HMAS SWAN sailed in response to an urgent request for medical assistance from SS Austral Moon. Two crew members had suffered serious injuries when the 30,000 tonne American freighter encountered ...
Australian Naval History on 17 July 1975
Skyhawk A4G (872) was part of a 5-ship flight conducting bombing practice at the Beecroft Head Firing Range, NSW. 872 pulled up off the range and collided with the underside ...
Australian Naval History on 10 February 1975
Grumman S2E Tracker 853 ditched after night flying when doing a Bolter (missed wire and going around again) from HMAS Melbourne. The 4 crew were all rescued unhurt. This was ...
Australian Naval History on 16 May 1974
Lieutenant (P) Ralph McMillan lost his life in a Skyhawk TA4G (879)which crashed into the sea 64 Km NE of Nowra during a mock attack on HMAS Melbourne. ...
Australian Naval History on 11 June 1973
The first Hawker Siddeley 748 transport aircraft was delivered to the RAN’s Fleet Air Arm. The new aircraft replaced the Dakota transports in service since World War II. ...
Australian Naval History on 8 June 1971
RAN HFV pilots ceased flying combat missions in Vietnam and the maintenance section were stood down on the same day. The next few days were spent packing and saying goodbye ...
Australian Naval History on 28 April 1971
CAC Aermacchi MB-326H N14-078 crashed at Sussex Inlet, as a result of losing control during an inverted spin over the ocean. The crew, Lieutenant Errol Kavanagh, RAN and Lieutenant Peter ...
Australian Naval History on 8 February 1971
HMAS Snipe was recommissioned as a Minehunter ...
Australian Naval History on 25 January 1971
HMAS Barbette in company with HMAS Bayonet departed Sydney for their new home port at Cairns. They were later joined by HMAS Barricade. The three boats were greeted warmly on ...
Australian Naval History on 4 December 1970
There was an extraordinary act of flying skill by Lieutenant Buchanan, RAN, and his crew for which the Australian pilot was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. While engaged in the ...
Australian Naval History on 24 November 1970
HMAS Adroit on SAR duties in company with HMAS Aware assisted in an attempt to salvage a ditched helicopter from HMAS Albatross after a Westland Wessex HAS.31A N7-201 881 crashed ...
Australian Naval History on 28 September 1970
The last recorded Sea Vampire Trainer flight took place and the aircraft were replaced by the CAC Aermacchi MB-326H (Macchi) from October 1970. The remaining six Vampires were sold during ...
Australian Naval History on 18 May 1970
The RANHFV took part in an intensive action in Kien Hoa province. A regional force outpost in the Binh Dai district had been overrun and then heavily fortified by a ...
Australian Naval History on 6 March 1970
Lieutenant Dave Gibson was seriously injured when he brought his helicopter into a landing zone east of Ben Tre that had been booby trapped with a 105mm artillery shell. The ...
Australian Naval History on 7 November 1969
HMAS Gull was paid off into operational reserve having steamed 199,042.7 nautical miles in almost seven years of active service. In a fitting postscript, Gull was awarded the Kelly Shield ...
Australian Naval History on 26 September 1969
HMAS Vendetta received a detailed handover from HMAS Brisbane in Subic Bay when she arrived for service during the Vietnam War. This was the occasion for Captain Willis, Brisbane (II)’s ...
Australian Naval History on 13 December 1968
HMAS Curlew recommissioned after conversion to the RANs first Minehunter. She had previously decommissioned on 19 December 1966 for the conversion. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 July 1968
HMAS Acute embarked a small medical team and went to the assistance of the American submarine, USS Indianapolis, 240 nautical miles west of Perth. One of Indianapolis’ crew was suffering ...
Australian Naval History on 22 November 1967
First Operational Grumman Tracker S2E aircraft delivered to the RAN. (One non flying S2A and one non flying S2E had been delivered in 1966 for training) ...
Australian Naval History on 17 April 1964
The first of three Bell Iroquois helicopters ordered for the RAN were received by the Fleet Air Arm. The FAA entered a period of uncertainty in the early 1960s with ...
Australian Naval History on 21 February 1964
HMAS Barcoo was decommissioned for the final time. The frigate had travelled 342,579 nautical miles during her career. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 August 1963
HMAS Warrego paid off, one week short of her 23rd birthday, having steamed 440,978 miles since commissioning on 22 August 1940. In the post war period Warrego made a significant ...
Australian Naval History on 24 April 1963
HMAS Quickmatch paid off to Reserve at Williamstown. After paying off she served as an accommodation ship at Williamstown. On 15 February 1972 Quickmatch was sold for scrap to Fujita ...
Australian Naval History on 20 September 1962
HMAS Swan paid off for disposal. On 5 June 1964 Swan was sold to Hurley and Dewhurst, of Sydney, to be broken up. She was delivered to the purchasers on ...
Australian Naval History on 15 August 1962
HMAS Tide Austral commissioned at Southampton. She was built for the RAN but loaned to the UK and served as RFA Tide Australia from completion in 1955 to 1962 when ...