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 of the first flight of an aircraft from an RAN ship. Ironically, the flagship HMAS Melbourne was in the throes, of withdrawal from service and the replacement carrier HMS Invincible (to join the RAN early 1984) was headed for a confrontation with Argentina’s Navy off the Falkland Islands. Melbourne’s personnel are training for the new carrier while the ex-flagship remains in reserve pending Invincible’sAustralian arrival.
Initial planning was for the RAN’s Tracker and Skyhawk aircraft — unsuitable for Invincible — to be used in shore-based operations, including support tasks for the Fleet and other units of the Defence Force. It was planned to operate these aircraft until the end of their life of type. It was likely that present fixed-wing front line squadrons would be amalgamated with their respective training squadrons for better efficiency of manpower and maintenance. This article looks at the history of Australian Naval aviation spanning the first 65 years.
Sopwith Pup launch from HMAS Sydney with HMAS Melbourne in the background
Australian Naval aviation in the RAN dates back to World War I when aircraft were first flown from Australian warships. The cruisers HMA Ships Australia, Sydney and Melbourne were involved in early experiments to launch aircraft from their decks while HMAS Brisbane became the first Australian warship to carry an aircraft operationally when she used a Sopwith Baby seaplane from April to June, 1917 during the hunt for the German raider Wolf.
On 1 June 1918, aircraft from HMAS Sydney and HMAS Melbourne went into action against enemy aircraft for the first and only time of the war during a sweep in the Heligoland Bight. The Australian cruisers landed their aircraft before returning to Australia in 1919 and, except for an Avro seaplane of the Australian Flying Corps carried at first in HMAS Australia and later in HMAS Melbourne, aircraft were not carried in RAN warships in the early post-war years.
Tentative plans to form a Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm lapsed in 1921 when the RAAF was formed.
The RAN followed British Admiralty policy in the 1920s and in 1923 instituted a specialist branch of air observers. Naval pilots were also trained with the RAAF.
In 1924 as part of the five-year Naval development plan, it was decided to build a seaplane carrier at Cockatoo Island Dockyard in Sydney. Displacing 6,000 tons and able to accommodate nine sea planes, HMAS Albatross commissioned in 1929. The operational life of HMAS Albatross extended only to 1933 when she was placed in reserve and in 1938, she was transferred to the Royal Navy in part payment for the light cruiser HMAS Hobart. The paying off, of HMAS Albatrossvirtually meant the end of the RAN Fleet Air Arm scheme. Training of Naval pilots ceased and aircraft operated by HMA Ships were flown and maintained by RAAF personnel.
From 1933 to 1935 RAN/ RAAF Fleet aviation was confined to operations of Seagull III seaplanes from the cruisers HMA Ships Australia and Canberra. In 1935/36 the Seagull III was phased out in favour of the improved Vickers Supermarine Seagull V.
In September 1935 at Portsmouth, HMAS Australia was the first RAN ship to be fitted with an aircraft catapult. Her sister ship HMAS Canberra was similarly fitted at Sydney the following year. The light cruisers, HMA Ships Hobart, Perth and Sydney were also fitted with catapults and carried Seagull V amphibians of No 5 RAAF Squadron, later re-designated No 9 Squadron.
Walrus
On 4 November 1939, at Singapore, HMAS Hobart was the first RAN ship to receive a Vickers Walrus amphibian, the famous aircraft of World War II which replaced the Seagull V. Flown and maintained by RAAF personnel of No. 9 Squadron or by personnel of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, Walrus aircraft were operated during the war from HMA Ships Australia, Canberra, Hobart, Manoora, Perth, Sydney and Westralia.
There was a proliferation of carriers in the RN and USN between 1938 and 1945. The UK added 20 Fleet and Light Fleet Carriers and six Escort Carriers to the RN while the USN added 32 Fleet and Light Fleet Carriers and 120 Escort Carriers by the end of the war.
