable.

This weapon was captured by US Special Forces personnel, following one of the first Viet Cong mass attacks on one of their camps, situated north of Saigon. This attack was well documented at the time. Two Type 56 weapons were recovered following the attack. The appearance of these weapons was significant at the time because the Viet Cong were generally equipped with obsolete or home made weapons. As aircraft of the RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam were used to re-supply this camp, the weapon was presented to Squadron Leader Chris Sugden, Officer Commanding the unit, as a token of thanks. The weapon was hung on a trophy board by the flight. When the members of the flight were rotating back to Australia, Flying Officer Bill Baggett, believing that the weapon had historical significance brought it home with him to Australia. Flying Officer Baggett served as a pilot with the RAAFTFV between February 1965 and November 1965.