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Home , Fairey Firefly, Fleet Air Arm (RAN), Hawker Sea Fury, HMAS Sydney, HMAS Sydney (R17)

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two paddles and body language if the aircraft’s height, turn rate and speed were correct. Approaching too high, too low, or too slowly could be disastrous. In the final moments of approach, the pilot glimpsed the deck as he executed a left turn; after that, his view of the disappeared beneath the nose of the aircraft. Once the batsman SEA signalled “cut”, the pilot cut his throttle to stall the engine. At the critical moment, Lee flared the Firefly, lifting its nose to achieve a zero rate of descent just above the deck. Done properly, he FURIES wrote, “you hooked a wire.” With the wire engaged and brakes hard on, the aircraft came to a rest. Make a mistake, & and the aircraft missed one of the ten arrestor wires and would be caught in FIREFLIES the barrier; or worse, the aircraft went over the side. Within seconds, naval airmen were preparing to have the Firefly stowed before another aircraft HMAS Sydney’s air group went to war in 1951, touched down. developing Australian to combat During the Korean autumn and winter of 1951–52, Sydney and its carrier capability in just four years. air group operated mostly off the Korean peninsula’s west coast, its Sea Furies and Fireflies waging an interdiction BY KARL JAMES campaign against North Korean supply lines and lines of communications.

rakes off. Power on. And in 74 engine, the Firefly was armed with milliseconds, the violent kick four 20-millimetere and Above: Hawker Sea Furies Bfrom the hydraulic catapult on this occasion two 5,000-pound and Fairey Fireflies on shot the along the bombs. In his first strike against the HMAS Sydney’s flight deck, ’s flight deck. The two- enemy, Lee and his observer, Petty Jervis Bay, NSW, c. 1949. seat aircraft was airborne. Suddenly, Officer Keith Bunning, a AWM 305425 recalled the transfer, recorded a hit on a . Below: HMAS Sydney (RAN) pilot Norm Lee, “there’s nothing “They’re shooting at us, they’re in Korea Strait during in front of you. It’s all water.” The young shooting at us,” Bunning kept repeating Typhoon Ruth, 14 October 1951. One aircraft was sub-lieutenant, still only 21, likened the during the dive. The Fireflies bombed lost and several others catapult launch to “being kicked up the other before conducting were damaged during the backside by an elephant”. reconnaissance flights over roads that storm. Alan White, AWM The Australian Majestic-class light produced “fruitful strafing targets”. For P05890.069 aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney (III) was the day’s operations, Sydney’s air group some 80 kilometres off the west coast recorded one span of a major road of . In excellent weather, bridge knocked out, several buildings Lee took off mid-morning on Saturday destroyed and others set on fire. 6 October 1951, along with several other Returning to Sydney, Lee began his Fireflies, to bomb a series of road bridges landing approach. To touch down spanning rivers around Chinnampo successfully on a small flight deck, (today’s Namp’o), south-west of the in a vast ocean, required intense North Korean capital, Pyongyang. concentration, skilful judgement Hawker Sea Furies, single-seat fighter- and quick reactions. Lee likened bombers from Sydney, also conducted landing on Sydney’s straight deck to ground attack sorties. This was the an “art”. Approaching down-wind at a second day of Sydney’s operations. steady 90 knots and at an angle of 90 Lee’s Firefly was an anti-submarine degrees to the deck, he relied on the and reconnaissance aircraft, employed Deck Landing Control Officer – better as a dive-bomber during the ensuing known as the “batsman” – standing campaign. With its Rolls Royce Griffon on the port quarter, to indicate with

