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You are here: Home / On This Day / Australian Naval History on 9 November 1966

Australian Naval History on 9 November 1966

On This Day · Nov 9, 1966 · Print This Page

As the floating crane “Falcon” was lifting a Tracker S2E, Bu No 151646, from the Pyrmont wharf on to a lighter, a sling broke and the aircraft fell into Sydney Harbour. Navy divers later attached slings to the aircraft which was raised after spending four hours immersed. The S2E was obtained as an incomplete and damaged airframe, having been ditched into Long Island Sound during a pre-delivery test flight from the Grumman factory. The S-2E never flew again after this accident and it was acquired by the R.A.N. with the specific intention of cutting it up to provide components for training purposes and had arrived in Sydney on 7/11/1966 on the freighter “Australian Surf”. Given that this aeroplane was ditched prior to delivery and spent another four hours on the bottom of Sydney Harbour, it is noteworthy for probably having spent more time in the water than in the air!

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