On This Day
1960-1975 > Vietnam era
On This Day - 1960-1975
- July 18, 1960
The first Junior Recruits, (boys aged between 15 and 17), commenced training at HMAS LEEUWIN, at Fremantle WA. The scheme was designed to provide boys with a year of academic and basic naval training, before they were sent to other bases for specialist training. The scheme continued until 1984, and over 12,000 Junior Recruits graduated from LEEUWIN during that 24-year period. Many went on to lengthy careers in the RAN, with a large number reaching commissioned rank. In many ways the Junior Recruit concept and training was modeled on the boys training ship HMAS TINGIRA, (1912-27), which had trained boys between the ages of 14 and 16 for service in the RAN.
- June 18, 1960
HMA Ships WARREGO, (sloop), and KIMBLA, (trials vessel), with Clearance Diving Teams, recovered bodies and wreckage from a Fokker Friendship airliner which crashed with the loss of 29 lives in the sea off Mackay, QLD.
- May 25, 1960
HMAS BASS, (general purpose vessel), was commissioned.
- May 9, 1960
Whilst in the China Sea HMAS MELBOURNE lost an XA359 Gannet aircraft. The aircraft lost on engine whilst being catapulted and ditched ahead of the ship. LCDR Rowland was the pilot, and LEUT’s Horton and Findlay observers. Rowland was rescued by the SAR Sycamore helicopter, Horton and Findlay by HMS CAVALIER, and later transfered to MELBOURNE.
- April 30, 1960
The Foundation-stone of the HMAS WATSON Memorial Chapel, also known as the Chapel of St. George the Martyr, was laid by a young man, a ward of Legacy, who remained anonymous. His father was a Naval rating who lost his life in service at sea in World War II, three months before his son was born. The chapel was completed in 1961.
- March 30, 1960
A Fairy Gannett crash landed on the deck of HMAS Melbourne. The Gannett had one wing torn off and other extensive damage so was declared a write-off.
- March 6, 1960
HMAS QUICKMATCH, (frigate), was dispatched from Darwin to search for survivors from the Indonesian lugger SEMANGAT BARU. The wreck of the vessel was found 400 miles south of Bathurst Island, One survivor was picked up.
- February 16, 1960
HMAS BANKS, (general purpose vessel), was commissioned. BANKS was laid down at Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD in 1959, and launched on 15 December 1959. She and her sister ship BASS, had a varied career in the RAN alternating from RANR training ships, survey work, and navigation training for Midshipman and Senior Sailors.
