Virtual
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Australia

PLTOFF Mark McGrath RAAF (dec)

In 1962 and in response to a threat to Thailand from across the border with Laos, four member nations of the South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO), the United States; Britain; New Zealand and Australia sent armed units to defend Thailand’s land and air sovereignty.

Australia’s principal contribution was 79 Squadron RAAF equipped with eight CA-27 Avon Sabres that were to be based at the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Base Ubon Ratchathani, then a small airfield close to the border with Laos. The airfield had very little in the way of facilities except a runway and control tower, some RTAF T-28s operated there and the United States Air Force (USAF) had set up an air defence radar unit, known as ‘Lion’. Ground support equipment and squadron supplies were flown in from Australia by RAAF C130A Hercules and Ubon was established as a fully operational base.

Sabre aircraft of the RAAF flew in on 1 June 1962 and were operational four days later; they would remain so for the next six years. The base support personnel were posted from units in Australia but the Sabres, aircrew and maintenance crews were drawn from 78 Fighter Wing based at Butterworth in Malaysia. 78 Fighter Wing consisted of 3 and 77 Fighter Squadrons together with 478 Maintenance Squadron.

The mission of 79 Squadron was to assist the Thai and Laotian governments in actions against communist insurgents during the early years of the war in Vietnam. Later, the threat of invasion from communist North Vietnam also became an influencing factor in the squadron’s presence at Ubon.

With the deployment of fighters from the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing USAF to Ubon, the unit also performed joint exercises and provided air defence for the USAF attack aircraft and bombers that were based at Ubon (8th TFW) and were flying round-the-clock missions over North Vietnam. 79 Squadron did not, however, fly any operations over North Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or South Vietnam.

At 1043 hours on January 3, 1968 79 Squadron suffered a major loss when Sabre A94-986 crashed into a village 1.2 nautical miles from the threshold to runway 05. The aircarft had suffered a catasrophic engine failure on late finals. The pilot, Pilot Officer Mark McGrath failed to eject and was killed. Pilot Officer McGrath’s aircraft was one of a section of four Sabres that had been conducting an air intercept mission and were returning to base.

Regrettably, there were Thai casualties from the incident and a three year old girl named Prataisre Sangdang died later from extensive burns sustained in the accident. The homes of Mr Nuan, Mr Krasam, Mr Thongkam and Mr Tue were totally destroyed. The home of Mr Sok was partly destroyed. Ten pigs belonging to Mr Sok were killed as were 15 belonging to Mr Oh. Outbuildings belonging to Mr Wiruch and to Mrs Sim were also damaged.

The Squadron subsequently re-deployed to Butterworth air base, Malaysia on August 31, 1968.

WOFF David Hadfield RAAF Rtd.

Si Sa Ket, Thailand

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"Sabre pilot dies in Thailand

BANGKOK, Wednesday. — An Australian Air Force pilot, Pilot Officer Mark McGrath, 21, of Plympton, South Australia, was killed today when the Sabre jet he was flying in formation crashed near Ubon air base in north-eastern Thailand. A spokesman for the Australian Embassy said the pilot was about to land when, two miles from the air base, his aircraft crashed from a height of 1,500 feet and burst into flames. Four or five houses in a nearby village were destroyed and an eight-year old Thai child suffered burns. Authorities stationed at the Ubon base were investigating the crash." - from the Canberra Times 04 Jan 1968 (nla.gov.au)

"Crash inquiry

BANGKOK, Friday. — The crash of a Royal Australian Air Force Sabre jet near the Laotian border was being investigated by a three member team from Butterworth, North Malaysia, an Embassy spokesman said today. The aircraft, flown by Pilot Officer Mark McGrath, 21, of Plympton, Adelaide, crashed while approaching the Ubon Air base in north-east Thailand. The pilot was killed." - from the Canberra Times 06 Jan 1968 (nla.gov.au)