PAGE 13
Release
of
Steel Thunder Upgrade
The upgrade to Steel Thunder is now released
Again it contains story and photos of my search for more centurions plus photos from various people that have donated them
This is again a two CD version - the second disk contains Video footage
This set is being sold by myself. Its still a benefit to the Vietnam Veterans Museum
The museum has made me Curator of their Armoured Section and I have put together some items for their display. This does involve costs, framing of two pictures was $230 and an album of all the tanks found at one per page on Photo quality paper and each page laminated for protection was about $400. These costs plus many others were beyond my ability to supply.
So the CD 's will generate the money to make the display worthy for the Museum. I might add I take nothing for my expenses of looking for Centurions all money from the sale goes 100% to the Armoured section of the museum .
If you would like to purchase a copy of both CD's the price is $30 including postage within Australia.
To Purchase
Email me
Email: colfiltness@aapt.net.au
Phone: 03 5781 1312
Payment: Bank Transfer is the best and quickest
Just email me for my account number and then transfer from any bank to my bank as soon as receipt shows on my account, the Cd's are posted
Payment by Money order: Cd's posted on receipt
Cheques accepted but CD's not posted until cleared
Allow two weeks as my bank is in Melbourne and I only go down once a week
Now its time for me to ask for some Help!
I have an old workmate named Alan Davis now living in Vietnam. Alan and some friends have formed a group looking for six missing Australian Servicemen reported missing in action. The group has found the wreck of a plane that they were told could not be found, and believe with help, that some if not all these people could be located. They now want to petition the Australian Government to help locate any remains, so as families can have closure and Australian Servicemen can be returned to Australia for burial.
Below is a web address, just click on it to open the site, and at the bottom add your name to the list .
You can also add comments if you wish. It will only take about 3 minutes of your time
I ask you all to consider signing
Now we have a little bit more information on 169080
In my search for the missing Centurions I found 169080 at the Puckapunyal Tank Museum. This was the hull with another turret fitted, minus the motor. This Tank hit a mine near Binh Ba and was classed as B.E.R. and returned to Australia. A New Zealand hull was fitted and 169080 was again ready for action. The original hull was at the Australian War Memorial at Canberra for some time and then moved to Puckapunyal Tank Museum.
Original 169080 minus motor
The mine blast damage can be plainly seen. It looks like a big dent but everything is twisted and this stops most things from working in a centurion
Prior to this I had seen a Centurion on Gate Guard at the old 4 Base Workshops at Bandiana with no numbers on it. I tried to ID this tank and had about 5 trips up there with no luck at all. Noel Murrell who at the time was the Executive Officer for Joint Logistics Unit (Victoria) allowed me to try and open her up but no luck again she had her hatches stuck shut. Noel offered to have her opened later and said he would pass on the serial number.
The rebuilt 169080 without a serial number showing
Another shot of 169080 rebuild
Now back to the Tank Museum. I was talking to Major Peter Branagan at the time and asked him if he knew where the rebuild was. He replied , "Yes, it's at Bandiana as a gate guard at 4 Base Workshops!" I could not believe my luck Arriving home I rang Noel Murrell only to be told he had open the tank and he had the serial number 169080! What timing, I had been looking for this number for 2 years and two people gave it to me in 2 hours!
Now two years later, more comes to light. Tony Chaunavel who was a radio operator on 169080 when it hit the mine contacted me. Tony had just climbed through the hatch to give his crew commander a message as the mine went off.
Tony is looking towards the camera, the mine blast hole is evident
Below is Tony's account of the incident