The Quarterly Journal of the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia

Volume 5 Num ber 3 July 1994 ------

A4 Skyhawk of 805 Squadron preparing to launch from HMAS Melbourne

Quotation : ....the impor tance of an historical event lies not in what happened but in what later genera tions believed to have happened ..... History is a process of collective remembrance s ... Ibid

Published by the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia Inc. - Print Post Approved - PP20 l 494/00022 Editor: John Arnold- PO Box 662, NOWRA NSW 2541 , Australia - Phone (044) 232014 - Fax (044) 232412 Slipst rea m - July 1994 - Page 2

FOREWORD by The Right Reverend Monsignor F. Lyons AM RAN (Rtd) Chaplain to the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia

Great! ...... Just as I am leaving to catch my flight to Europe to commence a pilgrimage to the battlefields of the Western Front, I am handed a letter asking if I would write this foreword for Slipstream . Despite the timing your President knows that I would never let the Fleet Air Arm down, as in my many years of 'belonging' , the personnel of the FAA have given me significant inspiration and evoked from me much admiration . My eagerness to join this pilgrimage to the Australian cemeteries in France comes from my life long conviction that service personnel are a very special people . They wish to give to their country the best of their abilities and talents , the best years of their life, and a developed determination to achieve standards which will stand up to any test. It is tragically sad when, in the pursuit of these things for the defence of their country , valuable young lives are lost. My admiration for all these tributes was not lessened when I found myself at Nowra in the heartland of the Fleet Air Arm. As the many years went by, that admiration grew and has continued to grow up to the present day. In contemplation of all this, there is a feeling of pride of having been a part of something so outstanding. In the FAA Association and the Naval Aviation Museum, there are laudable means of . preserving a spirit which did so much to achieve formidable standards of which we can be justifiably proud . Yes , there were faults , and in some instances we could have done better . Nevertheless, the task committed to the Australian Fleet Air Arm was carried out, and is still being carried out, in a manner in which this nation should be very proud. In an effort to preserve the memories and spirit of the past, and to assist the Fleet Air Arm of today, let us all be enthusiastic members of the Assoc iation and supporters of our excellent museum. In the back of my mind I can hear the call. .. This is the last call for passengers .....' , in the battlefields of France, the call will be 'Lest we forget'. NO - we must never forget! Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 3

Editorial A Message from the National President With cupboards and drawers filled Cmdre 'Toz' Dadswell , AM, RAN, (Rtd) to bursting, I've just spent about fifteen minutes trying to find space to Why do we have a national organisation running the store another file housing the input for FAM? Why can't the States be left alone to run their own this edition of Slipstream. affairs? Why do States pay money to the federal body? The books , letters , papers and What do you do with our money? paraphernalia associated with this job These are some of the questions that I have been is growing like 'Topsy'. asked over the past couple of months and I thought that I The increase in correspondence should come up with some answers , as it is obvious that shows that there is a healthy interest there are some members who do not understand how the Association is in the Association and in all things structured or how it operates . pertaining to the FM . My only regret , The Fleet Air Arm Association is a national body because the Fleet Air Arm is that the input from the modern day that we served in was the Australian Fleet Air Arm not a State Fleet Air Arm. The Fleet Air Arm is almost nil. Association is run by the State representatives who sit on the Federal Council. Despite the present day condit ions This organisation gives the members the chance to express their views on a of service , which many old timers whole range of matters and the Council formulates the general guidelines for the would think 'soft' in the extreme, there conduct of the Association. The Federal Constitution was drawn up and agreed to must surely be some spark of pride by the representatives. It is not a case of 'Big Brother' trying to run the affairs of within the Squadrons that would the State Divisions. encourage them to tell us of their What are the benefits of being a national organisation? Let me list a few . As achievements , their aircraft and their a national organisation: personnel. As current 'caretakers ' of * We are recognised by the RSL and have a voice on the Kindred squadrons that were so much a part Organisation Committee ; of our life, I feel that they owe us a line * We are able to take out one comprehensive insurance policy to cover all now and again to let us know that members , thus saving the States the expense of taking out separate policies ; things are in good hands . * We have our own national flag which incorporates the White Ensign . (Guide Meanwhile , to all the old and bold lines for the flying and display of the flag will be considered at the next Counc il who have passed through the gates of meeting .) Albatross both ways , without your * We are able to make consolidated submissions to various committees continued support Slipstream would concerned with ex-service matters ; just fade away , and with it the * We are able to produce and distribute a national magaz ine which gives the Association we are all so proud of. members the means by which they keep in touch . Just remember one thing , if you These are just some of the advantages derived from being a national body . don't see what you want to see in our journal - it's probably because you Now to the question of how we spend your money . The capitation fees paid to haven 't written it yet! the national body are used to pay for the insurance policy , which I mentioned I would like to add my condolences earlier , and to pay for the usual expenses such as postage , telephone , paper and to the many others in this edition, for other office expenditure. Although the members of the executive do incur costs the fam ily of Dick Coates . I can 't think related to travel and accommodation , no member has claimed reimbursement for of anyone in my serv ice days, whose such expenses . I should also point out that the members of the executive do NOT exploits gave so many people so have a vote at Council meetings , ONLY the State representatives vote . much pleasure . Farewell , Dick. SLIPSTREAM RON TASKER - If anyone would care to contact Ron, his phone I feel sure that all members will agree that our editor has done a magnificent number is (044) 763159 Narooma. job with Slipstream but he does need your continued support . We also need to find sponsors , so if any member has a suggestion as to a possible sponsor , please let me know and I will follow it up. JOHN CHAMPION - is compiling a Line Book and would like to borrow NATIONAL REUNIONS good photographs of RAN Sea Furies , Fireflies and Carriers . All care When the committee was trying to plan and organise the 1992 reunion , they will be taken with the originals . were severely hampered by the lack of funds which were needed to place orders Bi29 Brighton Street for a whole range of things , such as souvenirs , transport and accommodation . Sandringham The Council decided to overcome this problem for future reunions by setting Victoria 3191 up a National Reunion Fund. The money for this separate fund comes from the small profit made on the sale of Association clothing and souvenirs . You can be DISCLAIMER assured that your money is well spent and accounted for . All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole is forbidden without I hope that this message clears up any confusion that may have existed about the express permission of the Editor in the need for , and the operation of, the national organisation . It is you , the writing. members, who control and run the organisation through your representatives on The views and opinions expressed the Federal Council. in this publication do not necessarily Please get behind your State committees and give them the support that is reflect the views and opinions of the required if we are to go forward with strength . To misquote the late President Association or Committee of Kennedy ..... 'Ask not what the FAM can do for you , but rather ask, what can I do Management . for the Association.' Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 4 \\ l.: \\ 'l :i ii FltDMTUE AILCBIVES :; .c~\\

HMAS Albatross 1959 - Motor Transport Compound Crew BACK ROW L-R: Bob Luxford - Pat Hickey - Ray Lillyman - John Cowey- Nev Plunkett - 'Tiger' Thompson - Daley? - Nev Hall - George Thompson - Max Laurie CENTRE ROW: Frank Donnelly - Tommy Cooper - Jim Alton - Tom Dodds - Ray Annand - Brian Weaver - 'Shorty' Knibbs FRONT ROW : Dennis Taylor - Bill 'Pappy' Gault - Kerry Sojan - 'Curly' Davenport Photo courtesy Nev Haff No.4SESO Safety Equipment & Survival Course

Lt. McNay - PO Fred Wessel

OPERATIONAL FL YING SCHOOL COURSE No.7 A/Silt . Rohrsheim - Lt.Arnold - A/Silt. Smith - A/Silt. Hansen Lt. Roland (Course Officer) - LtCdr Scott (CO 851) - Lt. Dedman CG! Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 5

I don't know who the blokes are on the right and the left of the photo - but the one in the middle is 'Plunger' Keedlel

Dear Ed, The accompanying photograph was taken at the Catholic Club in Hong Kong. The 'Sin Bosun' is Father Lyons, he is seen talking to a Bishop (? ) who had just been released from Red China . The names escape me, but the tall guy on the left, being a good RC , carried out the duties of Altar Boy at Sunday morning Mass . After a night on the Singapore 1960 - 'Alli-Oop ' - relieved grog he found it hard to from the RN Marines at HMS Terror blow out the candles - they and left on the wharf for recovery . (NK) just kept relighting! THE DYING AVIATOR A young aviator lay dying, At the end of a bright summer's day His comrades had gathered around him, To carry his fragments away .

The aeroplane was piled in his wishbone , His Lewis was wrapped around his head He wore a spark plug in his elbow , ' Twas plain he would shortly be dead.

He spat out a valve and a gasket , As he stirred in the stump where he lay And then to his wandering comrades These brave parting words he did say!

Take the manifold out of my larynx, And the butterfly valve off my neck Remove from my kidneys the cam rods , There's a lot of good parts in the wreck.

Take the pistons out of my stomach , And the cylinders out of my brain Extract from my liver the crankshaft , And assemble the engine again .

Pull the longeron out of my backbone , The turnbuckle out of my ear From the small of my back the rudder , There's all of your aeroplane here.

I'll be riding a cloud in the morning , With no rotary before me to cuss Take the lead from your feet and get busy Firefly landing on Vengeance - 1953 Photo courtesy S. W.Laughlan There's another lad needing the bus . Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 6 ••• Report of the Committee of Inquiry into • •• --- Defence and Defence Related Awards --- A synopsis for our members by 'Toz' Dadswell

Members will be aware that in of honours and awards care must be HMAS Tarangau and attached 1993 the Govem!"ent announced taken that , in recognising service by vessels . Period is from 1951 to 16 that a comprehensive inquiry would some , the comparable service of September 1975 with a qualifying be carried out into the Australian others is not overlooked or degraded . period of 180 days . system of honours and awards. The inquiry was to be in two 3. In relation to Imperial awards , Imperial Naval General Service stages . The first stage was to be a the Committee will contemplate Medal (NGSM) Clasp 'MALAYA' comprehensive review of defence and amendment to the terms and defence-related ares of interest , conditions governing these awards The Committee has recommended including the application of present only under the most exceptional that the Government continue to Australia awards in defence-related circumstances where a clear anomaly pursue with the British Government the activities . The second stage , which will or manifest injustice can be eligibility of RAN ships serving in the follow completion of the first , will established . Otherwise the Committee Far East Strategic Reserve , in the examine the existing system of will seek to find solutions within the period 1955 - 1960 , with a view to honours and awards to ensure that it established terms and conditions for identifying those HMA Ships , if any , meets the needs of all sectors of the these awards and will address which qualified for the award . community . situations where an anomaly or injust ice in application may have Award for Officers and Instructors The Committee conducting the first occurred . of Cadets stage of the inquiry has completed its task and the Government has agreed 4. The Committee adheres strongly The Government has decided to to all but one of the Committee's forty to the official view that honours and refer this issue for consideration by the recommendations . This article awards given to. Australians on the Stage Two Honours Review summarises those recommendations recommendation of the Australian Committee . which may be of special interest to Government under the Imperial system past and present members of the RAN. are Australian awards . VIETNAM - Naval Ship Visits and other Service To help guide it through the 5. Matters relating to honours and diversity of issues raised , and to give awards should be considered on their The Committee had before it a consistency to its approach ·, the merits in accordance with these number of submissions seeking some Committee developed a set of guiding principles , and these considerations form of recognition for RAN ships that principles . It is not intended to should not be influenced by the visited Vietnam during 1962 and 1963. reproduce all ten principles here, but possible impact , real or perceived , on The Committee decided that this several are listed below to assist the veteran's entitlements . service did not qualify the ships for the reader in appreciating the approach Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal made by the Committee in relation to Australian Service Medal but noted that the service rendered by areas of naval interest. 1945 -1975 the ships seemed comparab le for the award of the RAS Badge . 1. Recognition of service medals This new medal recognises service (other than medals for long service or in prescribed peacekeeping or non­ The above details cover most of special occasions such as coronation) warl ike operation for the period 1945 - the submissions made on behalf of should only occur when that service 1975 where recognition has not RAN personnel. There has been a has been rendered beyond the normal previously occurred . widely held mistaken view that service requirements of peacetime. Normal in the Strategic Reserve or duties such as training and garrison a) Clasp JAPAN - For service with participation in SEATO exercises duties should not be recognised by the the Australian forces in the occupation counted as qualifying time for the award of a medal , even though they of Japan from the period 03 NGSM. This is not the case . These may be demanding , hazardous and September 1945 to 30 June 1947 with periods of operation fall into the uncomfortable , and may be a qualifying period of 90 days. category of training as mentioned in undertaken in countries other than the Comm ittee's first principle. Australia . As a gene ;al rule, medals b) Clasp KOREA 1953 -1957 - For should be reserved for the recognition service in Korea from 28 July 1953 However , there may be some of service in military campaigns , (signing of the armistice) until the special cases such as naval personnel peacekeeping or other military withdrawal of Australian troops on 26 serving with other services ashore or activities clearly and markedly more August 1957 with the relevant on air operations . If members believe demanding than normal peacetime qualifying period of 30 days. that they have a case for further service , consideration , they should contact c) Clasp PNG - Awarded to Keith Fremantle, Staff Officer Medals, 2. To maintain the inherent fairness Australian nationals of all services, Navy Office , on (06) 265-3321 or on and integrity of the Australian system including RAN personnel posted to (008) 808-073 . Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 7

