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You are here: Home / Archives for Article topics / Naval history / Aviation

Aviation

Occasional Paper 191: Aviation in the Royal Australian Navy, the first 65 Years, 1917 to 1982

Editorial Staff · Mar 1, 2025 ·

Sopwith Pup from HMAS Sydney with HMAS Melbourne in the background

The following story is based on a Royal Australian Navy News story first published on Friday 23 April 1982, page 4. Australian Naval aviation this month celebrated the 65th anniversary ...

The Treloar Centre and Big Things in Store

A.N. Other · Dec 27, 2023 ·

The following report has been compiled by Mark Meredith, one of our members, following a recent visit to the Treloar Centre. The Australian War Memorial (AWM) has a conservation and ...

Kingfishers over the Shoalhaven

Editorial Staff · Dec 16, 2023 ·

There is a fascinating small book by Barry Pattison titled Kingfishers in the Antipodes which was published in 1998 and later serialised in News & Views, the magazine of the ...

The Australian GAF Nomad aircraft

Steve Chaplin · Mar 7, 2023 ·

By Steve Chaplin In this article the author continues the history of Skywest Aviation which appeared in the December 2022 edition of this magazine.  The Australian designed and manufactured Nomad ...

Skywest Aviation in the Coastwatch Role

Steve Chaplin · Dec 7, 2022 ·

By Steve Chaplin Background As an island continent, Australia has an extensive coastline, not only to patrol, but also to protect. As a result of a number of events occurring ...

My Father’s Service in the RNZAF during WWII: Airman Pilot Ian Speedy RNZAF

A.N. Other · Sep 1, 2022 ·

By Max Speedy This article first appeared in the June 2022 edition of the RAN Fleet Air Arm magazine Slipstream Vol 33 No 2 and is reproduced by kind permission ...

The Remarkable Story of the Naval Heritage Flight (NHF) and the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS)

A.N. Other · Dec 29, 2021 ·

By Carl Robinson1 and Terry Hetherington2 Created in early 1985 at HMAS Albatross, the RAN Historic Flight was an ambitious project to keep a representative core of Australia’s classic navy ...

Navy Birds Return to their Nest – Navy News Paper article August 1958.

David Stratton · Oct 4, 2021 ·

After a glamorous six months’ cruise in H.M A.S. Melbourne, the Air Group returned to its nest at Albatross on July 20. At 7.30 in perfect weather, 11 Sea Venoms, ...

Navy Chopper Rescues RAAF Sabre Jet Pilot

David Stratton · Oct 3, 2021 ·

Navy Chopper Rescues RAAF Sabre Jet Pilot Navy News March 1963 Another Royal Australian Navy “first” was recorded last week when one of the Navy’s new Westland Wessex helicopters went ...

Occasional Paper 119: Darwin, 19 February 1942: a forgotten moment in the history of naval air operations

A.N. Other · Aug 30, 2021 ·

By Angus Britts The Japanese air attacks against Port Darwin in the forenoon of 19 February 1942 were a salient moment in Australia’s modern history. For the first time the ...

Finding of Akagi and Kaga focuses attention on Japan’s formidable aircraft carriers
and the Darwin raid

Lewis, Tom, AOM, Lieutenant RAN · May 27, 2020 ·

By Tom Lewis Dr. Tom Lewis OAM is a retired naval officer, and the author of 14 books. Some of this text was drawn from Carrier Attack, published in 2013 ...

Occasional Paper 72: Spitfires in the RAN

Editorial Staff · Feb 11, 2020 ·

The Supermarine Spitfire was the most well-known of the World War II era fighter aircraft but by the late 1940’s was quickly becoming obsolete. In October 1948, 15 ex-RAAF Spitfires ...

Occasional Paper 68: Bristol Sycamore HR50/51

A.N. Other · Dec 21, 2019 ·

This paper, first published by the Sea Power Centre – Australia provides an overview of the service history of the Bristol Sycamore rescue and training helicopter operated by the RAN ...

Occasional Paper 44: The Fairey Gannet A/S1

A.N. Other · Feb 12, 2019 ·

By CMDR (P) R. V. Morritt, RAN Rtd The Fairey Gannet A/S 1 aircraft was introduced into the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Fleet Air Arm (FAA) in 1955. When embarked ...

Book Review: Carriers at War 1939 -1945

Book reviewer · Dec 24, 2013 ·

Carriers at War 1939 -1945 by Adrian Stewart. Published by: Pen & Sword, Barnsley, 2013. Paperback of 224 pages with numerous photographs. rrp about $30 but reductions now available. Barely ...

Book Review: A Century of Carrier Aviation

Book reviewer · Mar 1, 2009 ·

A Century of Carrier Aviation: The Evolution of Ships and Shipborne Aircraft. By David Hobbs. Seaforth Publishing (2009). ISBN 978-1-84832-019-2. Reviewed by Commodore (P) John Da Costa RAN (Rtd) This large ...

Book Review: A Bloody Job Well Done

Book reviewer · Mar 1, 2009 ·

A Bloody Job Well Done The History of the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam 1967-1971. Available from HMAS Cerberus 03 59315750. rrp $29.95 Reviewed by Steve Eather One of ...

Book Review: Fairey Gannet in Service with the RAN Fleet Air Arm

Book reviewer · Dec 5, 2008 ·

Submarine Hunter – Fairey Gannet in Service with the RAN Fleet Air Arm. By Zbigniew (‘Ben’) Patynowski. Mushroom Model Publications, Redbourn (UK), 2008. 248pp. Profusely illustrated (b&w and colour) ISBN: ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

Book Review: Royal Navy Escort Carriers

Book reviewer · Jun 18, 2004 ·

Royal Navy Escort Carriers By Commander David Hobbs, MBE, Royal Navy Published by Maritime Books in UK Available at the Australian Maritime Museum bookshop at Darling Harbour. £19.95 (approx A$50 ...

Book Review: War in a String Bag

Francis, Richard · Jun 9, 2002 ·

Title: War in a String Bag – Autobiography of WW2 Fleet Air Arm Pilot Charles Lamb Author: Charles Lamb Publisher: Cassell ISBN:0 -304-35841-X This is an autobiographical account of Charles Lamb’s exploits in ...

Book Review: Australian Fighter Aces 1914-1953

Book reviewer · Jun 20, 2000 ·

AUSTRALIAN FIGHTER ACES 1914-1953, by A.D. Garrison (Published and distributed jointly by Air Power Studies Centre and Australian War Memorial 1999, 250x175mm, 117 b&w photos, 10 tables/lists, ix/188pp, card cover, ...

Book Review: The Third Brother

Book reviewer · Jun 11, 1991 ·

Chris Coulthard-Clark, 533 pages, illustrated, Allen and Unwin, Australia. In the spate of 50th Anniversary war books it comes as rather a surprise to have a book celebrating the 70th ...

Book Review: Seagulls, Cruisers, and Catapults

Book reviewer · Dec 19, 1989 ·

By Ray Jones, 134 pages, Illustrated, Pelorus Publications, Tasmania – 1989 This fascinating book is not only a history of the amphibian aircraft used by the Royal Australian Navy but a ...

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