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Sydney also weathered a Japanese possible naval air service. In the 1920s Clockwise from right: typhoon, and its pilots and observers the RAAF trained a small number of A batsman (air controller) confronted formidable North Korean naval pilots and observers. In 1929, signals to a FB.11 as it comes in to land on and Chinese anti-aircraft fire. Three the Australian-built seaplane carrier HMAS Sydney. Alan White, AWM Australian pilots died in operations, HMAS Albatross was commissioned. P05890 and another was wounded. There were Its service was brief. Going into reserve A Hawker Sea Fury coming in to many more lucky escapes. in 1933, Albatross was transferred to land on HMAS Sydney, Korean the Royal Navy five years later. Pilot waters, 1951. Alan White AWM Starting the air group training ceased. A small number of P05890.018 Sydney’s air group earned a reputation observers and telegraphist/gunners Aerial view of HMAS Sydney, for effectiveness and high performance. remained, chiefly supplementing a 1949. Argus newspaper collection, Yet the Australian government had RAAF fleet co-operation flight for naval State Library of . only approved the establishment reconnaissance and survey work. of a RAN Naval Aviation branch in During the 1930s, a trickle of RAN Naval historians Anthony Wright and 1947. The first Australian naval air officers qualified as observers. One Rear James Goldrick, among squadrons and Sydney were raised was Sub-Lieutenant (later Admiral Sir) others, have discussed at length the and commissioned the following Victor “VAT” Smith. He was involved in decision to develop an Australian year. Articles in the Australian press, naval air planning for D-Day, and in 1950 aircraft carrier force. Australia would celebrating the training of these early he joined Sydney as its Executive Officer. eventually operate three light aircraft naval aviators, described these pilots as Smith was instrumental in promoting carriers: Sydney; the Colossus-class “flat-top fledglings”. Sydney and its air naval aviation, and is considered the HMAS Vengeance for a brief time; and group were the Australian navy’s newest “father” of the RAN’s . In the modernised Majestic-class HMAS Sydney was commissioned on 16 and most expensive asset. How did the the Second World War, a small number (II). David Hobbs has argued December 1948 in Devonport, England. RAN develop naval aviation to a combat of RAN and RAAF personnel were that Sydney’s acquisition allowed the Its flight deck was 210 metres long, and capability in four years? trained to work with the Royal Navy’s RAN “to become a Fleet again, capable its stern was 24 metres wide. It could In addition to the use of seaplanes Fleet Air Arm. RAAF personnel flew and of independent action, rather than a accommodate 37 piston-engine aircraft. and airships, the Royal Navy had maintained the amphibian aircraft on Squadron, limited to a supporting role A single catapult was located on the pioneered the launch, recovery and Australian war ships. in cooperation with other navies.” This port side of the forward flight deck, and tactical employment of aircraft from On 3 July 1947, the Australian is an overly optimistic assessment. A two aircraft lifts connected the flight ships. In 1917, HMAS Brisbane took on government approved the establishment new ship, Sydney was soon outdated deck with the hangar below. Workshops board a Royal Navy seaplane during of a RAN naval aviation branch entirely and could not operate . But and stores were on the lower deck. the hunt for the German raider Wolf controlled and operated by the RAN. Sydney was certainly celebrated as a Sydney needed a complement of more in the Indian Ocean. The light cruiser Initial planning provided for the source of national pride. than 1,100 men. Just consider some of was the first Australian warship to carry establishment of two light fleet carriers It was also a hugely ambitious the skills and trades that were required. an aircraft for operational purposes. and the necessary shore facilities. This project. Even a brief discussion of There was the engineering department Other Australian cruisers subsequently would include commissioning the air Sydney conveys something of the to maintain the Brown Curtis turbine carried British aircraft. This wartime force base at Nowra, NSW, as the air scope of this undertaking. The carrier engines, capable of achieving a speed experience, however, was limited. shore station HMAS Albatross, and had been laid down and launched of 24 