might add, hazardous . This downright 'buck-passing' that litter the was an award for just being in report . Suffice at this time to say that , the Armed Services for 28 far from approaching issues from the days . No requirements to be in perspective of 1944 , it reflects an Hon. Gary Punch MP an operational zone , let alone attitude of 'blimpishness' more akin to Minister for Defence Science in danger of being shot at by a 1914 . and Personnel total stranger. My interest in the matter of this During the period 01 July report stems from having served in the Parliament House 1950 to 26 August 1957 RAN as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm from Canberra ACT 2600 anyone serving in the Defence 02 April 1955 to 01 August 1963 . Force could have been sent to During that penod I was embarked in NOTE: The references referred to in Korea. Those who were sent received HMAS Melbourne for six cruises , the following letter are taken from the or will receive an award . (CIDA Report including service in the Far East 'Report of the Committee of Inquiry into pp. 40 , 41) Those who were not sent Strategic Reserve in 1959, 1962 and Defence and Defence Related received nothing. The same applies to 1963 . I recall that on 20 May 1963 , Awards' , published by the Australian the periods 24 December 1962 to 28 Melbourne transited Sunda Strait Government Publishing Service in May 1964 and 29 May 1964 to 27 closed up to cruising action stat ions , Canberra (March 1994), and available January 1973 with respect to Vietnam. and with aircraft of 805 Squadron through good bookshops - RRP (CIDA Report p.62) It should be noted armed and at combat readiness $14.95.Ed. sir , that in both cases the periods because of the belligerence being involved are well in excess of the exhibited at that time by the Indones ian length of World War II, and in the latter , Dear Minister, Government. in excess of World Wars I & II The recently released Report of To date I have received nothing in combined. the form of an award to recognise 8 the Committee of Enquiry into Service in the Defence Force is, by years dedicated (and at times Defence and Defence Related the very nature of it raison d'etre , both hazardous) service and Awards (CIDA) , contains arduous and hazardous . It can involve notwithstanding the recommendations recommendations that will be long separations from family and at on page 52, nothing in the report gives applauded and welcomed by a any time personnel can be sent me any hope that I ever will . Contrast number of ex-service personnel and anywhere in the world and find the above with the fact that I have civilians themse lves involved in a shooting war . been awarded the Vietnam Logistic Regrettably , it will disappoint far Even in 'peace time' . There is no and Support Medal for a single flight more than it pleases in that it fails to choice as to whether you go or stay . All into Saigon on 02 April 1969 as a crew rectify the most contentious point of all, of the above are considered by the member of a QANTAS military charter . that being the general lack of an award Committee to be worthy of an award The real tragedy of the report is recogn ising service in the Defence when occurring during the period 03 that all service in the Defence Force Force during 'peace time' . September 1939 to 02 September post 02 September 1945 could be According to the Committee , 1945 , even to the extent of recognised with a minimum of effort . 'Normal service in the Defence Force recommending 'that a new and The Defence Force Medal should be does not ...... warrant a medal. The distinctive Civilian Service Medal awarded to all Defence Force conditions of service and salary 1939-45 be instituted for the AWL.A, personnel on their becoming ...... recognise hazardous duty NAR and perhaps the CCC' . (CIDA operational in whatever category they ...... during the normal course of Report p.30) [AWLA - Australian have chosen or been assigned . Long employment' . (CIDA Report p.6) Not a Women's Land Army I NAR- Northern service clasps should be awarded after view accep ted by the High Court in its Australia Railway I CCC - Civil 1O years and for each additional 5 judgement on surv ivors of the Voyager Construction Corps. Ed] years service . The award to be made disaster , nor by tens of thousands of The Committee's view that we retroactive to 03 September 1945. personnel who devoted large portions have been at peace since 02 John Milton wrote , 'They also serve of their lives to service in the Defence September 1945, whilst perhaps being who only stand and wait' and I strongly Force (and continue to do so) during technically correct, in real terms is suggest to you sir , on behalf of all so-called 'peace time' . quite ludicrous, even insulting to those Defence Force personnel, past , The War Medal was 'Awarded for who served and continue to serve in present and future , that it is time the 28 days full time duty between 03 the Defence Force since then . In the Government recognised this maxim in September 1939 and 02 September intere st of brevity I have chosen a tangible form . 1945'. Service did not have to be not to itemise the contradictions , Yours sincerely , continuous' . (CIDA Report p.13) Nor, I inconsistencies, injustices and B.J.Roberls - Ueutenant RAN (Rtd)

SO YOU THINK YOU'VE GOT THINGS TOUGH! A par from the NSW mail bag ...

.... I have recently returned home from hospital where I had an artificial left knee fitted . My sons call me the 'Tin Man' now as I have a fused left ankle with a steel pin fitted , wires in my toes, an artificial knee and a metal device in my back held together by wire , courtesy of the back specialist recently feature d in '60 Minutes' . I had to retire from work last year as mobility is a problem . I have just had my old '78 XC Falcon respray ed and have applied for new plates . I was lucky to get my choice of numbers -FAA 805 . Having the car enables me to get to the local shops , but best of all I like receiving Slipstream , it's a great publication ...... Bill Cregan - WA [ Good to hear from you , Bill. You certainly made a good choice for the number plate , but who do you call when you 're feel ing crook , the doctor or a piano tuner? Ed] Slipstream - July 199 4 - Page 8

Dear Ed, with head leaning to port to maintain I have been impressed by the standard of S/ipst,•·eam, especially in recent visual contac t with 'Bats', was ready ti) times. execute the anticipated 'cut' signal. Much has been written in the past about the Fleet Air Arm, its Squadrons , As the deck loomed up I gianced aircraft and the ships. Without denigrating those contributions to a magnificent ahead to ensure that the aircraft was history of a special branch of the Navy, there seems to have been a lack of s!ories lined up with the centreline , I was about the individuals , and their myriad experiences. I only hope this small astounded to see 'Bats' give me the personal contribution may encourage others to relate their memories of events of 'wave -off signal , compliance with interest. which was mandatory. if my article proves satisfactory for insertion in one of the Slip.stream editions, 10 knots above the stall, over the l would ask only one favour ; could you please return the photos as they represent round-down (or so it felt) , wheels a memorable day in"my Naval career , for obvious reasons. adjudged to be some 10 feet above the Congratu lations on a great job . deck and descending . I was Sincerely, Geoff Utchfietd immediately very much aware of the ( Now fasten your seat belts ... here's Geoffs story . Ed.J barrier not far ahead or below, and of the ship's island j ust to starboard of my path. Ramming the throttle forward to the stops , all 2,550 horses were called upon to do their job - and do it they did The year - 1954 - 805 Squadron Sea Fury WJ 284 , side-number 102. - admirably! However, at such low embarked in HMAS Sydney, off the Entering the circuit in line abreast , airspeed , and no doubt assisted by my east coast of Australia, northbound at the usual height of 400 feet, we instinctive reaction to apply control for Hervey Bay , where we were to broke downwind at 10 second forces to get-the-hell out of there, I be equipped with brand new Sea intervals , aiming to achieve as near as encountered the onset of the dreaded Furies during our work-up to front possible a 15 second landing interval. torque stall (when engine power, or line standard. Think about that - and total co­ torque , is such that it overcomes flight 805 Squadron Commanding operation required from 'Flyco' and control forces , and tries to roll the Officer , Fred Sherboume , was Flight Deck personnel! aircraft around the engine) . Not good - supported by Senior Pilot , Jack My turn in the land-on sequence not good! Salthouse and an old veteran, John arrived . In spite of a 25kt wind, the The accompanying illustrative Pollock . Their tasks were to lead we seascape speckled with 'white horses' , official photographs obtained by the snotty-nosed sprogs , fresh off course conditions in the circuit were quite unknown ship's photographer , who in UK, through the many deck smooth and there was no significant must have had a quick trigger finger, operations to hopefully qualify us as swell. An almost cloudless sky (we captured the consequences in front line pilots. We , being Les were in Queensland waters!) added to dramatic detail. Note the Aircraft Fairbairn, Don Davidson , Rob Waites , my overconfident feeling that this was Handler vacating his normal position , Jack Williams and myself. going to be a breeze - one of my post-haste! As the second photo was Having flown on, on August 26th better approaches. taken, my mind was saying, 'Well, for the first time on an Australian In the slot , on speed and receiving Geoffrey, this looks like IT!' , and I was carrier (Les Fairbairn , being a course minimum 'off-path' advisory signals contemplating getting my feet very wet ahead had already tried his hand at it), from 'Bats', I approached the deck with at the least. we latter five had acquired the dizzy gear, flaps and hook extended. With confidence shaken , but heights of some 420 hours total flying Approaching the round-down in a grateful for - was it divine intervention experience, including about 25 day continuously banked tum , I responded or just the magnificent forgiveness of a deck landings and 5 boosted take-offs to 'Bats' signal to roll wings level, and top aircraft - I swanned around the (catapults) . All embarked operations were aimed at eventually ach ieving the ultimate minimum intervals between arrested landings, to ensure the least possible exposure of the carrier to offensive 'enemy' action whilst at her most vulnerable. Committed to maintaining a near-constant course into wind to ensure the retrieval of her airborne brood during the land-on phase , it was the responsibility of Squadron Commanders to strive to train their pilots to safely achieve this minimum period of time between arrested landings . With 'all this experience' , and at age 24, beginning to feel pretty 'gung­ ho', I returned to the ship in formation with three other squadron pilots following a 2 hour 35 minute Army co­ op. exercise . Equipped with drop tanks , to enable this relatively lengthy exercise , my charge for the day was Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 9 circuit , this time with my tail between my legs , and adrenal in levels at an all­ time high. Second time around all worked well , and though I landed on uneventfully , it took me some time for me to gather my strength to climb out of the cockpit , assisted by my always dependable Pilot's Mate , Frank Donnelly . No reflection on 'Bats' , as 'Flyco' had been unable to signal a 'clear­ deck' in time to avoid a wave-off - though , at the time , as I stepped on to the deck from my aircraft , I was ready, in my state , to keel-haul him . Remember , Fred? Commander (Air) Allan Downes , RN, duly vindicated 'Bats' and put me in my place . Just one of THOSE days!

WELFARE OFFICER' S REPORT by LG (Chips) Gray Welfare Officer NSW DiYision

You will recall to have 'eligibl e service ' for an ex­ that after last years service person to receive assistance in budget we made mention of the the treatmen t costs for cancer and proposed Commonwealth Seniors pulmonary tuberculosis . The Health Card to be introduced from Department will accept or provide 1st July this year . financial res ponsibility for the If you are an Australian resident of treatment of any malignant condition or Age Pension age or Service Pension TB, subject to the receipt of an age (veterans) and have an income application from the patient , or below $19 ,151.60 per annum (Single) , someone acting on his or her behalf . or $31,917 .60 pa (Couple combined} , However , make the claim for treatment and do not apply for Disabil ity Pension or $37 ,679 .20 pa (Couple , separated Dear Ed, as this will only be paid if there is due to illness) , the new For those members who may be Commonwealth Seniors Health Card 'eligible service' , and that the condition is likely to have been caused by that interested, I am in receipt of the can help you get: following advice from Navy Office - * prescriptions at the concession period of service. Once again, it should only be quote : rate of $2.60 . 'It would appear that many of the * hearing aids from Australian necessary to phone or write to the RAN 's ex-members who served during Hearing Services Department of Veteran Affairs in your the 1950 's never received their * access to a new two-phase State or Region al Area . Advise them of 'Certificates of Service ' and upon Commonwealth Dental Health your full nam e, rank and official request these are now issued '. Programme . number, period of service , diagnosis , If you have applied for a pension and name of the doctor or hospital (age or service) in the past and did not responsible for the treatment. Some Write to: get it because of assets or residence , cases of skin cancer may not be Staff Officer Records you may be eligible for this card . accepted , but many have been so it's Navy Office For more information or a claim worth a try. for Director of Sailor's Career form . call Social Security Teleservice Incidentally , the Commonwealth Management on 13 2300 - cost as for a local call. Seniors Hea lth Card should not be PO Box E33 Veterans should contact any Veteran confused with the various Seniors Queen Victor ia Terrace Affairs Office , NSW - Toll Free (008) Cards issued by some States. In NSW , Canberra ACT 2600 257 251 . if you are over 60 and no longer To get the card at Service Pension employed, you can apply for a Seniors The 'Certificate of Service ' is not to be age however , you will still require Card simply by obtaining an application confused with your 'Records of 'eligible service' . It should be of some form from a Post Office. There are no Serv ice', and is as stated a Certificate assistance to those of us who have assets or incom e tests and it will give which is suitable for framing. turned 65 and are ruled out for the you discounts with State Rail and Don't forget to give your Official age pension because we paid too associated bus routes , green slip Number in your correspondence , and much into DFRDB I MSBS and motor insura nce and certain other request that all other naval service be superannuation . insurances, it is also recognised by entered on the same , such as Fleet Once again I would like to draw to many business houses. It is also proof , Reserve time for those who your attention , that it is not necessary if we need remindi ng , that we have participated etc .. reached a senior age . Regards , Ron Baxter - Qld Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 10

the British Pacific Fleet preparing for was formed in the United Kingdom, VALE the daunting attack on the Japanese Jimmy was appointed to 805 W .G. (Jimmy) BOWLES home islands when 'The Bomb' saw Squadron which was equipped with (12 May 1920 - 10 May 1994) the end of World War II. Sea Furies - a squadron that he Post -war saw him marry an eventually rose to command . He led When old hands get together to Australian girl and a decision to make 805 during hazardous operations from yarn about the good old Fleet Air Australia his home. HMAS Sydney during the Korean In 1947-48, Australia announced it Arm days, a name that always crops conflict of 1951 . would have its own Fleet Air Arm and up is that of Jimmy Bowles. Eventually his flying days were Jim was one of the first to sign on. The curtailed as he went on to use his Now Jim has passed on, and many RAN was fortunate to have such an talents in a variety of staff a tale will be told apd <:lits spun of his experienced and enthusiastic pilot appointments , including stints in Navy exploits , both in the air and on the among its early batch of naval aviators. Office . deck , during his 28 years of service in When the 20th Carrier Air Group * A. (Nat) Gould the RNZN , RN and RAN. J. Born in New Zealand , he was quick to jo in the RNZN soon after the outbreak of World War 11and decided that naval flying was to be his branch . Jim did his pilot training in the USA, receiving his wings in 1942. With over a thousand other 'Kiwis' , he then served on loan with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm . He flew Hurricanes , Martlets, Hellcats and Fulmars from a variety of carriers , including convoy escort duties on the North Atlantic run. Jim flew with dash and determination and was known as a 'force-on' fighter pilot ; he accumulated a great number of 'ops­ hours' and was lucky to survive a crash in the icy cold Atlantic . Jim also served in the Mediterranean Theatre and was with LSA TWO Michael John Henderson Lt. Reg Hutchins, RCN (The Snake) Royal Canadian Navy Armament Officer , Commissioned Died as the result of an accidental shooting at his residence from the Ranks (CFR) as a Limited Duty Officer , passed at White Cliffs , NSW , on 30th April , 1994. Joined the RAN in away suddenly in Queensland on 20 March , 1994 . 1971 - discharged 1981 . Survived by his wife Annette. Poole-Warren, G.H.F. 'Peter' Died April 28th , 1994 , at hospital. With friends and family we'll gather Cause Mick left us only the other day Dick Coates We don't know why or where 28 May , 1994 , in Queensland. But he 'd sure be smiling all the way AN OLD MAN , going a lone highway , I reckon that you'd all agree Came at the evening, cold and grey , That blokes like Mick are rare To a chasm , vast and deep and wide , A really friendly little fella Through which was flowing a sullen tide . Who when needed would be there The old man crossed in the twilight dim - That sullen stream had no fears tor him; I expect he 's out there somewhere But he turned , when he reached the other side, And built a bridge to span the tide. Cause blokes like Mick you never Jose Maybe a memory is the contact "Old man ," said a fellow pilgrim near , For a meeting if you choose "You are wasting your strength in building here. Your journey will end with the ending day; Gee I find some comfort knowing You never again must pass this way. That he's maybe looking down on me You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide, Why build you the bridge at the eventide?" Watching friends and keeping family Sorta safe upon his knee The builder lifted his old grey head . "Good friend, in the path I have come ," he said , Most say why the good blokes ''There followeth after me today But there 's a reason for it all A youth whose feet must pass this way . God bless you Mick because wherever This chasm has been naught to me We know you're still somewhere walking tall To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be . He, too, must cross in the twilight dim: Good friend, I am building the bridge for him." A bloody good Armourer and a bloody good mate. Goodbye, • THE BRIDGE BUILDER' by Will Allen Dromgoole Mate ! See you soon. *Billy Paul Slipst ream - July 1994 - Page 11

