Words: Lyell Sayer
Tune: Traditional (Johnny Lad)

The song was a reference to the US-made F-111c fighter bomber. The Australian government ordered a number, for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1963. However, the final version of the aircraft were not delivered until 1973, because of technical problems, which included unexplained loses during its use in the Vietnam War in the late 60s and early 70s - or as said in the chorus of this song: "it is a lovely plane... it's a pity that it isn't safe to take it off the ground".

The narrator started with the Australian Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, pondering that "our Canberra bombers are...old as hell". He called up "Uncle Sammy" to purchase planes, to "scare some Asians".

The narrator noted that the government "sent some off to Vietnam" to "wipe out all the Viet Cong" - a reference to the "VC" - the National Liberation Front of... (continua)