knots; men whose stations were During the interwar period in later a second shore station at Schofield. in Britain during the war as HMS the 40-millimetre Bofors anti-aircraft Australia, as in Britain, preference The new branch was forecast to have Terrible, but construction work was guns; officers and ratings to operate was given to the Royal Australian Air a strengthen of some 4,000, and was not completed until ordered by the and co-ordinate the six Sydney Force (RAAF) over the creation of a modelled on the Royal Navy’s air arm. Australian government. carried when first commissioned. There were workshop staff, armourers, air mechanics, naval airmen, and the flight deck crew, who operated the catapult, passage to Australia in 1949. So did group were a remarkable group. reset the arrestor wires, and manned at least 400 ex-Royal Navy personnel They came from England, Scotland, the barriers. A small number of civilian who transferred to the RAN, along Wales and New Zealand, as well as canteen staff were aboard. Members with other British officers and ratings Australia. The oldest was Lieutenant of Sydney’s company, officers and on loan. Sydney returned to Britain Commander (later Admiral Sir) Michael ratings, spent about a year in Britain in 1950 to collect the 21st Carrier Air Fell, who commanded the air group. in preparation for its commissioning Group. Commissioned on Anzac Day He was a highly experienced and and passage to Australia. Experience at St Merryn, in Cornwall, England, this decorated Royal Navy aviator and a for Australians was also gained through second group comprised 808 Squadron brave leader. In April 1944, he had led the usual program of loans and training flying Sea Furies and 817 Squadron Fleet Air Arm’s second attack against with the Royal Navy. Many served in with Fireflies. Eight months later, in the German Tirpitz. Fell other ships before coming to Sydney. late August 1951, when the Australian had his 34th birthday towards the end On 8 August 1948, 805 Squadron, carrier steamed for Korea, 805 Squadron of Sydney’s deployment in January equipped with Sea Furies, and and the 21st Carrier Air Group were 1952. The youngest was 21-year-old 816 Squadron with Fireflies, were embarked as the Sydney Air Group. Sub-Lieutenant Noel Knappstein, from commissioned as RAN air squadrons South Australia’s well-known wine at Eglinton, in Northern Ireland. They The men who flew family. Shot down by flak on 26 October formed the 20th Carrier Air Group Individually and collectively, the 1951, he crashed his Sea Fury and sold and embarked in Sydney for their pilots and observers of Sydney’s air the wreck to Korean villager for 1,000

38 | WARTIME ISSUE 86 WARTIME ISSUE 86 | 39 NAVY: KOREA won. This was a huge wad of cash. But air groups and the squadrons. Loans the exchange rate only paid Knappstein were often for two and a half years. one shilling and ninepence. Consequently, when Sydney embarked Twenty-five of the 37 pilots had the 21st Carrier Air Group for Korea, served in the Second World War, the group commander, Lieutenant and all seven of the commissioned Commander Fell, two “batsmen”, and observers were also veterans. They had the commanding officers of 808 and 817 served in the RAAF, the Royal Navy’s Squadrons, were all Royal Navy. There Fleet Air Arm, the , were also seven other Royal Navy junior and had gone to sea with the RAN officers.They, and the Australians who and Royal Navy. They were “a pretty trained in Britain, helped pass on tough old bunch”, the comparatively the skills and knowledge required to young Sub-Lieutenant Lee recalled. maintain high professional standards, Lieutenant Keith “Nails” Clarkson, 805 workmanship and dedication to duty. Squadron’s senior pilot, for example, This approach proved to be effective. had 651 hours’ flying time during the Through exposure, the procedures Second World War, including 360 hours and attitudes of the Royal Navy’s in Spitfires and an hour in a German Fleet Air Arm were transferred to the Messerschmitt Bf 109G. Lieutenant Australian service and were accepted. Brian “Snow” O’Connell, an observer 808 Squadron’s Lieutenant Digby Johns with 817 Squadron, had been a navigator later remarked, “We were