In 1945 Lieutenant Commander V. A. Smith, RAN (later Admiral Sir Victor Smith AC, KBE, CB, DSC) was asked to prepare an outline paper for the formation of a RAN Fleet Air Arm. The plan was well received by the Naval Board and with Admiralty agreement LCDR Smith was attached to the Admiralty to develop a more detailed plan.
At the end of 1946 the Naval Board requested assistance from the Royal Navy in the form of a small team of experienced officers who commenced work in early 1947 under the title of Naval Aviation Planning Staff. The team was to prepare a detailed plan for the formation of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) and, in accordance with a directive from the Chifley government, submit a joint RAN/RAAF paper covering which Service should provide the air element. The result of the joint consideration was that Navy should provide the air element and in May 1947 the Government approved the formation of the RAN Fleet Air Arm.
From the approved plan there emerged an operational FAA in the short space of two. years. It called for two light fleet carriers, three carrier air groups, an air station at Nowra with a satellite airfield at Jervis Bay and an aircraft maintenance facility and training school at Schofields west of Sydney.
Carriers
The cost in 1947 prices for two carriers was about 5 million pounds. The plan called for 77 Sea Furies, 82 Fireflies and 10 fleet support aircraft, a total of almost 170 aircraft for about 4.5 million pounds. The plan covered a ten year build up program but considering that it was a start-from-scratch the overall implementation was impressive. For example, the requirements for FAA personnel amounted to some 300 officers and 4000 sailors. Additional personnel brought the total increase in manpower to just over 6000.
HMAS Sydney was commissioned in the UK in December 1948 under the command of Captain R. R. Dowling some 19 months after the Government decision to proceed. Embarked for the return journey to Australia was the 20th Carrier Air Group comprising 805 Squadron with 12 Sea Furies and 816 Squadron with 12 Fireflies. In 1950 Sydney returned to the UK and embarked the 21st Carrier Air Group comprising 808 and 817 Squadrons.
By the end of 1950 the RAN had one carrier and two fully operational air groups. Sydney later deployed to the Korean War zone and operated two Sea Fury Squadron and one Firefly Squadron. During one period on operations, mainly on the West Korean patrol, her aircraft flew 2,366 sorties with an average daily rate of 55.2 sorties per full flying day.
Meanwhile, the second RAN carrier (originally launched as HMS Majestic) was being refitted in the UK to incorporate the new technology of steam catapult, angled deck and mirror landing aid.
HMAS Vengeance
As an interim measure, the RN made available on loan, the Colossus class light fleet carrier HMS Vengeance. She was commissioned into the RAN in 1952 and returned to the UK in 1955 with the crew to commission HMAS Melbourne in October 1955.
HMAS Sydney and HMAS Melbourne
HMAS Melbourne arrived in Australian waters in 1956 under the command of Captain G. G. O. Gatacre with, two squadrons of Gannets and one squadron of Sea Venom fighters embarked. As HMAS Sydney was not modified to accept the new generation of aircraft her days as an operational carrier were numbered.
However, her career was far from finished, as she was re-commissioned in 1962 as a fast troop transport and in that role, gave sterling service during the Vietnam conflict.
Other aviation events of the mid-fifties were the acquisition of Vampire jet trainers and Bristol Sycamore helicopters. The Sycamore started a tradition in the RAN for excellence in helicopter operations which was to be followed by the Wessex ASW helicopters in the sixties and seventies.
The decision to acquire S2 Tracker, and A4 Skyhawk aircraft was announced in 1965. Melbourne visited the west coast of the USA late in 1967 to take delivery of the new aircraft.
At about the same time the RAN pilots and supporting personnel formed the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam for service with the US 135th Assault Helicopter Company. The flight was withdrawn in June 1971. Other RAN crews served with RAAF No ‘ 9 Squadron in Vietnam.
Following a major refit HMAS Melbourne was back at sea in 1969 with her new outfit of aircraft to which were added Sea King Anti-Submarine Warfare helicopters in 1975 and she continued to serve her country well over the last 13 years.