John Leslie COGGAN. Captain 235246 Australian Army Aviation Corps

**NickC1159** · 16th May 2023, 18:19

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 29/8/1968, page 4841.

Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to COGGAN for Vietnam, he was with 161 Independent Reconnaissance Flight.

In February, 1968, Captain Coggan was flying vital reconnaissance missions over Phoue Le which was under attack from an enemy reinforced battalion. At about 2200 hours, a casualty evacuation helicopter was unable to land in the Phoue Le market place to evacuate wounded because high power lines rendered the size of the landing area. Captain Coggan volunteered and landed in the market place three times, each time under enemy fire and completed the evacuation of the wounded. By his skill, determined leadership and willingness to support ground forces at all costs, Captain Coggan has set an outstanding example as an Army Pilot.

I can find no entry for this award in the London Gazette.

Any information to confirm this award would be helpful.

As a side note, I am updating The Distinguished Fling Cross and how it was won 1918-1995, to include all awards made to date (2023). This award was missed from the original publication, if indeed it was allowed. I also have a few details on the 6 Brazilians who were awarded Honorary DFCs, the update will generally cover mistakes from the London Gazette entries, which covers misspelt names, incorrect service numbers, incorrect squadrons and any other relevant information.

**BruceMk1** · 16th May 2023, 23:31

Why would it be in the London Gazette?

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1531375

**BruceMk1** · 16th May 2023, 23:52

https://www.legislation.gov.au/conte...icGazettes1968

Scroll down to No. 72, 29 August 1968

**COL BRUGGY** · 17th May 2023, 02:57

Hello,

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article266908196 (Photo at investiture)

http://www.161recceflt.org.au/Honour...lie_Coggan.htm

See:
Possums & Bird Dogs:Australian Army Aviation's 161 Reconnaissance Flight in South Vietnam.
Nolan, Peter.
Crows Nest:Allen & Unwin,2006.
pp.110,117,127 & 211-213.

Col

**NickC1159** · 30th May 2023, 11:53

Originally Posted by BruceMk1

Why would it be in the London Gazette?

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1531375

All awards across the Commonwealth were always published in the London Gazette, the awards list of CAG 72, were published in the London Gazette 10th December, 1968, pages 13225/13226.

Interestingly that of COGGAN is the only one omitted.

I spent many hours in the early 1990's checking every page of the London Gazette from 1918 to 1995, from what I know now this is the only one that wasn't included in the London Gazette.

Further to awards being published in the London Gazette, apart from the occasional error/misunderstanding none of the Honorary Awards thus appeared. Compiling these awards was very time consuming and found with a little bit of luck, the awards to the six Brazilian air crew were only located some years after publication.

Many thanks for your reply