around in the early to mid 'SO's...... Whatever happened to .....? 'Bluey' Anderson - NAM(E) - A 5' 6" redhead hailing from Stanthorpe , Letters to the Editor Qld . Ron Tanner - Aircraft Handler. Charlie Long - Aircraft Handler from A letter from the National Secretary 's Dear Ed, the Stawell district in Victoria. mail bag from the Patron of the FAA I have been reading Slipstream, Pill Peart - Another Victorian . Association , Admiral Sir Victor Smith, the Fleet Air Arm Association Ray Green - Aircraft Handler from AC, KBE, CB, DSC, RAN (Rid) . Journal April 1994, given to me by Balla rat. my next door neighbour, Jeffrey George Hearn - A Leading Hand in '56, possibly a Handler. Dear/an, Caraske, ex-HMAS Sydney . 'Chick' Neale - A Pilot's Mate and Thank you very much for your I found many interesting items owner of a Vincent HRD motor cycle . birthday card and for the kind when reading concerning Nowra , Ted Drinnan - NAM(E) - Last wishes of the Association. HMAS Albatross , the Museum etc .. known living in Revesby , NSW. My assoc iation with the area goes Recently I was reading a book and 'Crash' Barrett - Pilot's Mate with a back to 1944-45 when I was LAC came across the following quotation crew cut. 150758 , a member of 107 Squadron from W .8. Yeats . It seems most Gilbert Nixon - NAM(E) - A bit of a RAAF based at St. Georges Basin with appropriate - rebel and a good mate of ... single engine Vought-Sikorski "Think where man's glory begins '?' Benson - He owned a covered Kingfisher float equipped planes . and ends in VS Ute in which many a trip to The squadron maintained And say my glory was I had such Sydney was made . surveillance of an area of the South friends" Ron Baxter - Originally from Coast of NSW and I recall several 17 Or.e of the most fortunate things Rockhampton , I believe . Well , he instances involving emergencies which has happened to me has been appeared in the last issue , however , which , because of the Japanese the friends I have made in the Fleet Air there was another BAXTER , this one a submarines having already visited Arm . Perth native . Sydney Harbour, were hushed up until I w ish the Asso ciat ion continued Others who have 'lost' their first well after the war was over. success . names are: At that time where the road to Yours sincerely , '?' Dobbyn - I think he was a Albatross abuts the Princes Highway , Victor Smith Victorian and possibly a Safety there was a British Torpedo Unit Equipment bod . Dear Ed, sto rage base , and during 1945 the '?' Wodetski - Air Radio and A couple of corrections to the Roya l Navy had a large number of possibly from Bendigo. article on the Fly-In Day in the last personnel at 'Albatross' [then HMS '?' O'Brien - From Thursday issue of Slipstream. Very small Nabswick. Ed.] Island. corrections - such as could only When 107 Squadron disbanded, Last but not least , I would come form an old pedant (no, not the squadron personnel lost contact appreciate any information as to the peasant). with one another . Would , or could you, whereabouts of Bruce 'Shorty' Implacable was the ship , and the through your journal's contacts have Cunningham NAM(E) 816 helmet was not leather but canvas access to any information concerning Squadron . Last heard of around 1962. (which explains the loss of high range our squadron 's activities during a He had just left Revesby to take up hearing) . short , rough , but memorable period . I another job in the aircraft indu stry . If My most pleasurable encounter have heard that the local Shoalhaven anyone can help me with this one in with the Spitfire [at the Fly-In Day.Ed) paper did publish some interesting particular , I can be contacted on (077) later took me to my log book to see accounts about 107 Squadron a 735181 . when I last sat in a Seafire. The couple of years ago . * John Ahem - Qld occasion saddens me a little because Thanking you in anticipation, my log book reads , "Schofields to Noel L. Bendall - Emu Park Qld . Implacable' and a 30 minute trip Dear Ed, concluding my deck landings w ith a Dear Ed, One thing I regret when reading classic barrier (the only one in my time) When each new issue of Slipstream , is that I look at the - April 29 1946 . Slipstream arrives I, like many various photo's and articles , and . 'Twas indeed a shame , a lovely others I suppose, have the habit of wonder if any of the people featured Mark XV badly bent. The shame is searching through the pages looking were members of those first courses because there were at least three in for familiar names . that I put through at Nowra, and that final land-on before Implacable Occasionally one turns up and whose photographs I still have in my hoisted her paying-off pennant and left that's when the difficult part begins , album but with no names alongside me to pay off in Australia . that is the often frustrating attempt to them. Slipstream gets better all the time reach back in time and try to match the It was interesting to read the article and I commend you most warmly . name with a memory . on Peter Fanshawe, I remember him I accept the Walter Mitty bit as I In my case , it is now 42 years since as a young Sub when I was a PO Pilot. realise that my 125cc Motor Scooter I first arrived at Albatross and I often Life has been a bit hectic in must be the only scooter in the world wonder about some of those names Pompey over the last month or so ; with a working Air Speed Indicator (ex­ that no longer have faces, and the what with the D-Day celebrations, Firefly, I think). faces that exist so clearly in the mind's visits of VIP's from European Every good wish , eye but remain nameless . So I put the countries, all coin cid ing with Navy Walter Wheeldon - NSW Div . Chaplain question to those of you who were Days Portsmouth , many visiting foreign Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 12 warsh ips for Fleet Review , also Dear Ed, celeb rations of the Portsmou th 800 On page 25 of the last edition of Slipstream, and midway through the yea rs Anniversary of the City being Queensland Division News, I noticed that a mention was made of granted its Charter by Richard I Townsvillian and ex-Trac ker pilot, Arthur Johnson, arriving at the Bundaberg Lionheart . reunion in his ex-RAAF CT 4. HMS Daedalus is soon to be the Since then certain 'classified ' photographs have come into my possess ion, the home of a Hovercraft Museum , to be first shows Arthur at the controls of said CT4 at his Mystic Sands HQ. The second set up near the old slipway where most pictu re shows the custom made bridge en route to the assem bly area. Lastly, all of us did our float plane training . set to go on the fairway , er .... runway No.6. The Australian Naval Avia tion I have this question . In the event of the aircraft being struck by a golf ball whilst Museum is looking very impressive as engaged in take-off or landing manoeuvres , is the golfer entitled to a free drop? it nears completion. The 'Top Secret' negatives were made available by Christian Smith , aviation I still owe letters to 'Windy' Geale nut and most capable editor of the Aus tralian Warbirds magazine. and Freddie Randall , meanwhile John Ahem- Qld. please pass on my best wishes to them. Sincerely , Bill (Crozer)

Dear Ed, Thank you for your recent letter and for putting The Shearwater Aviation Museum Foundation on the mailing list for Slipstream. I picked up your letter on the 10th of May and on the 13th received a letter from George Chadwick , of Stockport , Cheshire [NSW Member . Ed.], saying in part -'Dear Eric, Having read your letter to John Arnold , published in the current issue of Slipstream ; it occurred to me that a reference to the airfield at Dartmouth , regarding an incident which happened in November 1939, may be of interest to you". George goes on to say that his own letter to you was printed on the next page to mine and he enclosed a letter from a chap who had sailed into Halifax with 816 Squadron on HMS Furious, and took their aircraft off to Shearwater for compass swings etc .. It's a small world , isn't it? I also noticed the smiling, bearded face of Ken Greenaway on page 21 which brings me to the other reason for this letter . Ken attended the Canadian Naval Air Group (CNAG) annual reunion last year in Ottawa and somehow I ended up with a crest from HMAS Albatross to be presented to the Shearwater Aviation Museum on behalf of Ken and 'Windy' Geale. Well I am happy to report that I have finally carried out that duty and that the crest is now in the hands of the Curator , Gordon Mclauchlan , who was most appreciative . Tell Ken that his buddy , Frank Reesor [NSW Member. Ed] has finally found out what a razor is for and if Ken would like one for Christmas we could take up a collection! Thanks again for your kindness, our phase one building programme is proceeding apace, and Best Regards to all Naval Aviators everywhere. Yours aye, Eric G. Edgar Secretary Treasurer Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 13

Dear Ed. Geale about him!) . He eventually excessively fiddling with junior officer's A note mainly to say 'hello', but became a LCDR with the RCN and I staff work: he'd sometimes raise his it's spurred by the January '94 saw his photo at an aircraft crash in the eyebrows but would simply say "are edition of the journal, which I Canadian Armed Forces Flying Safety you willing to stand behind this?" and if received some time ago . Journal. He became known as 'Mr the answer was in the affirmative he'd My thanks for a very readable Kleen' (after the well known brand push it through . As younger officers we magazine ; I always enjoy browsing name) due to his propensity for placing weren't always polished in our paper through it and especially like catching cleanliness for rounds above every work but he didn't do as many of his up on news of old friends from long other consideration . contemporaries did, viz: constantly nit­ past but who, because of our various Had a letter from Jim Lamb's wife , pick at the dotted 'i' and crossed 't' . different directions , I've not seen for shortly after he died. As you know, she The result was that we felt we had his many years . The back page was was his second wife (I was a pall confidence , wanted to work for him , especially nostalgic this time . On a sad bearer for his first wife) and although and as a team we got things done. note I was sorry to read of 'Chicka ' she married Jim after he retired and John Lovell was a fine gentleman Micken's passing ; I knew him well and thus had little Navy background she and, as a Captain , eventually became his sly humour always tickled my fancy . remarked how stunned she had been the Military Attache in Djakarta during My main reason for writing is to by the avalanche of letters and cards which period he was involved in a comment on the photo on p.6 entitled from old Navy hands and she said that terrible air smash while on a courier 'Air Engineer Officers ... 1958' . You she was beginning to realise what a flight ; his wife was killed . It wasn 't his probably got a few other inputs on it, close knit and unusual bunch the FAA first crash as on an earlie r occasion in but , just in case - here's my bit: you people are. the RN he had pranged a Firefly (I missed the name of the chap sitting Vic Jones was one of our few think), being a flying AEO (you can see extreme left of the middle row on Geoff specialist Air Ordnance Engineers (Ian the wings on his sleeve in the pie.) Coker -Godson 's right ; he's Arthur Ferguson can tell you about him) . Vic which left him with a very jerky walk Carrington , and, like the fellow at the was (and I presume still is) a great guy. that old hands will remember . Probably opposite end (Mike Coward) , was RN Also ex-RN and on the 'first' (viz, early few people now would know that he loan. Arthur was at that time my DO. 1960's) FAA demise changed over to was the founding Director of the while I was on Mechan ician's course . the WEE branch (General Service) . Darling Harbour Maritime Museum , He was the very epitome of an RNer - Last I heard of him he was the which is now a big, but big, affair . very 'pukka' , slightly aloof, a bit technical publications man for Nice to see Bert Webster in the pie 'plummy' . But he was a great fellow - Needham Associates in Canberra , and it's interest ing to compare him with sincere , approachable , a genuine 00 . specialising in interfacing between the shot on the back page ! Bert was and an absolute gentleman to industry and Defence , but I imagine my original Navy 'Father'; he was my everyone , no matter how high or lowly he's retired by now. Great footballer DO around 1956-57 and encouraged they may have been . He had brought and a lot of fun . me to have a crack at trying for out from the UK. a car that caught our Jack Birch and Cec Logan were Mechanician (which if I remember eye, one of the then very new and not, in fact , AEOs but 'stokers' , as the rightly, he had been himself) . I did, and barely released 6 cylinder Mkll Ford engineer strength at Albatross in those was successful , Later, when myself a 'Zephyrs'. But not only that - it was days included some General Service very green SBL T i/c RANAMEB , he automatic , a rarity in Australia in those types . Cec Logan ran the MT Yard and was my Navy Office contact (You'll days. He knew that autos were a bit 'up drove an FJ Holden that just happened recall that in those days RANAMEB market' around a back country town to be the same model as the standard was a 'lodger ' unit at Nowra and like Nowra and used to ensure that RAN staff car. Cec's car was always in answerable to Navy Office ), gave me a both his hands were in view holding tip-top shape . In those days we had a lot of wise guidance and steered me the steering wheel - not ostentatiously , promotion thing called 'The Airmanship around some hidden quicksands . Also but clear ly on the wheel when the Board' and it included some basic MT say 'hello' to him for me. engine beat changed at the gear knowledge . Cec took me for my exam I hardly dare start about Harold change as he drove past us trainees . I when I was shooting for Kellick and Kent ! Any of the old hands will regale bumped into Arthur many years later was only interested in how I'd get a you with stories about him that are when I myself was a senior LEUT and pusser's car started and back home if hard to believe ! Ron Hay can tell you a he was a Commander. It was at Nowra the battery went flat ( the answer was good one that goes something like this: during Mike Hall's tenure as CMOR 'E' to get a hand to push start it and hook­ we all recall Ron's fastidiousness as a and I think Arthur was the staff AEO in up some torch batteries in series to the tradesman and if the job was perfect it Singapore or something like that coil which would provide enough was just barely good enough for him. (during the dying days of the RN's last capacity to go several miles ; well, you On one occasion up in LTMU (is it 'A" toehold there) .A couple of other points can believe that if you want , but that's hangar now? 817 Squadron about that pie: LEUT Hutchins was an how I passed the MT segment of my perhaps?) , as a new Mechanician , Ron ex-RNer and any old hands will fall flat Airmanship board!) was doing some riveting on a 'Gannet' . on the floor laughing if you mention his The others were all personally Harold, as a LCDR, was the AEO and name . The story was that he built a known to me and some became good noticed Ron using one of the new air house in Nowra by scrounging enough personal friends . I always had a great driven reaction guns . "Aha" , exclaimed material to get some foundations down respect for 'Tug' Wilson (give him my Harold, "I'd like to have a go at that!" . and on the strength of that got a bank warm greetings when you next see him As you know, one of those guns can go loan to continue to the next phase , and on the golf course). I regrettably berserk in the hands of a non-skilled so it went on , stage-by-stage till the attended John Duffs funeral as an old operator - and that's exactly what place was finished. He didn't stay with friend . happened. Before Harold could us all that long as he again transferred , I worked for Ted Wickett when he release the trigger there were dimples this time to the Canadian Navy; which was a Commander and then a Captain all over the place . He chortled and was interesting as shortly after lots of a couple of times and always said , "Oh well , I suppose you'll have to Canadians came out here (ask Bob appreciated his rare quality of not put a sign alongside stating that this Slipstrea m - July 19 94 - Page 14 section was done by Kent, eh? " "No few people wo uld rememb er that Spe cial Duties Officers were not much sir", replied Ron, "I'm going to remove Harold was the founding AEO at use by frequently saying in a loud voice the whole panel , start the job again Nirimba when it metamo rphosed from to all who could hear that "you can 't and do it properly'' . As far as I know , a RANAS to a RANA TE in 1956. If you make a silk purse out of a saw's ear". Ron never ever got another smile off look on p. 78 of the Flight of the Pelican In th e pie on p.6 , only Carrington , Harold again ! you 'll see him sitting 5th from the right Wickett , Lovell and Coward were Harold built some flats in XXXXX in the second (seated) row . General List! Notwithstanding, I think Street (I think they're still there) and did As I recall , Gordon Foale never history has shown that with perhaps a his own plumbing . I had topped my made LEUT; he was a bit of a 'wild lad' couple of exceptions the officers in that Mech's course (no.7) with the famous and I think ii was generally agreed that pie served the FAA with great pipe-bender test so Harold came his future lay somewhere else . I last distinction through its golden years . (I around to my plac.e and asked if he heard of him in South Aus tralia. unders tand that nowadays there are could borrow it since "as you topped Finally , I was amused (and no 'lists ' - if you're an officer, then that's the class I guess yours would be the surprised) , to see Val Henshaw on the wha t you are) . best" . It worked well too, so well that back page of the issue . Not too many Keep up the good work; I look he wanted to keep it and it was ages will remember Val and he wo uld foiward to each issue. before I got it back; I had to badger him probably be choking on his wheaties to With kind regards, for it. I've still got the thing and I see the pie on p.6 . Val was very much Ron Robb actually still occasionally use it! Very a 'General List' AEO and opined that LCDR RAN (Rtd)

