On This Day
1946-1959 > Post WW2
On This Day - 1946-1959
- February 18, 1957
723 Squadron recommissioned with five Sycamore helicopters, two Austers and two Firefly target tugs.
- February 12, 1957
The Daring class destroyer HMAS VOYAGER, (CAPT G. J. B. Crabb, DSC, RAN), was commissioned. VOYAGER was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, and launched on 1 March 1952. Mrs Menzies, (Wife of the Prime Minister Mr. R. G. Menzies), performed the launching ceremony. VOYAGER was tragically sunk on 10 February 1964, when rammed by HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), whilst on exercise south-east of Jervis Bay, NSW.
- December 21, 1956
HMAS Arunta (I) passed to dockyard control for refitting for Operational Reserve. She had steamed 95,221 miles during her second commission bringing her total mileage to 357,273 since commissioning in 1942. Arunta (I) remained in Operational Reserve at Sydney from 1957 to 1968. She was sold for scrap to the China Steel Corporation of Taipei, Formosa, on 1 November 1968
- November 27, 1956
Firefly VX381 was involved in a midair collision over Jervis Bay, NSW. The pilot, SBLT(P) David Eagles RN, was able to successfully ditch the aircraft in Hare Bay and he and his pupil observer, MIDN Donald Debus RAN were rescued. The other firefly,WD887, struck the water at high speed, breaking apart and killing pilot Acting Sub Lieutenant Arthur Arundel and trainee observer Midshipman Noel Fogarty. The wreck of VX381 was found in Jervis Bay in 1983 and the wreck of WD887 in 2016.
- November 8, 1956
HMAS Koala paid off having steamed 79,183.9 nautical miles. On 18 April 1957 she was placed in Reserve Commission at Waverton Boom Depot. Koala was eventually sold late in 1969 and was later used as a gravel barge in Brisbane
- October 27, 1956
HMAS VAMPIRE, (Daring class destroyer), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney.
- October 25, 1956
723 Squadron decommissioned after having grown considerably, taking on a number of new aircraft to meet its training and support responsibilities. Most of the Squadron’s aircraft were transferred to 724 Squadron except for the Sea Furies and Fireflies which were transferred to 805 and 851 Squadrons respectively.
- October 9, 1956
De Havilland Sea Vampire Trainer A79-841 crashed into the sea off Greenwell Point near Nowra, NSW. The pilot, Commander Daniel Buchanan, RAN was declared missing, presumed dead. The wreckage was eventually recovered in April 1974 when it became entangled in a fisherman’s nets.
- September 29, 1956
In the first of the only two offensive actions undertaken by Royal Australian Navy ships during the Malayan Emergency (1948-60), HMA Ships Anzac (II) and Tobruk (I) bombarded terrorist positions south of Jason Bay in Johore State
- August 8, 1956
HMA Ships DELORAINE and LITHGOW were sold out of service for breaking up at Hong Kong.
Lieutenants Barry Thompson and Keith Potts of 808 Squadron were both killed when their Sea Venom crashed into the sea off Hervey Bay shortly after take off from HMAS Melbourne. The aircraft was seen to take off normally but quickly veered to the right and down into the water. The cause of the accident was never discovered although insufficient wind speed over the deck appears to be the most likely reason.