COMPENDIUM: 350 Photostream images of HMAS MELBOURNE [III]. Pt 4. Two carrier Navy, 1956, QAM.

5447. Showing SYDNEY [III] astern in 1956 colour, we made a long search in 2009 to obtain permission for this marvelous 'make and mend' flight deck scene, because we considered it so rare. It is the only colour image we have ever seen of the two ships operating together as aircraft carriers [SYDNEY is carrying aircraft], and almost the only one of any kind we have had of them together as carriers outside the well-known sequence of SYDNEY leading the newly-arrived MELBOURNE up the coast to Jervis Bay on May 5-7 1956, and the subsequent May 9 passage into Sydney.

 

Once MELBOURNE had arrived with her FAW Mk53 Sea Venom jets - the first jets in the RAN - and her big Fairey Gannet ASWI specialist aircraft, SYDNEY [III], the Korea veteran of then such recent memory, seemed suddenly relegated to obscurity, awaiting a modernization that never happened.

 

The photograph was credited to John Edwards via Ben Patynowski on the website of the Qeensland Air Museum, whose directors gave us a provisional permission pending any contact from a copyright owner not able to be traced.

 

THE HMAS MELBOURNE [II] COMPENDIUM - Part Four.

 

Pic 2867. Mess deck Charlie Port on HMAS MELBOURNE [II]. Kim Dunstan.

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Pic 2938 Aug 1961, Operation TUCKERBOX in the Tasman Sea, Ron L. Marsh

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Pic 2940 Fairey Gannet 828 on deck, one day-night stop at Manus Island June 2 1961.

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Pic 2941. Another aircraft pic, Gannet 828 at Manus Island June 1-2 1961.

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Pic 2942: Gannet launch off crowded foredeck in the South China Sea, 1961. Ron Marsh

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Pic 2943. Gannet take-off South East Asia 1961. Ron Marsh.

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Pic 2945. Contributor Ron Marsh, a maintenance rating with 816 Squadron, on deck with Gannet 831, which bore his name.

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Pic 2946: Flight deck crews on MELBOURNE await the return of their planes, SE Asia 1961.

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Pic 2947. Fairey Gannets on a flypast over Auckland, NZ, August 1951 – ‘pinwheeling’ from wharf during dock strike story.

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Pic 2948. Another good view of two Fairey Gannet AS1s on flypast over Auckland NZ, August 1961.

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Pic 2949: The Gannets as above, Auckland, NZ, 1961, each flying on only one of their contra-rotating props

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Pic 2950 Preparing for an early morning jackstay transfer in front of MELBOURNE’s island.

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Pic 2951 Crowded flight deck under sultry and dark storm skies during PONY EXPRESS off Borneo, April-May 1961. GREAT FLIGHT DECK SCENE, by Ronald L. Marsh.

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Pic 2952. Some helicopter deck traffic at crowded anchorage off North Borneo, April-May 1961.

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Pic 2953. A British Admiral arrives by helicopter during PONY EXPRESS, Ron L. Marsh.

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Pic 2954. Some heavy units in a Borneo Bay with Melbourne during PONY EXPRESS. Ron Marsh.

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Pic 2955. A US Commander’s helicopter run-about on MELBOURNE’s deck.

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Pic 2956. Another view of the US helicopter aboard

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Pic2957 Sea Venom training flight launch, 1961. Ron Marsh

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Pic 2959: Sea Venom ‘Touch and Go’ practice on the flight deck. Ron Marsh

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Pic 2960: Sea Venom touchdown, ca 1961 Ron L. Marsh

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Pic 2961; FAW 53 Sea Venom hooks the arrestor wire.

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Pic 2962: Close up of the Sea Venom hook landing. Ronald L. Marsh.

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Pic2963: Hands on heads as rockets are armed on a Gannet set for takeoff.

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Pic 2964 Naval Airman Brian ‘Jerry’ O’Connor takes Gannet 829 down the forward lift

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Pic 2966; First in first rate series of mishap for Gannet 831 on MELBOURNE, 1961

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Pic 2967: Taking instructions from the Flight Director, Fl Leut. Barry Lovett has driven the nose-wheel of Gannet 831 over the side. Second in series

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Pic 2968. Weather and sea conditions are difficult as the mishap is assessed. Third in series by naval air maintenance rating Ronald L. Marsh.

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Pic 2969. Portrait of 816 Squadron naval air maintenance rating Ronald L. Marsh, eye-witness whose camera preserved the flight deck incident for posterity. Fourth in series.

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Pic 2970. Fifth of an excellent Gannet series. Only minor damage done.

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Pic 2971. A last peep at the damage to Fl. Leut Barry Lovett’s aircraft accidentally driven over the side under wrong instructions from the flight director [right].

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Pic 2972. 816 Squadron’s Gannet 831 seen again in flying condition at the catapult.

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Pic 2973. Suspended from ship’s crane, Gannet 830 undergoing undercarriage wheel retraction tests after problem during flight.

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Pic 2974. Flight deck view of ship dressed for arrival in Karachi, March 22 1961.

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Pic 2975: FAW 53 Sea Venoms operating on the flight deck at night, one of their specialist capacities [described].

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Pic 2976: Fairey Gannets also flying at night – and description of LCDR T. Dadswell’s night view of the MELBOURNE-VOYAGER collision as he approached for ‘touch and go’ landing.

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Pic 3041. MELBOURNE’s stern after brush by ferry SOUTH STEYNE Sept 30, 1970.

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Pic 3042. Island bridge detail – at Wellington, NZ, Feb 1964.

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Pic 3043: Customs queue in main passageway of MELBOURNE , August 1967, writer/ Contributor Graeme Andrews second from our right.

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Pic 3044 A Venetian bridge-style gangway into MELBOURNE’S QUARTERDECK, Hobart Ca 1957-63

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Pic 3045 Another hi-res stern view of Melbourne, Hobart Circa 1957-63

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Pic 3046 Very hi-res photo MELBOURNE at or seen from the Elizabeth St wharf, Hobart

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Pic 3047 Melbourne’s boat leaves for Regatta duties at Hobart ca 1950s.

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Pic 3048, Long hi-res view of MELBOURNE AT PRINCES Wharf Hobart Ca 1950s.

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Pic 3049: Seen over the stern of destroyer WARRAMUNGA , another Hobart hi-res image, every detail visible.

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Pic 3069. Twin bofors mount before MELBOURNE’s bridge being operated. Kim Dunstan

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Pic 3071. Miss Yokohama visits MELBOURNE, 1960 – and how the carrier featured in a Japanese best-seller.

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Pic 3072. Composite of MELBOURNE FEATURED IN Stanley Kramer’s 1959 film ‘On The Beach’ with stars Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, and Tony Perkins

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Pic 3079: Tug OF War on MELBOURNE’s deck, HMS SCARBOROUGH makes a turn in background, 1961. Kim Dunstan.

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Pic 3080. Tug of war continues HMS TORQUAY passing this time. Kim Dunstan.

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