basically just in four-engine heavy mirror images of what the RN were bombers. On 23 October 1944, he was Make a mistake, doing.” A former Spitfire pilot who had shot down over Holland on his 28th flown over and Holland in the operation. Although wounded in the and the aircraft earlier war, Johns was one of the first leg, he evaded capture. His fellow 24 selected for the RAN. Sydney’s flight crew members were killed or became would be caught deck engineer, however, always thought prisoners of war. he could identify Johns and other It is not surprising that there was ex-RAAF pilots by their style of flying. a such a high proportion of Second in the barrier; World War veterans. When the RAN On patrol began recruiting in 1947, there were or worse, went From October 1951 to January 1952, thousands of recently demobilised Sydney conducted seven war patrols airmen in Australia, Britain and the over the side. in Korean waters. On any given flying Dominions. The Navy had its pick. day, the air group conducted multiple Initially they targeted fully qualified “events” (i.e. a group of aircraft service pilots under the age of 26, despatched on one or more missions as well as engineering graduates, to at about the same time and usually receive pilot training. Likewise, young returning together). There were armed men up to the age of 19 with high marks at Point Cook, near Melbourne, before reconnaissance flights, ground attack in their Intermediate Certificate could they went to Britain. RAAF pilots’ missions, rescue patrols, and defensive apply to become a pilot or undertake wings were considered provisional by patrols around Sydney against a potential an aviation trade. the navy men: naval wings were only aircraft or submarine threat. Pilots When the names of the first 24 confirmed once pilots qualified for generally flew only once or twice during pilots for Australia’s future aircraft deck landings. In Britain, the intensive the day, and there was no night flying. carriers were announced publicly in training schedule included compulsory Sydney maintained a cycle of about December 1947, all were war veterans. Airfield Dummy Deck Landings. Pilots, 14 days patrolling that usually included Five of those pilots would go on to waved down by a “batsman”, practised nine days of flying operations before serve in Korea. One of these was Walter landing on an airfield marked out like a the carrier returned to either Sasebo “Jimmy” Bowles, who would command landing deck. Only when dummy deck or Kure in Japan for replenishment. 805 Squadron. A New Zealander, he landings were adequately mastered Sydney could stay at sea longer, but had served with Fleet Air Arm in the were pilots permitted to conduct a a break was found to be essential to Atlantic and North Pacific. He had landing on an actual aircraft carrier. rest aircrew and catch up on aircraft crashed or ditched his aircraft at sea In addition to skills and qualifications, maintenance. four times during the war, and baled substantial quantities of training aids During its first patrol, Sydney set the out from a Sea Fury during an early and other equipment were brought record for a light fleet carrier when on Left: Sub Lieutenant Ronald flight in Australia. back to Australia from various Royal 11 October it launched 89 sorties in a Coleman, 805 Squadron. AWM P11422.001 The initial pilot intake entered Navy establishments. single day. This included “spotting” for the RAN’s Flinders Naval Depot, on Loans of Royal Navy personnel to the the guns of the American battleship USS Above: Some of those who took over HMS Terrible Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, RAN transferred skills and experience. New Jersey and the British light cruiser when commissioned as before going to Britain for further When the RAN air units were HMS Belfast. The British Commander- HMAS Sydney, 1948. Argus training and service. The RAAF commissioned in Britain, Royal Navy in-Chief Station congratulated newspaper collection, instructed subsequent pilot courses officers were selected to command the Sydney with the following signal: State Library of Victoria.

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David Marshall, rescue, 1991. , Nowra.