Dear Ed, After reading a back copy of Slipstream {January '93) , the Queensland Division News section made mention of 'Gunnedah', a galah owned by the CO of 805 Squadron . When I spent some time on 805 in early 1957 , Gill Campbell , who had the nickname of 'Fair go', was the squadron CO. Some time prior to my joining the squadron , the people of Gunnedah , a town in western NSW, wanted an Air Display . They asked the RAAF , who agreed with the proposal , and then as an afterthought they also asked the Navy. On the allotted day , 805 Squadron was dispatched to carry out their part of the arrangements , the RAAF never turned up. Got lost! Couldn't find the place! So ... the Navy gave a great display and saved the day. The grateful citizens of Gunnedah gave the squadron a galah as a token of appreciation . By the time I reached the squadron the sailors had taught it to say, 'Fair go, Gill !'. I spent weeks trying to get him to add, 'You old ...... ', but to no avail. Not that we had anything against Gill, he was liked as the CO, it was just to try and 'rev' him up a bit. Whilst on the squadron we seemed to have quite a few parties . One night in Berry we were at a place that had a large fireplace , somehow there was one female in our midst who delighted in insisting that we sing 'I'll take you home again Kathleen', I don 't know if anyone did walk her home or what happened. Dick Coates and I were talking to one squadron pilot when he sudden ly buckled at the knees , Dick and I grabbed an arm apiece and heaved him into an upright position, unfortunately he was only a small bloke and he nearly bounced off the ceiling . When he regained his composure we asked him what he was doing the next morning (should I say THAT morning?) , he said that he was scheduled for pre-dawn touch and goes . l don't know if he ever did , but if he reads this he might like to clear up the question : but then again , he might not! Cheers , Roger R.

1957 - 805 Squadron - 'Gunnedah ' in his travelling cage sits in front of the CO , LtCdr 'Gill ' Campbell . Slipstr eam - July 1994 - Page 15

Dear Ed, in a carrier a special experience. rubber pillows , working with the RN I'm forwarding two writings Also by Bob Cocks is a short Officers on loan with their affected which you might find useful for your reminiscence of a typical dawn launch wardroom accents and mannerisms 'DIT' featu re. I'm still laughing at the of Sea Furies in the Med, printed in an seeing the Mermaid in Copenhage~ masterful telling of the outraged earlier issue of SAMF NEWS . and the truly inspiring sunsets in the Ad miral's story in your January '93 The first phase of our long-awaited Caribbean , helpless to assist a friend issue. museum is finally underway. We'll sea-sick for days because there was The enclosed Sea Fury 'dit' is keep you advised on its progress . no relief from the heavy seas, the based on a true event passed along to While we were asleep on watch for atmosphere of the night before me by our retired Commodore Bob nearly 40 years , most of the artifacts entering home harbour , the world of Cocks, an old Fury pilot with a sharp we 'd now kill for just slipped through Naval slang that no one else could recollection of Sea Fury days in our our fingers , never to be seen again . decipher , the morning ritual "that by light fleet carrier, Magnificent. Talk about learning the hard way . the Grace of God and the kind The other enclosure may not Best wishes , permission of the Admiral , the sun will strictly qualify as a 'dit', but it was Tom Copeland - Editor SAMF NEWS now rise" , watching COD aircraft arrive written a few years ago by one of our The Shearwater Aviation Museum with the mail and news from home Air Branch techs and touches on the Foundat ion sailing the Bermuda Triangle long many 'things' that made squadron life Dartmouth - Nova Scotia before you knew there was something 'mysterious' out there . Who can forget the cosmopolitan yet beehive life at sea , the mass of bodies with a strange sense of ffl I t>ownlo11ncll by Bob Cocks I orderliness , the high standard of personal and ship cleanliness , the Recalling his carrier days, Bob circles , asking for even more power . plumber 's by-pass drain to redirect Cocks reflects upon the images the And the pilot grunting to himself that excess rum back into a container new SAM will help preserve: there is no extra power left and why rather than over the side , going into can't the Launch Officer hear that. The new areas of the ship to see other trades at work , the constant put-ons ' Can we not all remember the Sea wan d drops ..... GO! Release the Furies ready to launch at dawn. The brakes , up comes the tail , between Airedales and Fishheads , the flight deck crews lying close against condensation streaming from the fortune in jokes if you had documented the undercarriage s, inches away from propeller tips . Airborne at the bow , the then all and sold then to any prominent comedian , dealing with God's gift to the prop arcs, their shadowy hands dawn just breaking. A quick turn to the Navy , the Sub-Lieutenant , and the gripping the wheel chocks , the clear the sky of slipstream for the next standing joke that every NCO should propwash tearing at their coveralls . aircraft winding up to full power on the Engine exhausts rosy in the still-dark deck behind . Lift the landing gear , up be issued with one , the hilarious entertainment nights that produced morning , perimeter lamps spilling flaps , set the climbing speed and make surprising talent , the initiation of first pools of soft white light on the grey for 20 ,000 feet. Seven other Furies crossing the Arctic Circle or the steel flight deck . The ship heeling climbing fast behind . The wind out of Equator. slightly as the bows search out the Tripoli , the sun rising over Cyprus. Who can forget seeing the elusive wind . The disembodied Below is Malta , Lampadusa and Sicily . transition from hammocks to bunks , marshalling wands beckoning from the Off to the east the USS Wasp just from round to square rigs , from Naval take-off position. Taxi forward , right visible on the rim of the horizon , blue to tri-service green , attending wheel on the centreline . A quick final launching the Bearcat fighters we're take-off check , the power -on signal. going to jump as soon as they enter flight deck divisions in white whilst Throttle up, control column fully back , the airspace we've just laid claim to.' attempting to miss all the grease spots on the way , listening to the fingers clenched , all engine pointers unbelievable order "if you can hear me steady , the cockpit vibrating as the The foregoing is an extract from an raise your left hand , if you can't raise engine develops full power. The issue of the [Canadian] Naval Aviators your right hand ", tot time for those ghostly green signal wand now and Associates Newsletter published designated Grog or Temperance , the whipping around in tight , urgent by :Ted Cruddas , PO BOX 2013 , Medley, AB TOA 2MO , Canada . USN shore patrol NCO who commented he had never seen a Navy where men left the ship more drunk Reminiscencesof life 011 o corr/er than when they came on , the infallible by G.C.Hodgson argument of the Cox'n that if you helped eat it then you could help store it, the inevitable wit who yelled 'shark' "Prepare for Sea" - who can learning to watch your head and your while 100 peop le were having a forget the order which gave you shins , the infamous laundry , living in a recreational swim with only two perhaps an hour to have everything mess that had been used as a morgue , boarding ladders out , the sly dogs lashed and stowed so as to be practising the Naval shower to because your mess was referred to as seaworthy , the long hours of shift work conserve fresh water, the conditioned the House of Lords routines, the never-ending noise of reflex action of bracing yourself while Who can forget the futility of ever ventilation fans , the smell of oil , the shaving that lasted long after you were finding a place to be by yourself, sweat of 100°F plus temperatures in back home , the whine and bang of earning 50¢ from the ship's fund for tropical waters (the free southern arrested landings overhead, listening every rat you killed, the good natured cruises that your children believed to juicy stories intentionally told at the kidding with the 'boys from the better were given to all Naval persons) , the meal table to see who would get sick , homes' whose designation OBS could permanent scars accumulated while gaining an acquired hatred of foam easily get twisted around , your respect Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 16 for the engineers who worked in the very depths of the ship and saw nothing of the action but could always S#IU/11'Jack ii n,l!llflllg! by Bob Cocks 1~1 be. recognised by their dirty finger­ ~ nails, the worst seat in the house for the ultimate offender - cells in the Years hence, aviation historians comes alive. ship's bow . may well ponder the mysterious From here on it's total Who can forget the drama of flight ragged holes commonly found in the concentration all the way to deck operations , the launches and h~avy gauge canvas of old navy touchdown . Watch the airspeed , check recoveries , men working within inches aircrew seat cushions. The following lineup . Increase bank . Too much of whirling blades or hot exhausts, the tale, changed slightly to protect the rudder ..... skidding. Getting low . Add deafening noise that gave no quarter guilty, may provide a clue. power . Bring up the nose. No for inattention to your surroundings , Put yourself in the #4 slot of a Sea response . ~heck speed! Closing fast, working during total blackouts while Fury formation circling above the ?Ver the ship's wake , minimum play left under darken ship, your first flight by carrier . You're tucked in so tight you rn the controls . A split-second to go for catapult launch and arrested landing can count the fine lines of engine oil a cut or a .... WAVE OFF !! that no words could truly describe , the streaking along the next plane's belly. Suddenly the LSO's paddles break gut wrenching feeling of watching an The _sun beats through the canopy into a wild criss-cross signal. You aircraft go into the sea or crash on causing beads of sweat to form under apply full power , fight the torque trying deck, watching the Angel crew trying to your helmet. Breaking loose , they burn to r?II you inverted , and lift the gear. A lower their best time , seeing first hand you eyes, and roll down your face and furtive glance at the receding flight the Russian intimidation tactic of neck to saturate the flying suit. deck reveals the aircraft handlers pointing missiles at you , the mobile On the ship below , final struggling with the first crash barrier crane that went over the side and was preparations to recover your flight are which has #3's propeller firmly snarled jokingly expected to show up off nearly complete . Suddenly the in its coils . Your seat pack now comes Chebucto Head on its way home , the earphones crackle "Charlie", the signal under its first pucker attack . dolphins which could go under the ship from the carrier to land . The leader So you climb back above the from side to side faster than you could beg~ns a steep descending tum , and carrier to wait while the wreckage is cross .the deck , watching refuelling motions the flight to check fuel , drop cleared away. You've nothing to do for alongside , and never the opportunity to the tail hooks , and change formation . the next twenty minutes but watch the try a jackstay transfer . Your flight rolls out of the descent sun sink lower on the horizon and the Who can forget the unique astern the ship at 150 feet above the fuel gauge move inexorably towards responsib ility of being senior NCO in water and flies up the starboard side empty. You wonde r if your good buddy charge of a well-trained , well­ with wingtips nearly touching . The got mashed . This is when you actually motivated men working under ship 's boiling white wake is sharply become aware that the seat pack is appalling conditions , mechanics who visible against the blue-green sea . nibbling at your backside . Wait a were tremendous complainers but A quick glance at the flight deck · minute . It's the other way round ! never quitters , co-ordinated It's heaving as usual. The heavy black . But , nothing serious yet ; just a teamworkers who gave their best cables of the crash barriers, stretched slight fraying of the jockey shorts - and when the chips were down and ·gave acr?ss the landing area , focus your Smilin' Jack's smile . you heartburn with their off-duty antics , brain on what awaits the unlucky. You The deck is finally cleared. You the man given compassionate leave smile smugly under your oxygen mask repeat the approach sequence and for a death in his family until you found at the envious mortals below , whose find yourself just over the wake on out it was the family dog, the men who r~ward . for operating that floating final. But this time, the wind has shifted nicknamed their children after cruises a1rf1eld 1s to observe your superior and the carrier is pointing directly into such as Med 1, Med 2, and so on, the airmanship. !he sun. '.he flight deck disappea rs new man in the group initiated by the Leader makes an obscene finger mto a blinding ball of solar fire. task of obtaining a bottle of magneto gesture , then breaks away sharply to Where 's the LSO? Where's the landing drops or five gallons of prop wash , the left heading downwind. At 1 o - area. You hear the CUT signal in the using the roll of the ship to move second intervals , #2 breaks , #3 , and earphones but can' see anything . aircraft , hearing the shout FIRE! - the then you. Off throttle, dump the landing Chop the power , force the tail hook most dreaded word on a carrier. gear, start the flaps down , and level downward into the arrester wires . The Most of all, realising you had survived out on the downwind leg . Piece of instant your hands move you know it's the disciplined life of preunification cake. Just like Smilin' Jack . all wrong! No hook engagement , just Navy because you knew nothing else Roll back the canopy . A rush of FLOATING and SILENCE .... Chrriisstt ! realising that you saw snottys develop sweet , fresh air sweeps the cockpit. Slam on the power and ...... whew ! into the generals and admirals of Get the speed back up to 87 knots (she They drop the crash barrier just as you today , that you could hold your head stalls at 82) . Nose getting heavy, stagger back into the sky. What the high with pride of accomplishment in compensate with trim . Ship coming up hell caused that sudden kick to compar ison to any navies , that they on the left wingtip , begin the final tum- starboard? And what's causing the were Pongos and Crabfats but you in. A quick eyeball shows the first two seat pack to fiNitch? were Navy, and it was all worthwhile aircraft are safely on board, #3 almost The radio comes alive and answers when your Squadron Commanding there . both questions . "Red Four , you clipped Officer came to meet you on the flight Nose getting heavier still , controls the barrier with your right wheel. It's a deck and said "Thank you , Chief - we sl.oppy , ease down a bit. Landing goner. Try to retract the other wheel couldn't have done it without you and Signals Officer in sight, a gnat with a and low pass the ship so we can your crew !" red signal flag in each hand. He signals eyeball the damage , over''. It's all gone now but you still have the that you're too high so you squeeze off The jockey shorts give way . Now photos , the souvenirs and the some of the power, ease down a bit the flight suit begins shrinking as if memories . *** more . Unnoticed , the pucker factor drawn in tightly somewhere between Slipsh·eam - July 19 94 - Page 1 7 the buns. Smiling ' Jack is sweating. Everything 's a wipeout. You tense up sweat , you lie. You say not a word "Red Four, your left whee l is tucked like a coiled spring waitin g for ...... a more lest the troops detect a note of up clean and the tail hook looks OK. sudden tug , a wire! YES! The hook terror in your voice . The damn seat Your choice , ditch or come aboard on has snagged a greasy, ugly, beautiful pack keeps twitching . Sure hope these your belly". Then he adds the arresting wire ! guys don't notice . comforting observation that, " ...... either Whoomph l Crunch ! goes the 5 You walk somewhat shakily into the way , the plane's a wr ite-off ". - ton fuselage . Chop ! Chop ! Chop! island passageway , expecting at least A dry flight deck seems preferable goes the prop as it flails against the a friendly word for pulling off a high­ to a thousand fathoms so , for the third steel deck. Then - dead silence . pressure bit of entertainment for what time today, you aga in find yourself Fumes from broken fuel lines hit you seems like most of the ship's approaching that boiling wake on final. like a dose of smelling salts. Your eyes company , mysteriously gathered in the Suddenly, you remembe r .... FUEL! snap open . The mangled prop is Goofe rs and every other space How much left? I forgot to switch the motionless . The engine is twisted available on the island . goddamn FUEL TANKS ! about 20 degrees off its centreline . In Instead , your CO points an It's too late now . There's no time a half-daze you unfreeze and force on accus ing finger at you and says, even for a glance . Concentrate on the a manly expression , just as one of the "Commander Air wants a wor d with action ahead , the carr ier fast crash crew reaches into the cockpit to you , old son , and he's really pissed disappearing into that great ball of unhook your oxygen mask. off!" orange . CUT ! Chop the throttle . "You OK , Sir?" . Yeah , yeah , no Twitch!

