Military Reflections by Brian Dirou, DFC

November 5, 2026

‘MILITARY REFLECTIONS’

By

Wing Commander Brian Dirou, DFC (Retired)

Prologue

WW2 Peace & Victory Parade 10Jun46

Who Is / Was BD?

The Veracity of Unit History

Air Force Iroquois ‘Bushranger’ Gunship Evolution

‘Bushranger’ Gunship Flight Commanders

LANDING ZONE AFIRE

US Navy ‘Dash’ Shoot Down 21May69

Ammo Resupply – Casevac 23Jul68

Operation TROPIC SNOW – Irian Jaya 1970

Nui Ba Den (The Black Virgin Mountain) & Katum 11May68

FSPB ‘CORAL’ & 1RAR Mortar Platoon, 12May68

Iroquois Defensive Weaponry

The Value Of Doorguns

Helicopter Battlefield Survivability

Iroquois Camouflage Livery

SAS Patrol Insertions by 9SQN in the Vietnam War

A Successful But Near Disastrous Air Strike