Helicopter Door Gunner Leading Seaman Noel E. Shipp On July 14, 1967 the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam (RANHFV) was especially formed for service in support of allied forces during the Vietnam War. The new flight was to be integrated with the United States Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company (AHC) flying UH-1 Huey helicopters in both utility and gunship configurations. Australian Noel E. Shipp joined the Royal Australian Navy on January 10, 1963. Shipp transferred to aircrews in July 1967 and the following year was posted to the RANHFV. Shipp soon became a helicopter door-gunner and integrated into the US Army helicopter assault company. In this role he flew numerous missions providing suppression fire for troop-lift helicopters and he also participated in frequent ground assaults on enemy positions and troop concentrations. Shipp was known to members of his mixed unit as a popular and gregarious Aussie who regularly ran the movies in the base cinema. On 31 May 1969, U.S. Captain Dennis Phillips' Huey gunship located enemy troops and swung into position to engage them. The Huey gunners, Leading Seaman Noel Shipp, and U.S. Specialist 4 Byron Bowden hung outside the cabin exposed to intense fire as they engaged the enemy with their M-60 machine guns, bringing more effective fire on the target. In the course of this action the helicopter was struck by ground fire and Captain Phillips was seriously wounded. The stricken gunship got out of control. Co-Pilot Warrant Officer S. Martin was unable to keep the helicopter in the air. It crashed to the ground and exploded. The crew was killed instantly. Leading Seaman Shipp was observed, up until the moment of impact, adjusting his fire and continuing firing his weapon at the enemy. Shipp was awarded the US Army Air Medal for sustained operational activities against an armed enemy. However, Shipp did not receive an award for his final act of dedication from his home country. In 2011, the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Defense has set up an investigation for awarding medals to military personnel who, past and present, represented values of honor, honesty, courage, integrity and loyalty. By 2015, the lesser-known Australian has still not received a decoration. .