On This Day

On This Day - 24 June

1918

The Australian Naval Board proposed to the Defence Council the early establishment of airship stations at Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle. Two non-rigid airships, and three kite balloons, were to be stationed at each port. The proposal was not adopted by the Defence Council.

1920

HMS STUART, (destroyer), operated with the British Fleet deployed in the Sea of Marmara, to put down a Turkish rebellion.

1941

HMAS PARRAMATTA, (sloop), picked up 164 survivors from HMS AUCKLAND, sunk by German dive bombers off Tobruk. They were escorting the small petrol carrier PASS OF BAHAMA to Tobruk.

1970

RAN Fleet Air Arm Squadron No. 817, was awarded the USN Meritorious Unit Commendation for the rescue of 38 American sailors, following the collision of HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), and USS FRANK E EVANS, (destroyer).

1971

HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), supported an operation of the 1st Australian Task Force at Phuoc Tuy, Vietnam, with gunfire.

1972

Brothers, CAPT G. J. Willis, RAN, and CAPT A. A. Willis, RAN, were promoted to the rank of Commodore on the same day.

1991

HMAS DARWIN, (guided missile frigate), led the merchant ships AL SALAM and SANDGATE through a deep water channel in a minefield off Kuwait.

2005

The Armidale class patrol boat HMAS ARMIDALE, (LCDR A. Maher, RAN), was commissioned. ARMIDALE was laid down in Austral Shipyard, Fremantle, WA, and launched on 21 January 2005. Ms J. Stone, (Daughter of OS Don Lawson), performed the launching ceremony.

2022

Boats from HMAS Sydney I rescued survivors when HMS Vanguard blew up at Scapa Flow on 9/7/1917. Two of Sydney's crew were onboard HMS Vanguard and died in the explosion. Stokers Robert Thomas Houston and L.W. Roberts

2022

Flight Lieutenant F. N. Fox, RNAS, flew a Sopwith Pup aircraft from the quarterdeck of HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser).