59-1. FSPB Coral. Photos supplied by
Ralph Bilsby. [May 1968]
59-2. Command Post (CP) ARTY
and AIR at FSPB Coral. Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [May 1968]
59-3. Signal Centre (SIGCEN) at
FSPB Coral - Communications equipment under ground including the AN/MGC-17
Shelter. Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [May 1968]
59-4. SIGCEN at FSPB Coral -
Communications equipment under ground including the AN/MGC-17 Shelter.
Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [May 1968]
59-5. SIGCEN bunker. Also
included FSPB Coral Telephone Switchboard "Ebony Forward Sir" . Photos
supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [May 1968]
Comment: Because of the lessons learnt from
this battle, 104 Sig Sqn and 547 Sig Tp (Plus HQ 1 ATF) were issued with
Armored Command Vehicles (ACV) so the communications equipment would not
have to be carried forward in cases and dug in. 104 Sig Sqn still has
armored vehicles today.
59-6. Unknown manning SIGCEN
bunker. Also included FSPB Coral Telephone Switchboard "Ebony Forward
Sir". Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [May 1968]
Information: Future deployments 104 Sig Sqn
and 547 Sig Tp communications were deployment pre wired and mounted for
quick and protected communications. 104 Sig Sqn ACV had the Callsign
"85 Charlie" and 547 Sig Tp ACV had the Callsign "85 Delta".
59-7. Ralph Bilsby's FSPB
Coral home under construction. Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [May
1968]
59-8. FSPB Coral after attack
16 May. Note the shrapnel holes in the cloth line articles and trees.
Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [16 May 1968]
59-9. Ralph Bilsby's sleeping
bag with shrapnel holes after attack 16 May. Photos supplied by Ralph
Bilsby. [16 May 1968]
59-10. 104 Sig Sqn members
shell shocked after attack 16 May. L-R Ian
Crostwaite, Mal Fergusson, Hugh Hutton (lying) and ? Photos supplied by
Ralph Bilsby. [16 May 1968]
59-11. 104 Sig Sqn at field
kitchen after attack 16 May. L-R Dave
Thompson (back), ?, ?, Bob Lowick, ? and Mal Fergusson.
Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [16 May
1968]
59-12. Unknown 104 Sig
Sqn 16 May. Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [16 May 1968]
Note: See
communication shelter in back ground with sandbags on the air vents to
stop light at night. Most likely the Radio Relay AN/MRC-69 from 110 Sig
Sqn.
59-13. 1RAR with
helicopter sticks line up ready to return to Nui Dat from FSPB Coral.
Photo supplied by Bob Parkyns. [1968]
59-14. 1RAR CP at FSPB
Coral. Photo supplied by Bob Parkyns. [1968]
59-15. 1RAR returning to
Nui Dat from FSPB Coral. Photo supplied by Bob Parkyns. [1968]
59-16. 1RAR HQ waiting at FSPB Coral
for return to Nui Dat. Photo supplied by Bob Parkyns. [1968]
59-17. 104 and 110 Sig Sqn Vehicles lined up at Nui
Dat for the road convey to Bearcat - Start of Operation Toan Thang and the
deployment to FSPB Coral. Photos supplied by Norm Munro [1968].
Information: First truck
(2.5 ton) has the AN/MGC-17 and AN/MTC-17 Shelters (Both 104 Sig Sqn). The other
truck (5 ton) the AN/MRC-69 Shelter (110 Sig Sqn).
59-18. Vehicles lined up at Nui
Dat for the road convey to Bearcat - Start of Operation Toan Thang and the
deployment to FSPB Coral. Photos supplied by Norm Munro [1968].
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If you would like
copies of some of the photos or can complete some of the missing names
or have photos that I can add to this Web Site, please email
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details.