Vietnam-era soldier's remains found | NEWS.com.au A TEAM has found the remains of Australian soldier Lance Corporal John Gillespie, who died in a helicopter crash during the Vietnam war in 1971. Jim Bourke of the the group Operations Aussies Home, said the remains were dug up at a crash site. Gillespie died on April 17, 1971, in the crash of a RAAF Iroquois helicopter in the Long Hai hills of Phuoc Tuy province. The helicopter burned on impact and it was believed at the time that all human remains had been consumed in the blaze. Mr Bourke said the Vietnamese government had agreed with the assessment of the Australian forensic experts that the remains were those of Gillespie. The remains could be returned to Australia as early as next week, he said. Earlier this year, Mr Bourke's group found the remains of two other Australian soldiers killed in Vietnam in 1965. The discovery of Gillespie's remains leave just three other Australians missing in action from the Vietnam conflict.
It will be so good for the family. John Francis Gillespie Rank Lance Corporal [L Cpl] Service Number 3170244 Unit 8 Fd AMB (RAAMC) Service Army Conflict Vietnam, 1962-1972 Date of Death 17 April 1971 Place of Death South Vietnam Cause of Death Killed In Action Next Of Kin Mrs C P Gillespie, Wife at 54 Neville St Carnegie VIC 3163 (Jul 73) Source AWM153 Roll of Honour cards, Vietnam RAAMC = Royal Australian Army Medical Corp Royal Australian Army Medical Corps Associations Site Home
Australian servicemen missing in Vietnam: Gillson, Gillespie, Parker, Fisher, Herbert, and Carver. AUSTRALIAN POW/MIAs - Vietnam OPERATION DONG KHOI III