TRUTH IN ADVERTI SING (Spotted in the SM Herald)

The Standard , a Nairobi newsp aper, recently reported on a new beer SWAMP\'' S TRIVIA CORNER produced by Kenya Breweries , the article read in part : Naval Aviation Firsts, Achievements and Trivia ' .... He said that Kenbrew , whic h had by Ron Marsh been researched for in a two -year project , was brewed with the consumer 's welfare in min d since it * The first German aircraft shot down by British aircraft in WW II, was a contained 30 per cent more alcoho l Dornier Do18 downed by Skuas from HMS Ark Royal . (26 September 1939) than other brands and thus has more * Lt. Edward 'Butch' O'Hare, after whom Chicago 's airport wa s named, was power to knock off a consum er at less the first USN pilot to destroy five enemy aircraft. He single handedly attacked cost'. nine Japanese bombers , destroying five and damaging six. (20 February 1942) * The first naval pilot to land successf ully on wat er in an aircraft was Lt. Arthur Woman's Lib! Longmore RN, an Australian . With the formation of the RAF late in WW I, he transferred over , eventually attainin g the rank of Air Vice Mars hall. (1 A newly married young coupl e December 1911) were in their honeymoon suite on their * The first Amer ican in space was Comma nder Alan Shepard , USN. (5 May wedding night. As they undresse d for 1961) bed, the husband , a big burly stoker, * The first American in space orbit was also a naval aviator, LtCol. John tossed his pants to his bride and said, Glenn , USMC. (20 February 1962) "Here, put these on". She put them * Former US Presiden t , Geo rge Bush, at one stage in WW 11, was the on and found that the waist was twice youngest operational pilot in the US Navy, receiving his wings before his 19th the size of her body , "I can't wear birthday. He was shot dow n near an island off lwo Jim a, his two crew your pants! ", she said . "Too right ", members being killed. A Japanese boat , putting out from shore to capture him, said the stoker , "and don't you forget was stranded on a sand bank or reef. He was eventually rescued by a USN it. I'm the man in this family and I wear submarine. the pants !". On hearing that comm ent , * The third highes t Russian ace of WW I was naval pilot LtCdr. Alexander De she slipped off her underpants, Seversky (13 victo ries). He had lost his right leg earlier in an aircraft crash. tossed them towards him and said, Later, in the USA, he founded the aircraft manufacturi ng company Republic "Try these on ". He complied , but Aviation , manufacture r of P47 Thunderb olts of WW II fame . could only get them on as far as his * Australian , Arthur Longmore , was the first Commandi ng Officer of No.1 kneecaps . "Hell", he said, "I can't get Squadron RNAS. In June 1917, another Australian , Roderick Dallas , a leading into your pants!" . "That' s right", she ace, assumed comman d. said , "and that's the way it's going to * The first Commanding Office r of 805 Squadron after it became an RAN unit be until your attitude changes". in 1948, was LtCdr. P. E. I. Bailey RN. On 8 June 1944, when he was CO of 886 Squadron (Seafires), he was shot LIFE'S LIKE THAT down by 'friendly fire' whil st flying over the Normandy beaches . After bailing The golfing Commodore was having a out, he landed on an A llied beach , setting off a land-mine . He suffered only a haircut when the barber asked , "What sprained ankle. caused all those scars on your nose?" * Austral ia's highes t and second highest scoring pilots were both naval The Comm odore said that it was aviators in the RNAS during WW I. Robert Little with 47 victories and Roderick caused by glasses . Dallas with 39 victories . As Dallas did not always make official claims, there "Why don't you wear contact lenses are some sources wh ich list his total as over fifty. then?", asked the barber . * Rock Hudson, was an Aircraft Handler in the USN before Hollywood and "They don't hold enough beer'', was fame . [It's a pity he didn't stic k to pushing aircraft.Ed .) the reply. Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 18

the Chief gives it an extra hard tug ...... pilot yells, "NOT ME! Hands on cockpit the tin flies out of his hand heading for windshield!". I ~~ SPIN us A DIT I the roof , detonators hurtling The breech block which had been everywhere (don't forget , I had held back by a link and subsequently nowhere to go!) , as if in slow motion removed by me , had moved forward - THE BOMB DUMP - the detonators bounced off the steel firing a round. The Chief was a bit Did you ever hear the story of tank and the concrete floor - bodies green around the gills , but not a word "Billy' , the bomb dump goat, who running everywhere trying to climb the from him. took a swig out of the 'Goffer' [soft bomb proof walls - then SILENCE!. I * RogerR. drink ] machine and then had to be heard myself say, "Bugger me! They PS: I promised to get Cec some Opal at one rushed to the Sick Bay on a bomb didn't go off!" . The mob creeps back, time, if he contacts me I will get some for him. R trolley. 'Billy' thdn proceeded to the Chief is as white as a sheet - not a queue jump over about thirty sailors word said about the incident. who we re in the Sick Bay waiting I remember that we all put in for a -MAKE IT SO- Primus stove and saucepans etc. for room. It was almost 0800 at HMAS the crew room so that we could cook Albatross, one day in 1957 ..... some food . In the wet weather we Picture this , the Colour Guard at collected mushrooms and we had the Quarterdeck , all in position and rabbit traps and a veggie patch (sludge waiting . from the sewage farm). The regrowth The 000 in attendance , between the airfield and the bomb Quartermaster in position attended by dump meant that we couldn't be seen the Bosun's Mate , Bugler ready to from the control tower - so life was blow. All dressed in their finery - Guard good at the bomb dump . with rifles at the slope ... June leave period 1954: One of the QM: "One minute to eight o'clock , Ordnance Officers, Mr. Stone , had Sir'' retired to a pineapple farm at OOD : "Sound the still". Palmwood , Queensland, a place about QM: Pheeeeep 15 miles away from Caloundra where I QM: "Eight o'clock , Sir''. lived. Cec Cooper , my Air Gunner boss 000: "Make it so". (Eight Bells) of the bomb dump , had been invited to QM: Ding-Ding spend his leave with Mr. Stone ; as he Ding-Ding knew I was from the area he asked me Ding-Ding about Palmwood , so I told him how Ding-Ding beautiful the weather was etc. It rained Ding-Ding ALL his leave . Ten bells and he didn't blink an Back at the bomb dump , John eyelid! BOMB DUMP CREW Macgillicutty is giving Cec's 'Morris' an 000: Calls the QM a terr ible oil and grease whilst yours truly is L-R: Bill Blain - Jack Herbert - 'Billy' - name and then ever so quietly casts a making a brew. Although it was an Kev Raddatz Photo KR slur on the poor lads' parentage . overcast , cold and drizzly day, Cec is The Colour Guard goes through the I remember as a young Armourer leaning on the verandah post. "Gee , being 'banished ' to the bomb dump drill and marches away, the Bugler sir'', I said to Cec, "all this rain makes having 'bugled' goes with them . Every and working in the Rocket Motor me feel homesick" . Cec looks me in Magazine with a few hundred motors one in sight of the Quarterdeck carries the eye and said , "Raddatz , it's a good on with their duties with the 'Carry-on' stored there , together with three steel job that you are on draft or you and I tanks containing Instant Detonators for piped. wouldn't see eye to eye in ftiture!" . On returning to the guardhouse , 1Olb practice bombs . The job was to I ended up on the Vengeance with get the detonators for the bombs , so the 000 summons the QM to his 'Blue' Harrison and 'Budgie' Viles . office to face the charge - whatever he the Chief and I opened one of the tanks Whilst on one of the squadrons at and commenced opening tins of could think of for the event of ten bells a later date , a Sea Fury returned after instead of eight. detonators . The tins had a soldered 20mm air to ground firing, taxied to the metal sealing strip around them which The QM in his defence said that he hard standing facing the bomb dump. had very truthfully lost count and had to be removed with a pair of pliers . The engine stops and the canopy We had been told on our initial trade thought he still had a couple of 'dings' slides back and the pilot shouts to the to go, he was very sorry, must have course that the detonators could not be Chief "I think the Starboard outer touched by hand as the body heat been dreaming! stopp~d firing half-way through" . The The 000 being a 'good hand' could set them off. Very touchy things Chief then told me to get on the wing, that had to be handled with Phosphor­ decided on leniency for the smart , well remove the panel and have a look. turned out QM, plus the fact that the Bronze pincers . So here I am, standing Armed with a trusty GS screwdriver I flat-footed between !wo tanks, one senior officers hadn't picked up on the removed the panel and found the bay error (maybe they couldn't count open , one shut , and the wall behind full of links . I don't do anything. The me while the Chief is standing at the either) . Dismissed, the smiling QM Chief yells, "Get rid of them!" In the went on with his gate duties and cor~er of the open tank, and the back of my mind a little voice tells me remainder of the mob are in the clear guardhouse worries , confident in the - NO, but after having one 'slack in knowledge that his six year stint was space. carrying out a direct order' charge, I The Chief starts to 'unzip' one of almost over and his DEE had been on comply with the instruction. the notice board for some time . the tins, everything goes well until a Now the Chief is standing with his 'tough spot' in the solder is Footnote : The 000 was a well respected ear about six inches away from the gun pilot of 724 Squadron, who eventually went encountered . To resolve this problem, nozzle facing me ..... BANG!!! ...... The on to much higher rank. * Jake Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 19

