The remains of Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver were formally welcomed home today in a reception ceremony attended by their family and former comrades from 2 Squadron, thirty nine years after they went missing on operations in Vietnam. Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver disappeared on 3 November 1970. They had conducted a night bombing mission and were returning to base when their Canberra bomber was lost without trace approximately 65 kilometres south west of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province. Despite an inquiry conducted in late 1970 the cause of the incident was not able to be determined.

“Flying Officer Herbert and Pilot Officer Carver were both enthusiastic airmen who were respected by their superiors. They paid the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country. Australia can finally lay these brave airmen to rest and honour their memory,” said Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science. I hope this ceremony provides some comfort to the families of Flying Officer Herbert and Pilot Officer Carver and I thank them for their fortitude and strength since the loss of their loved ones.”

Official dignitaries who travelled with the families to Hanoi, including the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly MP, and Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin were also in attendance.

“Four other Australian Defence personnel have recently been repatriated to Australia from Vietnam. Lance Corporal Parker and Private Gillson were repatriated to Australia in June 2007, Lance Corporal Gillespie in December 2007, and Private Fisher in October last year,” said Mr Combet. “The return of Flying Officer Herbert and Pilot Officer Carver completes the recovery of all Australian Service personnel who were lost on operations and not recovered during the Vietnam War.”

Military funerals will be held for Pilot Officer Carver on Thursday 3 September at 1100 at St Luke's Toowoomba and on Monday 7 September at 1100 at St Francis Xaviers Cathedral in Adelaide for Flying Officer Herbert.