A Wessex helicopter crashed on the flight deck of HMAS SUCCESS, (CAPT G. V. Sloper, RAN), while the tanker was on passage to Darwin. No personnel were injured, but the ...
Australian Units
The Battle of the Coral Sea Remembrance service – May 1989
The old “Aussie” hands gave three cheers to honour Mrs Francomb and her late husband Rear Admiral H.B. Farncomb, C.B., D.S.O., U.S. Navy Cross. ...
Australian Naval History on 23 June 1989
CDRE M. Taylor, RAN, Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station, HMAS ALBATROSS, Nowra, NSW, and LEUT K. Champion, flew the RAN’s last UH 1B Iroquois helicopter flight. ...
HMAS Canberra and HMAS Shropshire Honoured
On the 4th April, 1989,a delightful ceremony took place in the precincts of the Naval Museum on Garden Island, Sydney, in the presentation of much treasured naval memorabilia. Firstly, a beautiful coloured ...
Australian Naval History on 5 June 1989
The Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Hawke, cancelled the goodwill visit of HMAS PARRAMATTA to Shanghai, as a protest against the Tiananmin Square massacre. ...
Armstrong, J M – Naval Wartime Hero (Part 2)
Australian Naval History on 31 May 1989
After 25 years of service the RAN’s Iroquois were decommissioned ...
Australian Naval History on 5 May 1989
HMAS MELBOURNE III was launched by Mrs Hazel Hawke, the wife of the Australian Prime Minister. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 April 1989
HMAS Whyalla II grounded off Hamilton Island prior to the start of the island’s annual yacht racing carnival, necessitating a two week stay in dockyard hands to repair both propellers. ...
HMAS Swan and the Dampier Memorial – 1938
After the September Crisis HMAS SWAN, which had been in Western Australia at the Crisis, was ordered by the Naval Board to proceed to Broome to unveil a memorial to ...
Diary of John Ernest James – Part 1
Written whilst serving in HMAS Sydney II John Ernest James was born at Gateshead England, and came to Australia with his family in 1928. He joined the RAN when he ...
HMAS Westralia – A brief summary of WW2 Service
Armstrong, J M – Naval Wartime Hero (Part 1)
Australian Naval History on 27 February 1989
The survey motor launch HMAS PALUMA, was commissioned. ...
Services Reconnaissance Department Memorial
Perhaps the least known of service memorials in Australia is that to the Services Reconnaissance Department which is located on Garden Island, Western Australia. It is appropriate the memorial has ...
Australian Naval History on 8 November 1988
RAN Spokesman, CDRE Tim Cox, denied a naval vessel had been involved in the running down and sinking of the 50 ton steel yacht PATANELA. The only naval unit to ...
Australian Naval History on 3 October 1988
HRH, the Duke of Edinburgh, unveiled the HMAS PARRAMATTA Memorial at the northern extremity of Garden Island, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 October 1988
The International Bicentennial Fleet, with over 50 warships from 16 nations moored in Sydney Harbour, was reviewed by the Duke and Duchess of York, embarked in HMAS COOK, (oceanographic research ...
Vampire in the Med.
Australian Naval History on 23 September 1988
The first National Submarine Reunion was held at HMAS PLATYPUS, (submarine base), Sydney ...
Australian Naval History on 21 September 1988
The Australian Submarine Museum was opened at HMAS PLATYPUS, (submarine base),in Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 2 June 1988
Cairns Port Division, of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, was established under CMDR I. W. Hall, RANR. The Division was established to operate HMAS TARAKAN, (landing craft heavy), and provide ...
Changi and the HMAS Perth Survivors
Warramunga to the Rescue of SS Starr King
DURING 1943 several Japanese submarines operated off the east coast of Australia. In all about 14 ships were torpedoed by these subs. Surface escorts for ships operating off the coast ...