THE DHlINKEN 111Looking like a REAL sailor! 111 DRIVER by 'Spokeshave' In 1958, we were en route to the DLC and Duty Chief who were clearing A drunken spree was raging at the little Far East , to Pearl Harbour and home the mess decks, happened to spot me. .vaysidepub , again aboard HMAS Melbourne. When the Chief saw the new art work Unmindful of the poliCEHTian'scar , parked I was Leading Hand of 2 on my backside, he said, "You are the November Mess and had a terrific one the C of E Chaplain wants to see" . quietlyin the scrub. bunch of messmates . 'Dad ' Bruce , After getting dressed and There was singing, there was yelling, with a 'Shoe' Cannon , and George O'Hagen mustering on the Flight Dec k, I went fight or two as well, were the other keflicks ,n the mess , a along to the Chaplain's cabin . I have As the lads were celebratingin the bar of the lot of other names escape me , but never felt so sorry as I did when I Torn Elder, Bruce Coles , Ray Crisp , walked into the cabin and saw him with hotel. Len Crompton, Ken Damm , 'Buncha ' the tattoos on his legs . Eric said , "I The police waited quietly, as dosing time Keys , Lindsay McDonald , Ross have been before the Skipper and I drew near , have to see the Admiral after scran!". McVea , Mick Hourighan , 'Lofty' Byass , And they made a quick inspection, of their and 'Nobby' Clark were just a few of My God, what a mess! I believe breathalysinggear . this great team. Eric was given a 'Bishop's Report' and Anyhow , the C of E Padre , told that he could never wear shorts or They murmured to ead1 other as they kept Chaplain Kyte, used to visit our mess short sleeved shirts on the ship again. the p.Jb in sight, deck quite often for a laugh and a joke I returned to the Flight Deck and " We'll make the good old police force pay its with us. On this particular night there was tol d that my presence was way tonight''. had been a Wardroom Dinner , or a requ ired on the bridge. After being party on the Flight Deck, and Eric Kyte ushered into Flyc o's Office I was Then just as it came closing time, a man had partaken of quite a few 'toasts' , quest ioned , and when I had told my staggered from the bar, because when he met up with us in the story a senior officer remarked , "Do And weaved a most unsteady course, China Fleet Club he was quite happy . you know your mission when we get to tcmards his motor car. After a few more beers , he said to a Japan? ", when I shook my head , he red headed stoker off HMS Bulwark replied ," You are to see if you can get Theywatdled him open up the car, and dimb (who was twice his size) , "You are a the RC Padre done as well" . behindthe 'Nheel, loud mouth , and if you don't stop Considering that the RC Padre at the Then his tyres massaged the bitumen, with a time wa s Father Lake , I replied , annoying us (waving his hand to most ungodlysqueal . include the eight of us around the "You've got to be joking , he can whip He flew off madly down the road, as the cops table) WE will throw you out! ". me any day ...... unless he got mighty Well , the stoker was livid and drunk beforehand!". moved in behind. started to reach out for Eric's throat! Now Father Lake , Chaplain Kyte And the policeman murmured to his mate, and the Met. Commander were always Quickly I said to Eric , "Come on , I'm 'This bloke'sreally blind''. heading off to get a tattoo , do you want seen walking the Flight Deck together , to come?" Really , I only said this to get and always trying to outdo each other They let him drive a mile or t\No, then moved him out of a blue , but he agreed and in lots of ways . in on their mark, we made a quick exit and headed off to After leaving Japan , I was And quicklyforced him off the road and made Ho Gees . We had a few more beers inspecting various sentries on Duty him disembark. along the way, and despite being Watch when Father Lake approached They made him blONinto the bag before he'd accosted by the 'Wanchai Widows' , me and said , '"We ed', you're the one eventually arrived at the tattoo parlour . who got Eric Kyte tatt ooed ". I replied, "I time to blink, As I was having two blood shot really don't remem ber much about it". But somehow the breathalysershowed no eyes tattooed on my rear end , I heard His reply was one that I can recall to sign of drink, Eric say, "Does it hurt very much? " this day, he said," Had I known you So they put him through again, with still no When the answer was given in the were both going to do this , I would negative he decided to have one have come ashore with you and had an sign of beer, himself, but only in a non- visible area . Atomic Submarine tattooed on my Then one cop asked him sternly, "\/\/hat's We decided that the leg would be a back , and a three -masted Schooner goin' on 'ere?'. done on my chest just to beat him!" . good place , so he had a kangaroo and Twas then they noticed that the bloke was a couple of flags inked in. On I am not certain of Eric 's completion , he checked the result in a whereabouts ; but if this story reaches sober as a Tur1<, mirror and we decided that he looked a him , I want to say that although this And the man said , 'Well~ ought to koo,,v , I bit lop-sided , so to even things up he was a talking piece for a long time and never drink at work''. created ma ny laughs, I would like to had an anchor done on the other leg. ''You're at work!", the copper snorted, ''why it's When this was done , I suggested that offer him my apologies and say how o'clock,mate!!" , he have a little anchor done on his arm sorry I am if I was to blame for ruining after ten and 'really look like a sailor' ! his Padre's career. ''V\ihatsort of work do ~ do, that keeps ~ 'Wakey' , 'wakey' in the morning ; I I often wonder if this is where the up so late?'. term 'Sin Bosun' originated . couldn't remember too much and I 'Well I'm the p.Jbdea:J'/ ', he said, "I keep the couldn't even sit up because the blood * A.J . 'Weed ' Smith policeat bay", from the tattoos had soaked through Ed, this is a true story, and when / look back my 6's trousers . I had to tear down to it is not one that I am particularly proud of, ''V\ihileall those fellas in the bar have time to the showers to soak my pants off . but as you told me, anything that happened drive away". is part of our history. Thanking you, 'Weed'. Whilst engaged in this pursuit , the Duty Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 20

members; doubt Canberra will be its usual chilly NEWS FROM­ NSW ; Stan Brown, Keith Taylor , self for this time of the year. Michael Knight , Charles Fischer , As usual during the winter THE Dennis Mulvihill, Arthur Wright, Doug months , very little seems to be DIVISIONS Eastgate , Robert Morgan, Jack happening . Our last arranged function Goddard , Gordon Ellis , Clive Cotter , was on Anzac Day and that was NATIONAL SECRETARY'S Robert Crimmins , Lynton Ferguson , enjoyed by about 40 members and George Cottam , Edward Wilson , John wives at HMAS Harman Function REPORT Selby , David Robertson , William Centre following the March . The March At long last, the National List of Lovell , Malcolm Barratt , Graham itself was well attended on a beautiful Members has been forwarded to Stevens , Raymond Merritt , Donald autumn day. However , there must be each Division Secretary. McLaren , Peter Churchill , Ronald many more ex and serving Fleet Air The list only shows each members Sunderland , Richard Humbley , Jack Arm personnel in this region who could Name, National Membership Number , Pritchard , David Farthing , Paul swell our numbers and who would be Town/Suburb in which they live, with Gaynor , A.J . (Nat) Gould , David made most welcome . State , and Post Code . It seems an Collingr idge , Lillian Sara , Andrew Although this Division has a eternity since I commenced putting it Robertson , Mike Killingworth, Adrian preponderance of ex officers in its together , in the end I cut off at the 24th Howells , Gerald York , Gordon Moon , membership , about 30% are ex­ May last. Otherwise it would never Dona ld Gunn, Geoff rey King , Jeffrey sailors . We would stress that the have been completed , for each day Dalgliesh , W .Staff Lowe , Reginald Assoc iation is an all ranks organisat ion seemed to bring more changes . Torrington , John R.Green , Chris and all members of this Division would Remember if you wish to get in Johnson , Chris Finch, A. Pring­ welcome a surge of membership from touch with an old shipmate whose Shambler , Phillip Rowe , Gordon those who served in the Fleet Air Arm name appears on the list , I will happily Turner , John Williams, Fred Randall, in any capacity. No matter what rank forward a letter. Recently John Desmond Miller , Anthony Horton , was held while serving , each and "Ichabod" Purcell who now resides on Richard Holmes , Guy Cooper , Anne everyone had a vital part to play in the outskirts of Detroit in the US made Buchanan , and Leslie Anderson . getting our planes airborne and home contact with Brian "The Frenchman" ACT ; C.R.J.Coles , P.F.McNay , safely once again. Parrotte in this manner. Their first J .E.Parsons , D.J.Ramsay , and While on that point , we welcome contact in about thirty years . Associate J.M. McNay . the following to our Division since the The mailing of the last issue by VIC ; Ian Wilson , Ron Andrews , last edition of Slipstream . David Print Post went off fairly well , the task Bruce Smith , Albert Riley , and Ramsay has transferred from NSW of placing flyers and journal in Associates Gloria Fleming and Joan following our President , Geoff Ledger. envelopes then bundling into Post Nicholas. Peter Schilling former Albatross Code order proved to be very time Qld ; Col Champ , John Buchanan , Sickbayman (Av Med) and later consuming. The man hours were Kevin Mackay , Errol Shelly , Michael Wardmaster has also joined our ranks. about 60 for the task , which will be cut Mack, Roy Studdert , Warren Hull , We also welcome Rod Coles , George this time out. Thankfully only about four Arthur Rowe , Fred Clark , Cyril Carey , Spence and Jim Parsons as well as an copies were returned and two of those Eugene Gangloff , Cedric Allen , Peter old stalwart in Peter McNay and his were finger trouble on my behalf , the McDonald , Ron Hobba , Tom Carroll , wife Judy who has joined as an others were people who had moved Des Malcomson , Ray Robertson , Associate Member . Peter and Judy with no forwarding address . As a Arthur Thompson , Mark Wilson , and came along to our Anzac Day function matter of interest the average cost of Don Kennedy . and it was great to see them again . mailing each copy of Slipstream is 56 SA ; Tom Drummond , Tom Turner, Some of the old and bold will cents . It is still most important that any Rod Venning , Fred Olinga , Tom remember that Peter shot down a change of address be notified to your Townsend , and Gordon McPhee . wayward and pilotless Auster off Division Secretary , who will advise me TAS ; Barry Bromfield . Sydney Heads in the early fifties much of the change . WA ; N.G.Barrett , S.W .Belger , to the chagrin of our brethren in lighter Dant forget the first line of the J .R.Brown , F.T.Budd , R.Colless , blue who were not quite up to the task. mailing label on Slipstream shows your S./•,.Corboy , AT .Fish , W .P.James, Last, but not least , welcome back E.Jenkins , J .Kroeger , D.Orr , to Keith Eames from his stint in the - Financial Status/Membership Category and National Membership Number i.e . B.H.Poole, N.D .M.Roberts , P.Smith , west. 94F N1236 . The financial status is D.R.Stonehouse , F.Woodward , and Our Social Secret ary, Daphne provided to me by your Division 8 .Worthington . Clarke has been canvassing several Secretary , if it shows 93 then you are Not a bad effort for 3 months , venues for future social functions but unfinancial ! ! ! keep it up, till next time . has not been able to firm up on any of The numbers of people who have * Ian Ferguson - Hon. Nat. Secretary. these yet. As you can guess , outdoor transferred from the now disbanded functions don 't get a great deal of Officers Association has been terrific , AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL support during winter in Canberra . only about 30 have not made a move At its last meeting , our to date . The bulk of those who have TERRITORY Committee approved of a set of By­ not transferred are from the Sydney laws for this Division , which will be put area, have a volunteer to do some arm DIVISION to the next AGM for ratification . One of twisting . The balance are 4 0/S , 2 in the new By-Laws prohibits any one Greetings to all from the ACT person from holding a single office for Victoria , 4 in Queensland, 1 each in Division. Once again winter is upon South and West Australia, and 2 in more than three years at a stretch . As us although as I write this, so far, we Tasmania . a result of this , we will be looking for a have had a most pleasant autumn The following people have joined new Secretary next year so all and early winter. the Association since the last issue of members are asked to give this their "Slipstream" as transfers or new By the time this reaches you all, no full consideration and see if we can Slipstream - Ju ly 1994 - Page 21 come up wit h suitable nominat ions and num ber of World War One veterans volunteers. was down to nine on parade. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN l It was gratifying to see that one cf Brian Terry was down from our members, Tony Robinson , was Echuca , he received a message whilst DIVISION selected to attend the D-Day at the reun ion that his mother had Greetings to you all from the anniversary commemoration as one of passed away . We extend our South Australian Division. Australia 's representatives . Tony was sympathy to Brian, Geoff and family at Please note that Clem Conlan has a Midshipman on HMS Rodney during this sad occasion . finally removed his finger from the Operatio n Overlord . By the way , Bill Grant came down from States ' light switch . should anyone be visiting UK, a trip to Naroo ma, Ted Young and Bruce from Our Division's news begins with the Portsmouth to see the tapestry Gipps land , Bill Martin from Mt. Eliza , decommissioning of HMAS Encounter. exhibition of Operation Overlord is well Ralph Mayer from Eildon to name just The Australian White Ensign was worthwhile . It is sited in a special a few who travelled from afar , their lowered for the last time on Monda y pavilion on Southsea . attenda nce and company was 21st March. The decision to Letters have been sent to all apprecia ted , as with all other decommission has ended 100 years of Divisions requesting details of their members , Albert Riley, Jim Davidson, naval presence in the area . A large delegates to the Federal Council in Clem Conlan , Ron Mayger, 'Tiger' naval family attended the ceremony October . We need these details Lyons and so on. The strength of our with President John Berry, Mary urgently so that we can arrange Association is the participation of its Rayner and John Saywell representing billeted accomodation for all delegates . members in attending these events to the South Australian FAAA Division. With best wishes to all our make them successful. The last Commanding Officer of HMAS shipmates in other States , we look Our reunion was held at the Encounter was Commander Brian forward to seeing some of you at the clubrooms of the English Speaking Gorridge , who has skilfully next Federal Council meeting in Union in Toorak Road , South Yarra. demonstrated the many uses of a October . On this occasion we shared the Teflon coated jacket - nothing sticks. * Brian Treloar - Secretary fac ilities with the Submarine The Anzac Day march was well Association , including the Spit Roast attended by the regular stalwarts of the VICTORIAN lunch . A very pleasant day was had by Division . Clear skies , bright sunlight all , as always , remembering bygone and a stable 20°C made the ceremony DIVISION days with old friends. A special thank­ even more spectacular . The recently you to our Social Secretary , Bryan donated Association Flag was paraded Since the last edition of Roberts , and his wife , Jenny , for their for the first time and I was fortunate to Slipstream, quite a lot has been organ isation on the day. Well Done! have the honour of humping the flag all happening in this State. Another highlight of the day was the way down King William Street Our President , Les Jordan , has the presentation of Cerificates of without the benefit of a 'frog' . I lost undergone major surgery but , I am Service by Vice-President Frank count of the number of times that the happy to report , is now at home and Crowe to , Len Baggott , Geoff flag draped over the top of my head , making good progress on the long road Litchfield and Les Jordan. Les's award must have looked like a Monty Python to recovery . Brian Laracy was knocked being accepted by his good lady, Loris . cast-off . down by a motor vehicle and sustained Two more events on our social Because my wife Rosemary was a broken leg which required pinning , calendar , or anticipated at this stage , present for the march and Ian Laidler and as reported in the last edition , Jock the FAA Annual Dinner on 27th August wasn't, I felt obliged to stay on for the Lacy is making good progress . Our at the RAAF Mess, Dorcas Street , whole service , a simple hour and a half best wishes for a speedy recovery to Melbourne (the same venue as last wait. Those of you who rocketed away good health go out to these members year and an excellent evening) , then to the Torrens Parade Ground Bar , and all other ex-shipmates who may on Sunday 28th August the Annual missed out on cramped legs , dry throat not be well . Pilgrimage to the FAA Memorial at and sunburn to the back of the neck - Anzac Day this year was quite an HMAS Cerberus. your loss! occas ion, the weather ( for Melbourne The normal format will be A warm welcome to our newest and on this day) was excellent , this app licable to both these events , member, Mr . Fred Olinga from was definitely a big plus to start with . It Namely , BOOKINGS ARE Whyalla. I think Fred shared the early was good to see a few different faces NECESSAR Y to enable us to make '60s at HMAS Albatross. From our in the FAAA contingent of forty-eight the appropriate arrangements . Final Divisional family and the wider National members . arrangements should be available by family , we welcome you Fred, and any The Association Flag was given its the end of June, for further information other new members . first official unfurling; it was carried by contact the Victorian Division The Memorial Plaque drama is now a serving member of the RAN, Secretary on (03) 764 5542 or write to: into its third act. Here, the committee Leading Seaman Andrew Clark (son of 15 Bianca Court, Rowville, Vic. 3178 . responsible , will make a Alan 'Happy' Clark), who was proudly Congratulations also to John recommendation to the plaque holders wearing the medals he was awarded Arnold for the excellent production of on their latest proposed site . The site for service in the Gulf conflict. Slips tream , and for the regular is situated opposite the Memorial The march was co-led by Vice­ newspaper clippings he sends to the Hospital and adjacent to the Adelaide President Frank Crowe, who stood in Divis ions . Keep up the good work , University Oval. According to the for Les Jordan who was hospitalised . John! report , this site is perhaps the best do He was flanked by John Champion, Best wishes to all. of the bunch to date . It has all the Len Baggott and Geoff Litchfield. * Ron Christie - Hon. Secretary facilities requested from the plaque Although the march was shorter this holders and I believe the City Council year , it is a sad fact of life that it will be ARE YOUR SUBS PAID will accommodate any reasonable shorter still next year as the numbers suggestion regarding the layout of the become depleted. I believe that the UP TO DATE? plaques , location of the headstone and Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 22 flag pole. Act four to follow shortly. time I finish a section I stop and say, that the next lot of pain and suffering Bill Magrath has located a chap 'Yes , that's me'. So if I stray from the will be worth it. Our condolences to his called Bob Jarrett of Salisbury East story at times you will know why. poor, long suffering wife , Barbara , we who is presently restoring an old Sea The Anzac Day reunion was a all know that Lou is not the best patient Venom jet fighter. Serial No. WZ 939 great success with people turning up in the world. I do know that Saint - Call Sign 879. Most of the paint on that haven't been seen for years, and Barbara is the Patron Saint of the airframe has been removed down a lot of those paying their subs and Armourers and that Lou is one of his to the timber , and I believe the booms , getting back onto the books. chosen wings and engine have also been Congratulations to 'Pappy' Gault for his The 'you-don't-have-to-be-dead-to­ removed . Most of this work is being determination to go it alone and get all be-stift' section must surely go to Ron done in the back shed . Reports have it the Birdies together. I for one didn't 'Casino' Tate. You are all aware that that he has already restored a Gloster think that it would be a success as this we have just had a Lotto with a first Meteor Mk8 as well as a Sabre jet. So has been tried before , but I was wrong. prize of 13 million dollars , that is 13 what does he do on his rostered day A really great crowd turned up at the followed by six noughts for those off? I hear you ask. Naval Association Headquarters for a unable to visualise 13 million . Well , May 9th saw our Patron , Sir Victor good meal, and lots of it, and many old the draw took place and Ron was part Smith , add on another birthday mates got together for the first time in of a syndicate that had taken out three, celebration. Sir Victor was born in many years. Commodore Rob fifteen number tickets - and - they 1913 - Happy Birthday! Partington attended for a short period came up with five numbers and both Our President, John Berry, has between his other engagements and it supplementary numbers, seven out of begun forward planning for out next was great to have him aboard . the eight numbers required , but not the Scottish Night in September . The piper 'Pappy's' tittle band of helpers, Joe thirteen million . has been organised (John Godson - Jost , Rick Hammond, 'Snow' Hall , We send our thanks to John Arnold Ex-RAN), and he will have just enough Eddy Cook and their charming wives for keeping us all up to date with the time to lament the error of his misspent did a remarkable job. Thanks fellers .[ newspaper cuttings, they are eagerly youth by practising with his bagpipe. and fellerettes . Ed.] sought after at our meetings. Good The specially bred haggis is being We even made a profit on the day, work , John. fattened as we speak , ready for the this is really something new as we are For all those who remember Bob slaughter . Neaps and tatties as usual. normally out of pocket. I hope that this Head, ex-Handler who changed over to The Scotch Whisky is only now being is the turning point and that the Butcher , he has just been discharged drained through some old naval issue Association can go on to greater from Hollywood Hospital after socks ready for the tasting . Sword things. Treasurer , Geoff Vickridge, undergoing surgery for a foot dancing and a live band will keep the says that there is an upsurge in complaint. He will be in plaster for at feet tapping . At the end of a lovely membership , and that letters, cheques least six weeks . Bob is going to join up evening, most of those attending will and completed Application Forms are with us as soon as he can get about. sound like born again Scots with a lot still arriving . During a long chat with him , he said of bastardisation of our English Those members who have not that all was well at the hospita l since it language . This has nothing to do with received their badges , all is not lost. had been taken over by the Ramsay the whisky - or so I'm led to beliE1ve. The National Secretary has just sent Health Group , he was well looked after Navy Week here will see HMA us a new supply and they will be sent and had the highest praise for the new Ships Torrens , Swan and Melbourne out in due course, that is when Geoff owners . So , all you card holders out (the other one) in Port Adelaide . The has returned from Canberra where he there should have no worries about activities are pretty much the same as is doing some 'rocky' time and also your treatment at Hollywood , not that last year so keep an eye out for a attending the Melbourne/Evans I'm hoping you will require treatment. function or two that would interest you. memorial service and reunion. It was with great sorrow that we Mary Rayner has ear-marked the A couple of weeks ago I headed up learned of the death of Mrs Bill Dunlop 24th June for the tour of the submarine north to Kathleen to go fishing, you will from cancer . In your hour of grief our complex at Gilman . A late afternoon be pleased to note that I did not drop thoughts go out to you and your family, visit gives the workers a chance to get any of the gear over the side or lose Bill. Please call on us if we can be of off home out of our way . the boat on the tide . I actually caught ass istance to you . As you can see we keep this small some fish, so it shows that I have We are looking forward to the visit Division on the boil as are the other improved a little; although I did lose a of Dick Prentice in July, and Dick, we State Divisions , which is the way it rod and reel over the side when it was have fixed up a bed for you in Perth should be. taken by a fish whilst the rod was during your travels . So, until our next contribution to laying unattended in the bottom of the It has been decided that Ron Tate Slipstream, we wish you all good boat. The equipment was only worth and I will travel east again to attend the health and good cheer . around four hundred dollars , not bad conference in Canberra and we look Regards for a days fishing . forward to seeing all the other * Roger Hamson - Hon. Whipping Boy The news about member Bob delegates again - look out those Pattenden, is that he is starting to pick 'pokies' in Canberra! WESTERN AUSTRALIAN up after his kidney removal. He is Well , time is ticking by for the looking a lot better but is still quite sore deadline so will close this note to get it DIVISION and should be taking it a bit easier. Lou to John in time. If you can't follow this, Burns has hobbled to our meetings its just CRAFT catching up with me. Hi, Shipmates! It's that time again and the Anzac Day bash, but has to go Best wishes to all in the east from and I am always behind with the back to hospital and have more the boys in the west. We didn't all get news from WA. surgery on his knee . The doctor has blown away in the storms and there is I have just been reading a book put found that there is a problem with his still quite a lot left. 'Hope you all get out by Veteran 's Affairs on the subject recent reconstruction, so Lou will be more than five numbers in the Lotto! of Dementia , and guess what? Each out of action once again. We all hope * Theo Bushe-Jones Slipstrea m - July 1994 - Page 23

