Michael Patrick John HERBERT

Michael Patrick John HERBERT Update Details

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HERBERT, Michael Patrick John

Service Number:	O44310
Enlisted:	25 February 1970
Last Rank:	Flying Officer
Last Unit:	No. 2 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Freeling, South Australia, 6 September 1946
Home Town:	Glenelg, Holdfast Bay, South Australia
Schooling:	Sacred Heart College, Somerton Park, South Australia
Occupation:	RAAF Pilot
Died:	Killed in Action, Vietnam - Laos Border, 3 November 1970, aged 24 years
Cemetery:	Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Derrick Gardens - Row 62 - No 1636B, Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Memorials:	Adelaide Post Second World War Memorial, Adelaide Vietnam War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Baldivis Vietnam War Missing in Action Street Memorials, Grafton Clarence Valley Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Kallangur Vietnam Veterans' Place, Ocean Beach Surf Lifesaving Club 2 SQN. RAAF Phan Rang Vietnam Memorial Panel, Pooraka War Memorial, Port Pirie Vietnam Veterans Honour Wall, Seymour Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk Roll of Honour, Somerton Park Sacred Heart College Memorial Gates, Somerton Park Sacred Heart College Post WW2 Honour Board

Vietnam War Service

25 Feb 1970:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, O44310, No. 2 Squadron (RAAF)
25 Feb 1970:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, O44310
25 Feb 1970:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, O44310, No. 2 Squadron (RAAF)
Date unknown:	Involvement Flying Officer, O44310

Air Training Corp

Michael Herbert was a member of No. 2 Flight (Air Training Corp) and was based at Barton Terrace. No.2 Flight (AIRTC) is now known as The Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) - 602 Squadron Woodside. The Cadet of the Year Trophy will be named the Michael Herbert Memorial Trophy.

Submitted 24 November 2019 by Paul Lemar

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Biography

Michael Herbert was from Glenelg, South Australia and attended Sacred Heart College. He achieved his civil private pilot’s licence before joining the RAAF in 1964. He was posted to No 2 Squadron as a Canberra bomber pilot and arrived in Vietnam in February 1970.

His 199^th mission was a night bombing and the aircraft disappeared from radar contact shortly after successfully completing the bomb run. Flying Officer Michael Herbert and his Navigator, Pilot Officer Robert Carver were declared missing and presumed killed near the Laotian border on 3 November 1970.

They were the last of six Australian servicemen still declared missing in action (MIA) from the Vietnam War.

Their aircraft, RAAF Canberra Bomber A84-231, callsign Magpie 91, was finally discovered on 10 April 2009, nearly 39 years after it went missing, resulting from extensive research work by the organisation ‘Operation Aussies Home’ and the RAAF. Following the discovery a contingent was sent to Vietnam to search for and repatriate the remains of the crew. In August 2009 the men’s remains were repatriated to Australia.

Flying Officer Michael Herbert was laid to rest after a full military funeral held at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Wakefield Street, Adelaide on Monday, 7 September 2009.

Michael and his family were residents at Glenelg North where he undertook his early schooling and his memory has been honoured by the naming of a bridge over the Glenelg Patawalonga Inlet, as ‘The Michael Herbert Bridge’. A wing at the RSL Care SA Villas at Angle Park is also named in his honour.

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