“Your air effort in the last two days, unprecedented in quantity and high in quality, has been a magnificent DELVE INTO CENTRAL VICTORIA’S achievement … The spotters especially 160 YEARS OF MILITARY HISTORY did a first class job and New Jersey … said they were the best she has yet had. Eighty-nine sorties in one day is grand Learn about Central Victoria’s involvement batting by any standards, particularly in conflict and in the opening match.” peacekeeping. Explore The Sea Fury and Firefly pilots dive- soldiers’ stories, bombed, rocketed, and strafed with view artefacts and canon fire to destroy and damage installations. Take bridges, rail tunnels, locomotives a guided tour with and rail trucks, roads, and buildings. one of our volunteer Hundreds of sampans and junks were museum hosts. sunk; and was provided over 14 days there were 25 cases of flak replenishment, or passage to and from for ground forces. Even damage, which resulted in the loss of Japan. Sydney had 42.8 full days of individual ox carts, used by the North five aircraft. This represented a rate of flying. Its air group flew 2,366 sorties, 37-39 Pall Mall, Bendigo VIC 3550 Koreans to transport ammunition and one aircraft damaged by enemy action an average of 55.2 sorties for each full (03) 5442 4513 | [email protected] fuel, were destroyed. The intent was to in every 12 offensive sorties. An extract day’s flying. Korea has been described halt or disrupt Communist movements. from a report of damaged aircraft read: as the first challenge for Australian The aviators though were hesitant about naval aviation. As Commodore Jack Open most days 10am to 4pm the overall effectiveness of the approach. SHOT DOWN: Flak damage to rear McCaffrie has remarked, the rapid (closed some public holidays) Sea Fury pilot Lieutenant Fred “Lofty” fuselage; Bullet hole in rudder; progress of the RAN’s naval aviators Lane later acknowledged that this to a highly efficient and effective Admission charges apply, group discount available strategy was “never successful”. The SHOT DOWN: Bullet hole in stbd operational entity was remarkable. Communist transports moved at night [starboard] tank (bullet inside); Flak The development of Australian and their camouflage was excellent. damage to port mainplane, engine naval aviation from an ambition to a Bridges were quickly repaired or rebuilt, cowling & fin; combat-ready capability was possible only to be bombed again: “Good targets only with the wholehearted assistance were very few.” SHOT DOWN: Flak damage – of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. Lieutenant Commander Bowles trimming controls shot away. Targeted recruitment; the adoption and 805 Squadron proved particularly of common training, techniques and aggressive. Bowles “was a pretty fearless Sydney lost nine aircraft to enemy procedures; and the loan of officers sort of chap”, a fellow pilot remarked, action. Pilots were shot down, and ratings, all created a shared “sort of stupid in some ways, but almost forced to ditch in the ocean, or make aviation experience and culture. The fearless.” Shot down once, Bowles emergency landings. The most daring closeness of the two aviation branches, returned to Sydney with his Sea Fury rescue occurred on 26 October when where the senior trained and mentored damaged on nine other occasions. Sub-Lieutenant Neil MacMillan the junior, was not unique. Rather it It was not Communist MiG jet and his observer, Chief Petty Officer reflected the firm bond and the long- fighters, but anti-aircraft fire that Phillip Hancox, were shot down some held interoperability that existed proved the greatest menace. Lieutenant 80 kilometres inside North Korean between the Royal Navy and the Royal Johns described seeing shells explode territory. They were saved by a United Australian Navy. from heavy and medium anti-aircraft States Navy . In time the RAN’s Fleet Air Arm guns, but he thought the North Koreans On 5 November 1951 Lieutenant matured and developed its own character never used tracer rounds in their Clarkson, and on 1 December and traditions. The Korean War was only smaller-calibre weapons. This “made Sub-Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Sinclair, the beginning of their story. • life a little kinder” to the pilots, “but died as a result of flak hitting their Sea it may have been that we were living Furies. A month later, on 2 January 1952, under false pretences because you Sub-Lieutenant Ronald Coleman and his wouldn’t know when they were firing Sea Fury were lost, flying in bad weather. at you.” Johns twice returned with his He was presumed to have crashed in the ABOUT THE Sea Fury damaged. sea. Three days later, Lieutenant Peter AUTHOR Virtually all the Sea Fury pilots had Goldrick was wounded, hit in his right their aircraft hit by flak or small-arms arm by a bullet that passed through his fire, as did nearly half of the Firefly Sea Fury’s fuselage. pilots. Many were hit on multiple During the Australian carrier’s Dr Karl James is a Senior Historian occasions. The most intense period deployment in Korean waters, flying in the Military History Section at the occurred in mid-December, when days were lost due to bad weather, Australian War Memorial.

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