. NEW S0Ul]l WALES · 1 with Slipstream at no additional cost to Members are advised that the annual subscriptions, which we hope Perpetual Membership fees are under DIVISION to peg at $15 pa. review as we await new actuarial I..______, * Jim Lee - NSW President scales. The Secretary will be adding to This is your new non-local In conclusion I would like to this report, and I hope not to Secretary (UT) George 'Gus' welcome all new members, and encroach on matters that he will Goddard, putting in his first transferees to the Division . address. Slipstream report. Best wishes to all the readers , However , a few matters arising I have been battling since • George 'Gus' Goddard - Secretary from the April Slipstream column invite February to catch up with the thousand comment. We did hold a Special and one things that apparently fall into QUEENSLAND Meeting of members on 05 June as the secretary's basket. I have received promulgated, to elect a Treasurer and a lot of help from your hard working DIVISION Publicity Officer . No one put their hand President , Jim Lee, and the efficient up for the Treasurer's job and courier service set up by Ben Link. This I always think there is plenty of 'Caretaker Treasurer' , Frank Birtles , has enabled a good communications time to prepare for Slipstream, and continued to look after the finances system to be organised . here I am again on a tight schedule! until the 30th of June. A 'volunteer' I would like to request that Now that winter is here we really do must be be found for this position as a members make a note in their diaries appreciate living in Queensland - had matter of urgency. The position of PRO against the month of January 1995, to put a jumper on the last few nights. also remains vacant pending a similar that 'FAM SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE I have a 20' Trailer Sailer and last appointment. DUE!' To get the subscriptions in on Sunday, Ian 'Junior' Henderson and I A Motion on Notice by Don time would be of the utmost help to the went for a sail out from Mooloolaba . Parkinson to change the title of Secretary , the Treasurer and the The forecast wind (15kts) became light 'Historic Flight Liaison Officer' to Admin istration in general. Late and variable and we averaged about 'Historic Flight and Restoration Officer' payments interrupt the payment of 3kts - all very enjoyable. 'Junior' had was approved . We don't have to Capitat ion Fees , causes changes to the helm while I trolled for anything and change the NSW Constitution , which Mailing Lists and prevents accurate got nothing , but at least I didn't lose a would require approval from the Chief forecasting for future commitments . rod! The weather was brilliant , warm Secretary 's Department , and This is your Asso ciation - please and sunny, 'Junior' had to 'Slip-slop­ lodgement of the amendment and fee support it to the full. slap' on his legs [for overseas readers , with Corporate Affairs. The change will To those members who live in he applied a sun screen lotion . Ed] A be noted only in the unofficial by-laws , close proximity to Nowra, I would ask couple of coldies, coffee and bikkies 'Guidelines for Office Bearers'. you to consider what you can do to rounded off a great day. Vice President Ian Stanfield , has a help the Association , the Aircraft On Sunday 29 May, we had a BBQ posting to HMAS Cerberus and Restorat ion Teams or the Naval get together at the Currumbin RSL on tendered his resignation in order that a Aviation Museum. If you can assist in the Gold Coast , beaut day again and nominee for the office might be any of these areas , please contact almost 60 people turned up. 'Chuck' democratically elected . This was the John Arnold (044) 232014 , who will Churcher was seen inside the club with case , and congratulations go to the liaise with the different sections for another bloke - Bernie Brennan - we new Vice President , Barry Roberts , a you. thoroughly enjoyed your company , committeeman in his second year who One task that requires man power Bernie , and we are delighted that you frequently travels down from Sydney immediately , is to assist 'Juke' have taken the 'plunge'. There were a for meetings , working bees and Matterson (044) 217945, with the couple of faces that seemed familiar functions. Thank you, Barry. cataloguing of a mountain of aircraft and blow me down if it wasn 't the Ryan Unless a few more of the locals spares at the Museum . twins! They left RANAS Nowra in '58, take up the challenge of serving on our The NSW Division 46th FAA Jimmy is living on Bribie Island and his committee , it is quite possible that the Anniversary Dinner is organised for the brother in Sydney . Col Wheatley had committee for 1995 could include 27th August 1994, and will be held at mentioned that Jim was on the Island people from all over the State, if this the White Ensign Function Centre at and it was great to see them there . occurred the wheels would grind very the Naval Aviation Museum. There is Bob Bryce and Al Smith won the 2 slowly indeed . seating for 120 only , tickets are now raffle prizes and their ladies should I will conclude my part of this report available at $30 per head are going soon be sporting some new jewellery - by thanking those willing workers who FAST. If you wish to attend , please compliments of Kev Raddatz . turn out for the Museum Family Fly-In contact the Social Secretary , Ben Link, In one respect it was a sad weekends . So far in 1994, these Cl- PO Box 28 , Nowra 2541, or ring occasion when I had to announce that events have been very successful , our John Arnold (044) 232014 . Telephone dear old Dick Coates had passed away participation in operating the Hot-Dog bookings must be immediately the night before . Dick had recently told stand has contributed in some small followed by a cheque in the mail. Mick Blair and myself that the end was measure to the overall financial The NSW Division is running a fund near because he had cancer of the success. raising raffle , the single prize being a pancreas . The funeral was held at The Museum gave us a 50% share weekend for two adults and three Albany Creek Crematorium , Mick, Ian of the nett profits from the sale of these children at Murramarang Resort at and six others attended the close gastronomic delights : $1000 . We have Durras on the South Coast, family service. A lot of us will reinvested $800 of this amount in a commencing Friday 18 November to remember Dick the hypnotist, his three burner gas cooker which should Sunday the 20th. The draw will take shows and impromptu entertaining significantly increase our capacity for place at the Naval Aviation Museum on evenings at RANAS during the '50s - sales at future events. 11 September and the results making us all laugh and passing The balance goes towards our aim published in Slipstream. Tickets are $2 pleasant hours on board when a lot of of providing our financial members each . us couldn't afford to go ashore. Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 24

