After surveying the Kiwis in, Boots and I worked as gun numbers during one of their fire missions. For the first time they got “splintex” to use with their guns. To test it they “open sighted” the gun on a box some 50 to 100m away. First shot, not one piece of splintex hit the box!

Gnr Follington April 1967

9. The following is a brief summary of survey work carried out.

1. 7th Apr Survey passed to ARVN 105mm Gun Coy at Dat Do
2. 10 Apr In conjunction with Topo Survey section, survey was passed from Nui Dat to ARVN Gun Coy at Xuyen Moc
3. 14 Apr A calibration target and OP were set in several hundred metres NORTH of the Horseshoe feature
4. 20 Apr A BP set in for B Radar
5. 27 – 28 Apr survey passed from Nui Dat to 161 Fd Bty NZ who were approx 5000m West of Nui Dat in support of 7RAR sweep of the area
6. 29 Apr Members provided to Topo Svy section in an experimental scheme to show the feasibility of a heli-borne satellite station for long distance survey. Due to faulty equipment the scheme was not completed

Extensive use was made of helicopters for transport of personnel and equipment during the period. Overall the tasks were carried out in an efficient manner and completed in the minimum of time.

Survey Section 131 Operational Reports April 1967

Survey Control
8. Two attempts have been made to test the principle of extending artillery control by the simultaneous observation of a slow moving helicopter, taking altimetric heights on the ground stations and the air station. The height of the air station above the known and unknown stations becomes the basis of computations. The system is mathematically sound but obviously practically unsound. It is thought that enough figures are to hand to “scotch” this idea once and for all.

Det 1 Topo Svy Tp Op Reports (April 67)

“ no one to tell us what to do. Thursday afternoon we sweltered at 120 in the open and 110 in the shade. Friday we hung around till 2.00 and then we went out to the Horseshoe. We waited until 6.00 and we caught a chopper home. We have to go out again tomorrow at 7.00.”

“We move from here next week (400 yds) and I won’t be a batman any more, Oh boy! All the survey section are moving down to a new position which means more tapes as there are no lights available in this position.”

Excerpts from letters home 28/4/67 Gnr Follington