On This Day
1946-1959 > Post WW2
On This Day - 1946-1959
- November 13, 1951
Aircraft from HMAS Sydney (III) were in action spotting the fall of shot for the US Navy battleship USS New Jersey. Sydney completed her third patrol on this day, her strikes having made inoperable all of the railway lines in her target area.
- November 5, 1951
LEUT K. E. Clarkson, DFM, RAN, was killed in action when his aircraft failed to pull out of dive during an attack on North Korean transports. His death was the first operational casualty during the deployment to Korean waters of HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier).
- October 26, 1951
Firefly fighter bombers from HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier), attacked railway tunnels on the west coast of Korea. One aircraft was lost in the operation, and crashed close to Communist positions. The pilot, SBLT M. D. Macmillan, RAN, and Observer 1st Class J. Hancox, were unhurt, and later rescued by a USN helicopter piloted by CPO A. K. Babbitt, who was awarded the US Navy Cross, and the British DSM, for the same act of gallantry.
- October 25, 1951
A Sea Fury piloted by LEUT C. M. Wheatley, RAN, (from HMAS SYDNEY, aircraft carrier), was hit by flak, and crashed into the sea of Chinnampo, South Korea. Wheatley was picked up by a patrolling helicopter and taken to the main Allied airbase at Kimpo.
- October 18, 1951
Air strikes from HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier), sank a flotilla of North Korean supply junks in the Yalu estuary, Korea.
- October 14, 1951
HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier), suffered damage in Typhoon Ruth off Sasebo, Japan. Six aircraft lashed to the flight deck were lost, and the ship sustained damage to sponsons and fittings. Mountainous seas and cyclonic winds swept SYDNEY’s deck.
- October 12, 1951
Twelve Sea Fury fighter bombers from HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier), attacked 1000 North Korean troops advancing in the open.
- October 11, 1951
HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier), created a record for a light fleet carrier by flying 89 sorties in one day. SYDNEY was operating against Communist store dumps at Kojo, Korea.
- October 4, 1951
HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier), commenced her first patrol in the Korean War.
- October 3, 1951
HMAS Tobruk began active operational duty in the Korean theatre when she reported for duty on the screen of Commander Task Element 95.11 (USS Rendova) with HMC Ships Athabaskan and Sioux in company.