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You are here: Home / Archives for Australian Units / Fleet Air Arm

Fleet Air Arm

Australian Naval History on 28 April 1971

David Stratton · Apr 28, 1971 ·

CAC Aermacchi MB-326H N14-078 crashed at Sussex Inlet, as a result of losing control during an inverted spin over the ocean. The crew, Lieutenant Errol Kavanagh, RAN and Lieutenant Peter ...

Australian Naval History on 28 September 1970

David Stratton · Sep 28, 1970 ·

The last recorded Sea Vampire Trainer flight took place and the aircraft were replaced by the CAC Aermacchi MB-326H (Macchi) from October 1970.  The remaining six Vampires were sold during ...

Australian Naval History on 3 July 1970

On This Day · Jul 3, 1970 ·

First Macchi MB-326H delivered to RAN FAA ...

Australian Naval History on 13 November 1969

On This Day · Nov 13, 1969 ·

HMAS VENDETTA, (Daring class destroyer), operated as Navy gunfire ship for US Infantry Corps’ operations in Vietnam. Wessex N7-211 was lost in dramatic circumstances east of Jervis Bay. While conducted ...

Australian Naval History on 2 September 1968

On This Day · Sep 2, 1968 ·

851 Squadron recommissioned at NAS Nowra as a training and transport squadron flying Grumman Trackers and Dakotas ...

Australian Naval History on 5 June 1968

On This Day · Jun 5, 1968 ·

Three members of 723 Squadron, Lieutenant P.C. Ward, Petty Officer D.J. Sanderson and Naval Airman Mechanic Airframes and Engines (NAMAE) R.K. Smith, were lost when their Iroquois crashed over the ...

Australian Naval History on 22 November 1967

David Stratton · Nov 22, 1967 ·

First Operational Grumman Tracker S2E aircraft delivered to the RAN. (One non flying S2A and one non flying S2E had been delivered in 1966 for training) ...

Australian Naval History on 31 October 1967

On This Day · Oct 31, 1967 ·

HMAS Melbourne departed from San Diego for the return journey to Australia after a journey to collect new FAA aircraft. She visited Pearl Harbor and Suva en route, and arrived ...

Australian Naval History on 25 August 1967

On This Day · Aug 25, 1967 ·

816 Squadron decommissioned while preparations were made to receive its new Grumman S-2E/G Tracker aircraft. ...

Australian Naval History on 26 July 1967

On This Day · Jul 26, 1967 ·

Delivery of the RAN’s first ten Skyhawks, eight A4Gs and two TA4Gs, began ...

Australian Naval History on 9 November 1966

On This Day · Nov 9, 1966 ·

As the floating crane “Falcon” was lifting a Tracker S2E, Bu No 151646, from the Pyrmont wharf on to a lighter, a sling broke and the aircraft fell into Sydney ...

Australian Naval History on 28 April 1966

On This Day · Apr 28, 1966 ·

Sea Venom WZ900 (866) crashed off HMAS MELBOURNE in the Philippine Sea. Arrestor wire parted during carrier landing, aircraft crashed into sea.  The accident happened at approx 1500 Hrs. Pilot ...

Australian Naval History on 1 March 1966

On This Day · Mar 1, 1966 ·

The last recorded RAN Fairey Firefly flight; after being withdrawn from frontline service in 1955. ...

Australian Naval History on 24 March 1965

On This Day · Mar 24, 1965 ·

During the Indonesian ‘Confrontation’ to detect Indonesian boats smuggling arms or infiltrating Malaysia Fairey Gannets flew night-time patrols along the Strait of Malacca from HMAS Melbourne. Returning after a night ...

Australian Naval History on 17 April 1964

David Stratton · Apr 17, 1964 ·

The first of three Bell Iroquois helicopters ordered for the RAN were received by the Fleet Air Arm. The FAA entered a period of uncertainty in the early 1960s with ...

Australian Naval History on 9 March 1964

On This Day · Mar 9, 1964 ·

First Bell UH-1B/1C Iroquois delivered to the RAN. Members of the Royal Australian Navy flew several variants of this aircraft in both the gunship and utility configuration as part of ...

Australian Naval History on 18 July 1963

On This Day · Jul 18, 1963 ·

817 squadron recommissioned with the Wessex 31A helicopter ...

Australian Naval History on 5 July 1963

On This Day · Jul 5, 1963 ·

A Sea Venom crashed into Sydney Harbour following a collision with another Sea Venom during a flypast.   ...

Australian Naval History on 30 March 1963

On This Day · Mar 30, 1963 ·

805 Squadron, flying the Sea Venom, decommissioned at NAS Nowra ...

Australian Naval History on 20 March 1963

On This Day · Mar 20, 1963 ·

Two Westland Scout AH-1 helicopters were acquired by the RAN and operated by 723 Naval Air Squadron.  The helicopters were embarked in the hydrographic survey ship HMAS Moresby with one ...

Australian Naval History on 11 March 1963

On This Day · Mar 11, 1963 ·

The first Wessex helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) mission occurred when GPCAPT Mather ejected from his RAAF Sabre jet near Lake Bathurst in NSW, and was reported as having landed near ‘a ...

Australian Naval History on 1 November 1962

On This Day · Nov 1, 1962 ·

725 Squadron recommissioned flying the first two Westland Wessex 31A helicopters delivered to the RAN for ASW training and support to 817 Squadron, the Fleet Air Arm’s (FAA) front line ...

Australian Naval History on 6 September 1962

On This Day · Sep 6, 1962 ·

The first flight of an RAN Wessex was by LCDR John Salthouse and took place in Yeovil, England (near the Westland Factory)     ...

Australian Naval History on 4 September 1962

On This Day · Sep 4, 1962 ·

First Wessex helicopter delivered to the RAN FAA ...

Australian Naval History on 31 May 1961

On This Day · May 31, 1961 ·

725 Squadron decommissioned and its aircraft were transferred to 724 Squadron. ...

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