![1967: HMAS MELBOURNE [[II] awaiting A4G Skyhawks and Grumman Trackers - Courtesy John Lyall. | by Kookaburra2011](http://live.staticflickr.com/7166/6535151091_d22257b2e3.jpg)
Kookaburra2011
1967: HMAS MELBOURNE [[II] awaiting A4G Skyhawks and Grumman Trackers - Courtesy John Lyall.
5335. The brief early 1960s flirtation with HMAS MELBOURNE [II]as a helicopter carrier is over. This is the year in which her new generation of A4G Skyhawks and Grumman Trackers were ordered. We understand that MELBOURNE went to San Diego bare of any aircraft, fixed wing or rotary, when she went to pick the new planes and associated stores and ammunition, a voyage that took her to Vancouver, Seal Beach, San Francisco and San Diego from October 27 to 31.
Thanks to Kim Dunstan and his RANFAAA pals for checking on this voyage, the question of whether or not MELBOURNE had carried any aircraft on the outward voyage. It seems all her hangar space was needed for the new planes and stores.
In answer to Kim's question, Jock a member of the RANFAAA replied:
“The question did arise should MELBOURNE embark a Wessex for the trip; this was rejected because of space. We were pushed to take the Skyhawks and Trackers as well as the available spares for the aircraft plus one car for the Captain.
Did I ever tell you that the first shipment of spares ended up in Austria at a US Army Base. The consignment was addressed to: NAS Nowra Aust. need I say any more. I did the first sea deployment with the aircraft and we had to buy spares at Subic Bay to get us through the embarkation.”
So interesting, and so unsuprising, somehow. Thanks all.
This photo comes to us from John Lyall of Sydney, whose late Dad Jack Lyall was a stoker on the corvette HMAS PIRIE .during WWII. John sent us the rare battle damage photos of PIRIE after her severe air attack in Oro Bay, New Guinea on April 11, 1943, incredible photographs accompanied by an even more incredible story, the beginnings of Australia's WWII 'Caine Mutiny.' The images and story are at and around pic. 3801 here:
www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5402411282/in/photostr...
This photo: RAN, courtesy John Lyall.
A COMPENDIUM of links to some 350 images of HMAS MELBOURNE [II] on this Photostream begins at Pic 5444 and extends over seven entries. It starts here:
www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6707592179/in/photostream
1967: HMAS MELBOURNE [[II] awaiting A4G Skyhawks and Grumman Trackers - Courtesy John Lyall.
5335. The brief early 1960s flirtation with HMAS MELBOURNE [II]as a helicopter carrier is over. This is the year in which her new generation of A4G Skyhawks and Grumman Trackers were ordered. We understand that MELBOURNE went to San Diego bare of any aircraft, fixed wing or rotary, when she went to pick the new planes and associated stores and ammunition, a voyage that took her to Vancouver, Seal Beach, San Francisco and San Diego from October 27 to 31.
Thanks to Kim Dunstan and his RANFAAA pals for checking on this voyage, the question of whether or not MELBOURNE had carried any aircraft on the outward voyage. It seems all her hangar space was needed for the new planes and stores.
In answer to Kim's question, Jock a member of the RANFAAA replied:
“The question did arise should MELBOURNE embark a Wessex for the trip; this was rejected because of space. We were pushed to take the Skyhawks and Trackers as well as the available spares for the aircraft plus one car for the Captain.
Did I ever tell you that the first shipment of spares ended up in Austria at a US Army Base. The consignment was addressed to: NAS Nowra Aust. need I say any more. I did the first sea deployment with the aircraft and we had to buy spares at Subic Bay to get us through the embarkation.”
So interesting, and so unsuprising, somehow. Thanks all.
This photo comes to us from John Lyall of Sydney, whose late Dad Jack Lyall was a stoker on the corvette HMAS PIRIE .during WWII. John sent us the rare battle damage photos of PIRIE after her severe air attack in Oro Bay, New Guinea on April 11, 1943, incredible photographs accompanied by an even more incredible story, the beginnings of Australia's WWII 'Caine Mutiny.' The images and story are at and around pic. 3801 here:
www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5402411282/in/photostr...
This photo: RAN, courtesy John Lyall.
A COMPENDIUM of links to some 350 images of HMAS MELBOURNE [II] on this Photostream begins at Pic 5444 and extends over seven entries. It starts here:
www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6707592179/in/photostream