Established 1965 as 161 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight at RAAF Base Amberley for deployment to Vietnam as part of the 16th Army Light Aircraft Squadron. Started using Cessna 180 and Sioux helicopters from Bien Hoa. Expanded using US Army OH-58A Kiowas and O-1 Bird Dog to Vung Tau and Nui Dat until 1971. During that time, in 1967 the 16 Squadron was redesignated 1st Aviation Regiment. In 1974 received current name.
1972, I served with the 146th Aviation Company (RR) at Long Thanh North, Vietnam . Pilots from the 161st would occasionally would stop in for coffee or at least on one weekend for a beer or two. One of them, maybe by the name of John, gave me aPossum unit patch which he ripped from his flight suit
Locations
| 1965-1971 | YAMB | RAAF Amberley |
| 1965-1971 |  Bien Hoa Air Base |
|
| 1971-1974 | YBOK OKY | Oakey |
| 1974-1994 | YSHW | Luscombe Army Airfield |
| 1995- | YPDN DRW | Darwin International Airport |
Models
| 1969-?? | 47G-3 |
| 1972- | ca-32 kiowa |
| 2004- | Tiger ARH |
Airframes (4)
| Reg | Model | C/N | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1-640 | 47g-3 | 6640 | 1965 | |
| A17-011 | ca-32 kiowa | 44511 | ||
| A17-017 | ca-32 kiowa | 44517 | ||
| A17-046 | ca-32 kiowa | 44546 | 1976 |