On This Day - 9 May
- 1913
- ADML Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith, AC, KBE, CB, DSC, RAN, (1913 - 1998), first graduate of the Royal Australian Naval College to reach the rank of Admiral, was born at Chatswood, NSW.
- 1917
- The Australian Government agreed to send HMA Ships WARREGO, PARRAMATTA, YARRA, SWAN, TORRENS, and HUON, to European waters, following and urgent request from Britain. This request clearly indicated Australia did not have control of it's own Navy, a fact which Admiralty diplomatically managed by ensuring it maintained an RN Admiral as First Naval member of Australia's ACN Board. This policy that became entrenched for the next 30 years but was finally discarded when RADM John Collins RAN took over.
- 1918
- LEUT V. A. Crutchley, DSC, RN, was awarded the VC for conspicuous bravery while serving as the First Lieutenant of HMS VINDICTIVE, (cruiser),in the attack on the Belgian port of Ostend in April 1918. Crutchley showed outstanding courage and leadership when VINDICTIVE rammed the piers at the port and sank. He later took command of ML 254 while under fire during the withdrawal. Crutchley continued to serve in the RN after the war and in June 1942, with the rank of Admiral, he took command of the Australian Squadron and lead it for the next two years during the fighting in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea areas. He relinquished command of the Australian Squadron to CDRE John Collins, CB, RAN, in June 1944.
- 1924
- Wing Commander S. J. Goble, and Flight Lieutenant I. E. Mclntyre, both former RNAS pilots, completed the first around- Australian flight in Fairey seaplanes.
- 1940
- PO A. J. Fisher, RAN was awarded the DSC for daring, endurance, and resource, while serving in HM Submarine TRUANT. Fifteen months later he was MID for skill and enterprise in the same submarine.
- 1941
- HMAS VENDETTA evacuated wounded from Tobruk during the night of 9/10 May to Alexandria
- 1943
- HMAS LATROBE, (minesweeper), suffered heavy air attacks off the south coast of New Guinea.
- 1956
- The aircraft carrier HMAS MELBOURNE, (CAPT G. G. O Gatacre, RAN), arrived at her home port of Sydney, on completion of her maiden voyage from the United Kingdom
- 1957
- HMAS MARYBOROUGH, (minesweeper), was sold. She was purchased by a private shipping company and renamed ISOBEL QUEEN.
- 1960
- Whilst in the China Sea HMAS MELBOURNE lost an XA359 Gannet aircraft. The aircraft lost on engine whilst being catapulted and ditched ahead of the ship. LCDR Rowland was the pilot, and LEUT's Horton and Findlay observers. Rowland was rescued by the SAR Sycamore helicopter, Horton and Findlay by HMS CAVALIER, and later transfered to MELBOURNE.
- 1977
- During exercises in the Indian Ocean, a Sea King helicopter from HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), crashed into the ocean. None of the crew were injured, and they were quickly rescued by HMAS BRISBANE, (destroyer), which was in company with MELBOURNE.
- 1992
- At the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, a national memorial was unveiled at Townsville, QLD. Personnel from HMA Ships PERTH, ADELAIDE, TOBRUK and JERVIS BAY, and US Ships BLUE RIDGE and FLETCHER, were present at the unveiling.
'On This Day' is based on the book "Navy Day by Day: Historic Naval Events in Australia and Abroad" written by the late Lew Lind. More information.
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Credit:
'On This Day' is based on the book "Navy Day by Day: Historic Naval Events in Australia and Abroad" written by the late Lew Lind. More information.
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