I recall one evening in one of the Paul and Dianne at his place, a good Lawson's house . When I called in to 'D' huts when, after a session in the evening was had by all. I seem to have say hello, they'd just arrived from the Wet Canteen , Dick suggested that we had a small memory gap afterwards , deep south . 'Toz' had to drive back to should hold a seance . The lights were so it must have been good. It's just as Brisbane Airport to meet their daughter extinguished and about six of us sat well that Mick Blair and 'Junior' who was flying in from Darwin that around a bed holding hands like silly Henderson remind me of the things to evening . sailors and concentrating on the centre be done! We wish you all tt)e best in Fred Lewis has also been staying of the bed cover. the new location , Paul and Dianne. at Ian's place , unfortunately I wasn 't After a while someone yelled out, This could be encouragement for a trip able to make contact . Having just 'I can see a blue flickering light!' . At or two up north . taken over another Main Street Realty that , the comments flew thick and fast Frank 'Shorty' Nielsen has office in Maroochydore , things have as might be imaginsd and most of us volunteered to take over as Secretary been pretty hectic, but I did manage to finished up rolling around on the floor and the offer has been quickly spend some time with Ben Matthews , laughing , so that was the end of that. I snapped up. 'Shorty' has just been up who was staying at Ian's house prior to think Dick got the impression that we north and met up with Arthur Johnson Fred's arrival. were poor subjects . at Mystic Sands and Wayne 'Punchy' We now have a committee at the We were glad that he joined us at Parsons in Cairns . Wayne was just Gold Coast to begin making our BBQ at Mt. Cootha last year to about to go into hospital at the time - arrangements for a National Reunion relive some of those fun times . We hope all is well , mate. 'Shorty ' reckons in late October , 1996 . Mick and I are sent flowers and a card on behalf of that he ran into FAA guys everywhere going down this week to help set up the Association . he went. the guidelines . We 'll keep the updates Jimmy Bowles also passed on Our membership is steadily coming via Slipstream and the State recently , we hadn't seen or heard from growing as more of our blokes hear of Secretaries . Make a note to reserve a him but, thanks to 'Chuck' Churcher what's going on and it's good to see few days fun and sun on the Gold who attended the funeral service , and aircrew coming over from the Officer's Coast for the time slot in '96 . We a call from 'Toz' Dadswell , I managed Association . I had a call from Barry reckon on a period from a Thursday to to get a message on behalf of the Lord, ex-Observer, who keeps in touch Sunday inclusive - similar to our Association given at the end of the with 'Slug' Whitton at Tewantin. We reunion at Bundaberg . service . hope that he'll join in with us soon . A very good friend of mine , Peter Our Anzac Day march in Brisbane 'Toz' and Gwen Dadswell were up Ryan , asked us around to meet his was well attended and our banner, here recently they were baby sitting Ian brother John recently . John flew carried by Al Smith , Paul Catalinas during WW2 . My Woods , Brian Sargeson and uncle at Noosa was a Flight 'Snow' Tite , displayed much RICHARD Sergeant Engineer on Cat's better on its new frame . and on the same squadron . I Afterwards we adjourned to put them both on the phone the Officers Mess at for a good chat , it turned out Bulimba Army Barracks , that in 1943 or 44, my dad , right on the river opposite COATES an Army Lt., met John in the Hamilton Wharf , where we Officer's Club in Cairns and had a great afternoon . The gave John a letter to give to Mess President , a lady HYPNOTIST my uncle at the Cat Base in Major , fitted out one of our the Gulf of Carpenteria the sloppy joes extremely well! next day! It's a small world Jim Ferguson and Beau and the circle goes round! Bosanquet had a good John told us of 18 to 20 hour reunion . D'Arcy and Jenny flights attacking Japanese Doyle came to the BBQ at shipping and bases at Currumbin . Rumour has it Bouganville and as far north that he is working on a as Kavieng , New Ireland . large , new painting - more Bomb and torpedo runs at news to follow . A . 0 . Hill 80kts and pulling up and came along a well, he trying to get 1OOkts and avoid enjoyed his sojourn the flak - with the slow speed overseas . We heard that and 100ft wing span , he 'Gabby' Hayes was on the reckoned the 'bum' muscles Gold Coast and left just became very well developed . before the BBQ. Mate , we MonsterLaugh Show Greetings to Geoff were sorry to have missed Larcombe and Chris in you , come over in '96. NOWRA SCHOOL OF ARTS Tasmania - letter coming Paul Woods has soon . relocated to the Mulgrave Haven't heard of Sugar Mill at Gordonvale TUESDAY,4th OCT. anymore sightings of Jock near Cairns , and has Collins bunch of hiccups - relinquished his job as at 8 p.m. maybe the recent dust storm Secretary . Paul has landed 1 in the South West confused - Children half price a plum job up there as Prices: 716, 5'-, 4 their sense of direction, Engineering Manager, I Well , that 's all for now . " Nowra Leader " think , and is flat ciut. We Best wishes to all wherever. had dinner and drinks with Proceeds To Bomaderr y _P . & C. Film Projector Fund * Barry Uster - President Slipstr ea m - July 1994 - Page 25

In case any of you don't know , our nearby . Members of the Royal President , Barry Simpson has had a lot Volunteer Coastal Patrol (myself of trouble with his left leg over the past included), students and staff of the couple of years. Circulation problems AMC took part in the wet drills . The We are still alive and active, even resulted in several operations without whole programme went off very well though winter is upon us once again any success , finally the leg was and all those involved , be it in and the lows are creeping north from amputated below the knee . Now, with organisation or participation , had high the Southern Ocean . They seem to all the traum a behind him , he has praise for 817 Squadron members in slow the bones up a bit, anyway , we started to get around and about and is the way they carried out their various still like to think that Tasmania is the going quite well. Especially as he is tasks . best State in the Commonwealth . equipped with a peg leg, crutches , I must say this , having been used Anzac Day has been and gone with black eye patch , parrot on shoulder to chopper winching drills at Albatross good gatherings statewide and the and a mean looking cat-a-nine tails . with the old Sycamores of 723 FAAA well represented. The Keep up the good work , Simmo , you'll Squadron from dry land , it sure is a big southerners mustering in Hobart and get there. difference from an inflated life raft on the northerners at Longford RSL Ron Baxter has notified me that the water . A much bigger aircraft (Longford a country town in Dick Coates (Mandrake), passed on at blowing the raft all over the place and Tasmania 's northern midlands). the end of May. We are all sorry to hear having to try and stay with it, it must Barry 'Long John' Simpson was the sad news and please , would you take some doing . Skills learned from collected from hospital on day leave , Queens landers pass on to his family skilful people . taken to Longford, marched in his our sincere and kind thoughts . If the Ron Baxter (Qld) , has been doing wheelchair and returned to Sick Bay all world was full of people like Dick , it some research with Canberra in in one piece, even though a little early. would be a far better place to live in. relation to FAA personnel's Bill Lowe and Geoff Singline did the One must remember him for his entitlements from our service days. It is honours and carried the banner . I'm hypnotic powers over people and the amazing what has been extracted so told that a good time was had by all. things he could get them to do, all with far. He has been keeping me well A few weeks ago we had a good very little effort on his part . For us that informed of his results and items not tum up for our quarterly get-together in knew him he will live long in our heard of before have been coming out Launceston , we had lunch at a hotel memories . So long, old mate . of the woodwork . Low interest rate and the meeting at the Launceston 817 Squadron had a couple of Sea loans , meda ls and commendations , RSL., it was an enjoyable day for those King choppers in Tasmania recently . just to mention a few , and we are told that made the effort . they were carrying out winching that enquiries are still continuing . It was dec ided to have our next exercises at the Australian Maritime That's about all I have time for now, outing at Orford , on Tasmania 's College at Beauty Point (near except to ask you to keep the letters beautiful east coast , on the last Launceston) on the Tamar River. In all, and info coming in to Slipstream and Saturday and Sunday in August. Make 30 people were lifted from open life help keep our magazine the wonderful a weekend of it this time, and why not. boats, 10 and 25 man life rafts , and publication it is. By doing so it can only Anybody out there who would like to totally enclosed life boats . Each of the get better. come along are more than welcome , 30 people were lifted twice , taken Regards to everyone , the more the merrier they say, eh!! ashore and landed at a football ground * Matt 'Jake' Jacobs

Some of the Tasmanian members patiently waiting for Division President ,'Long John' Simpson , to realise that they've swapped his parrot for a woodpecker ! l-R: Athol Laing - Milva Barnes - Fiona and Les Kube - Ena and Roger Hutchins - Bill (Eric) Lowe - Lawrence and Robyn O'Donnell and Peter Barnes Photo: Barry Simpson A contractorcharged the US Navy $544 for a spark plug connectoravailable at local hardwarestores for $10.77 . The connectorhelps run the motor of the Navy'sPioneer Unmanned Aerial vehicle, a drone aircraftused to make reconnaissance videotapeof battle fronts for Marinesand other groundtroops. Three Navy 'whistleblowers' , frustratedby their own superiors, alertedthe House of RepresentativesArmed ServicesInvestigation Subcommittee in Washingtonto what they said was chronic overbillingfor spare parts. The subcommitteechairman sa id the overpricingwas , "in the same leagueas the $600 hammer and the $2000toilet seat'', notoriousitems of past governmentwaste scandals. * Thanks to Ron Baxter and The Sunday Mail -Qld. Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 26

On Friday 03 June, Westland Whirlwind HAS7, XM-665 arrived at the Naval Aviation 'Museum, Nowra. This ended an epic journey for this helicopter and signalled the commencement of another chapter in its life. It was first flown in December 1958 . It passed through several squadrons and flights beginning with 700H Flight at Culdrose , 737 Squadron, loaned to HMS Bulwark during 1960 for trials , with 846 Squadron in 1962 at Culdrose , then to 848 Squadron , also at Culdrose . It was then allocated to 847 'B' Flight and departed for the Far East aboard HMS Bulwark in March 1964 , returning in February 1965, and recorded as not having been flown during this period . Before leaving the Royal Navy, the Australia earlier this year . Royal Navy ships. helicopter passed to 829 Squadron at What is the importance of a This machine is privately owned Portland and then 771 Squadron Whirlwind in the Museum, you may but will be on permanent loan to the where it suffered a forced landing. ask? Museum . If anyone is intereste d in Sold off , XM-665 became a static The significance is that many RAN helping to provide XM-665 with some exh ibit at Thorpe Park , then to aircrew on exchange to the RN would tender loving care (it needs heaps), Chelsfield , Kent , and then to the have flown these helicopters during please contact me through Derek Booker Aircraft Museum in training , also several aircraft of this Whyte at the Museum. Buckinghamshire before travelling to type have been to Australia aboard * Nigel Apperley - NSW Div .

hasn't been into 'D' hangar lately as I the task was not without a few 'close SEA VENOM \VZ-895 haven't heard any cries of woe). We shaves' . Restoration Report removed the bracket we needed and I The new arrangement has created took it for an NOi test and found that it a noticeable amount of extra space , had six cracks in it, so beginning the which I am sure will be filled in the very I would like to start by thanking saga of cracked brackets . Having near future . A privately owned Stinson LtCdr Ron Robb RAN (Rtd), and found these cracks I got in touch with is seeking under cover stowage, as Barry Washbrook , for chasing up the Queensland Air Museum and well as the Westland Whirlwind two derelict Sea Venoms and taking asked if they could help us with recently purchased by Nigel Appertey. photo's of them for me. another bracket from one of their spare Now that the hang ar is fully These two pictures help to fill a wings. I haven't had an answer as yet, enclosed and the doors fitted, dust hole in the research I am trying to do. but the person I talked to seemed to should be kept to a minimum, I'm still on the lookout for any think it would be OK . Meanwhile back unfortunately the resident birds and photographs of Sea Venoms , notably in the barn we decided to take the port their 'calling cards' are still a major any photo's depicting special outer bracket off 895 and have it crack problem. incidences. For authenticity I would detected as well , you guessed , it was Our next project is to 'dress up' and prefer the photo to show the serial cracked too . At the time of writing this display the aircraft to their best number of the aircraft. we are in the process of removing the advantage , this will include About six weeks ago while we were port outer bracket from 935 . mannequins in flying equipment etc. If trying to remove the starboard dive * Tony Penno - Project Manager any reader knows of the whereabouts brake on WZ895 , we broke the end of of mannequins that could be donated the outer dive brake forged bracket MUSEUM­ to assist with this project, they would leaving us in a bit of a dilemma on how RESTORATION be very much appreciated. we could overcome this problem . I ACTIVITIES One disappointment to the restoration went up to the Museum with cap in team has been the activities of 'knob hand and asked Mike Lehan if we Major aircraft movements within twisting ankle-biters' in the Dakota. As could borrow WZ935 for a week or six the museum were carried out in May fast as you think that everything is put and strip a few parts out of it. Mike despite the small number of outside the reach of souvenir hunters , gave us the OK , so we towed WZ935 available hands for the task. Murphy's Law becomes involved and back to 'D' hangar and started to rip The aircraft were eventually proves otherwise. wing panels off it (I take it that Mike positioned to the new floor plan , but * Don Parkinson Slipstream - Ju ly 19 94 - Page 27

of acti vities over the last two months tAUSHb\:HAN NAVAL AWATION MUSEUM Ithes e include the Mayoral Praye~ - PROGRESS-KUORT Breakf ast , lunches and dinners for vari ous groups and organ isations , a Building Development: The whole progr amme wen t off fashi on parade and a 21st birthday party. w ithout a hitch , but wit hout the loyal One of the highlights wh ich was am happy to report that the support of many peop le this wou ld not arranged by the Nowra College of T AFE cladding of the hanga r is now have been poss ible . May I take thi s (Technical and Further Education ), was completed, and with the hangar doors opportun ity to espe cially thank the the official launching of the NSW in place the whole building takes on a other members of the organising AussieHost Tra ining Programme by His new perspective , espec ially wit h the committee for this weekend , John Excellency the Governo r of NSW, Rear metre high museum name attached to Macey and Terry Hetherington . To all Admiral Peter Sinclair AC , AO , RAN the northern end gable ( wh ich I'm sure the Museum volunteers and helpers (Rtd) . (AussieHost is a custome r service can be seen from Berry). The new who give their assistance every Fly-In programme ). cladding was successfully stress weekend , a very special thank-you . tested shortly after completion when Derek Whyte the Nowra area was subjected to one The Museum has hosted a variety Museum Operations Manager of the annual winter westerlies. The aircraft exhibits now look much more realistic having been relieved of their heavy concrete tie-down blocks and moved to more permanent positions within the hangar . The dividing wall which is being constructed to separate the foyer from the hangar is almost completed , and the shopfitters are progressing rapidly with the fitting out of the foyer and the new shop area. The wooden flight deck entrance area will create a considerable amount of interest when it is completed .

Children's Playground

'Ausp/ay ', the manu facturers of high quality children's playgrou nd equipment have now completed the installation ready for its opening at our next Fly-in Family Day on 10 July . One thing is certain, the children will enjoy it ( as it is, we are having enough trouble keeping the staff off it! )

Classic Wings and Wheels Rally I Fly-In Family Day

Our last Fly-In Family Day has been praised as 'superlative ', this being the description given to the weekend by one car club committee that attended . More than 200 vintage and classic cars from more than 50 clubs from NSW and ACT took part in the observation run prior to arriving at the Air Station. A number of historic aircraft wer e par1cedon either side of the runway for the cars to drive in between as the arrived. Each was met by the Commanding Officer of HMAS Albatross, Commodore Geoff Morton, who presented each entrant with a rally medallion , after which the cars were put on display . On the Saturday night a dinner dance was held for 300 people in the hangar (which looked a picture), whilst on the Sunday , a crowd Museum foyer under construction . The 'Flight Deck' entrance has been completed of 3000 enjoyed the flying and other and painting is underway. Carpet with Museum crest patte rn is yet to be fitted . displays . Photo Peregrine Publishing Slipstream - July 1994 - Page 28

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Don't forget the Musicians! L-R:Bob Bentley- WO Wright - Phil Hopkins - John Widdicombe - Bob Anderson - Bill Farrell - at the Melbourne/Evans Reunion. Photo GK