On This Day

1946-1959 > Post WW2

January 27, 1952

HMAS Sydney and HMAS Tobruk sailed for Sydney after completing a busy series of operations during the Korean War.

January 25, 1952

HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier), completed her operations in the Korean War. During the ship’s seven patrols in Korea 269,249 rounds of 20mm armament, 6,359 rocket projectiles, and 902 bombs of 227kg and 454kg were expended. SYDNEY had the honour of being the only Dominion aircraft carrier to be tested in war.

HMAS Tobruk proceeded for Sasebo bringing to a close her first tour of duty in the Korean War. At the end of her five months of service in the operational areas, Tobruk had steamed some 39,000 miles and fired 2316 rounds from her 4.5-inch guns.

January 17, 1952

In the period 17.to 25 January, HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier), flew 293 sorties against Communist targets in North Korea.

January 7, 1952

HMAS TOBRUK, (battle class destroyer), bombarded North Korean troop positions in the vicinity of Chomi Do.

January 2, 1952

SBLT R. J. Coleman, RAN, died when his Sea Fury disappeared during a routine patrol off the west coast of Korea. An extensive search was conducted but no trace of the pilot or wreckage, other than an oil slick, was found. His death was the last for the Fleet Air Arm pilots of HMAS SYDNEY involved in operations in South Korea.

January 1, 1952

Aircraft from HMAS SYDNEY made strikes on Communist positions in support of United Nations troops at Yonghodo Island, Korea.

HMAS TOBRUK, (destroyer), relieved HMS WHITESAND BAY as gun support ship off Yeung Pyong-do, Korea.

December 29, 1951

HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier), flew sorties in bad flying conditions to cover convoys supplying UN ground forces at Inchow, Korea.

December 13, 1951

A Sea Fury from HMAS Sydney was shot down to the westward of Pyong-Gang and in the afternoon a second Sea Fury was shot down off Ongjin. Both pilots were rescued, the first by a United States helicopter from Paengyong and the latter by a friendly junk.

December 7, 1951

HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier), suffered her second pilot loss when SBLT R. R. Sinclair was killed. His Sea Fury was hit by flak north-west of Chinnampo, and he bailed out, however he struck the tail of the aircraft in doing so. A rescue mission was mounted, but the helicopter crew found him to be dead when they arrived on the scene.

December 4, 1951

HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), and the merchant ship SOMERSET, collided off Garden Island, Sydney. Damage to both vessels was slight.

November 20, 1951

HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier), launched the first of 10 air strikes against barracks and industrial plants at Hungnam, Korea.

November 18, 1951

The Battle class destroyer HMAS TOBRUK, (CMDR Richard I. Peek, RAN), destroyed a complete Communist freight train between Songjin and Chongjin, Korea.

November 17, 1951

The destroyer HMAS Tobruk (I) was in action off the east coast of Korea, engaging and destroying a North Korea supply train as it attempted to get past Tobruk’s patrol area.

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 attacked railway tunnels on the west coast of Korea. Sub Lt N Knappstein was forced to crash land his flak damaged Sea Fury near the Han River. He was rescued by a boat from HMS Amethyst. In addition a FireFly with pilot, SBLT M. D. Macmillan, RAN, and Observer 1st Class J. Hancox, crashed after being hit by AA fire on their way to attack a Railway Tunnel. A USN helicopter piloted by CPO A. K. Babbitt flew a daring rescue mission, with cover from RAN Sea Furies and RAAF Meteors The Helicopter Pilot 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 23, 1951

Aircraft from HMAS Sydney took part in a search for the crew of a downed American B-29 Bomber in the sea off Chinnampo, Korea. Sydney’s planes provided cover for an seaplane that landed to recover 4 of the crew. Later in the day HMAS Murchison recued another airman after a Firefly from HMAS Sydney saw flashes from the survivors signalling mirror.

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.

September 30, 1951

The frigate HMAS MURCHISON, (LCDR A. N. Dollard, RAN), engaged North Korean guns and small arms in a close-range encounter on the Han River, Korea. MURCHISON suffered three wounded. For conspicuous gallantry in the action the following awards were made:-DSC LCDR A. N. Dollard; DSC LEUT M. Kelly, RAN.