On This Day
1976-1999 > Post Vietnam
On This Day - 1976-1999
- July 13, 1977
Westland Wessex Mk.31A, N7-213, 823 ditched in the Sea. The helicopter was performing plane guard duties from HMAS Melbourne on Exercise Highwood in the Irish Sea with Lt(P) Phil Pinniger RAN. The carrier was in the process of launching A-4G Skyhawks at the time. The Wessex ditched and Lt Pinniger, Aircrewman Bob Cousins and ships diver, Abata Richard Stanford exited the aircraft. The aircraft was then cut in half by the destroyer HMAS Brisbane that had steamed into position to pick up the aircrew. Divers from Melbourne attached crane cables and airframe less its tail section was raised onto the deck.
- June 30, 1977
A Harrier G-VTOL aircraft was flown for the first time from HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier).
- June 28, 1977
HMA Ships MELBOURNE and BRISBANE represented Australia at the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Naval Review, at Spithead England. MELBOURNE was the oldest, and the largest ship at the Review. The youngest was the Greek missile launcher, LIEUTENANT TROUPAKIS. 175 ships from 18 nations with 30,000 sailors embarked attended the Review.
- June 15, 1977
The Oberon class submarine, HMAS ORION, was commissioned. ORION was laid down in Scott’s Yard, Greenock, Scotland, on 6 October 1972, and was launched on 16 September 1974. Mrs Armstrong, (Wife of the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom), performed the launching ceremony.
- June 11, 1977
HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), launched two of her Wessex helicopters, each carrying a World War II cannon, from a position off Crete, and delivered the pieces to the newly built Cretan-Australian War Memorial at Stavromenos. Fifteen minutes later the helicopters returned with a section of the, band which played the National Anthems of both nations.
- May 25, 1977
A Tracker aircraft from HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), located the disabled Dutch ship IMPALA PRINCESS, in the Gulf of Aden, and directed a French destroyer to her assistance.
- May 10, 1977
HMAS VENDETTA, (Daring class destroyer), made a high-speed dash to provide aid for 28 Vietnamese refugees, in a disabled vessel, drifting in the South China Sea.
- May 9, 1977
During exercises in the Indian Ocean, a Sea King helicopter from HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), crashed into the ocean. None of the crew were injured, and they were quickly rescued by HMAS BRISBANE, (destroyer), which was in company with MELBOURNE.
- May 2, 1977
HMAS SWAN, (destroyer escort), was dispatched to render aid to an injured seaman in the US merchant ship AUSTRAL MOON, in the Tasman Sea.
- April 15, 1977
RADM N. E. McDonald was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Her Majesty’s Australian Fleet.