Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia

Website Messages

To publish your own message on this website, see Publishing Messages. There is also an index of names for current messages.

Date: 20 April 2012
Name: Forest Driver
Email address:
I am endeavouring to get a “naval beret with a class-five naval uniform metal cap badge” as was issued to us on joining the RANHFV. Unfortunately mine was lost in a house fire in 1975 and for personal reasons I chose not to replace it, but now wish to. Thanking you in anticipation, Forest Driver (ex-NAAH on 3^rd Contingent RANHFV).

Date: 21 March 2012
Name: Rodney Garrard
Email Address:
Looking for anybody to help my disability claim serving on HMAS Melbourne 1965 –1966 who can remember aircraft accidents/incidents. This period was before the USA trip.

Date: 16 January 2012
Name: Greg Mortimer
Email Address:
G'day, I served aboard Melbourne when she was on SEATO exercises in the Philippines in the 1970s, and would love to find some of my old mates who were also on board. I remember Jacko Johnson and Wirey Allen, but there were many more. Would love to hear from them - Greg Mortimer, (07) 3456 5467.

Date: 18 December 2011
Name: Dave Thomas
Email Address: 
G'day, whilst perusing the internet looking for 817 final flight pics and information, I came across your website! Nice!! Congratulations.

I was in the FAA from 1979 until they paid off the ATWO branch after the demise of the HMAS Melbourne, so have fond but distant memories of my time at 'tross and CAG in 1980. Have been playing around in Microsoft flight simulator for quite some time and thought that you may be interested in what is available. I also have Grumman Trackers, Gannets, Sycamore, Skyhawks (805 sqn liveries), Firefly, Sea Venom - all in RAN liveries, which are all flyable within the MS software package. It's a bit geeky, but fun all the same.

Anyway, I chose radio operator (for the pay level) and changed branch in 1985, and continued on to pay-in to 1998 after 20 years, on HMAS Canberra. With the demise of the Sea King, all my operational units are now reefs or razor blades and as today is the actual decommissioning of 817 sqn, i feel somewhat old as the SK was my last operational link with the RAN - Dave Thomas.

Date: 2 December 2011
Name: Tas Browning
Email Address: 
I have been sourcing files giving details of Indonesian movements and political views, with some detail also of the naval movements. What I would like to know is any gaps that those who served during that period can provide. It's worth noting that any info may well be the piece that helps some of our blokes get a service pension - yes, there are some of our blokes that don't have one. Can you help? Kind regards, Tas Browning.

See also Earlier messages (to publish your own message on this website, see details at top of this page).