 | Fleet Air Arm |
| Fleet Air Arm |
To publish your own message on this website, see Publishing Messages. There is also an index of names for current messages.
Date: 10 August 2005
Name: Allen Lyne
Email Address:
I am writing a book of stories, tall and true, about life in the RAN. I intend to publish it either later this year or early next. I'm mostly interested in humorous stories, but I'm happy to consider dits that are more on the serious side.
I'm hunting for stories to include in the book, and want to make it reflect as many different eras, ships, establishments and branches as possible. I have a number of stories so far, but none from the Fleet Air Arm. I know there are a lot of gems out there just waiting to be told.
I'm happy to accept stories either in written form by email or post, or on audio tape that I can transcribe. I will edit stories, but in every case I will check with the originator to make sure that the edited story reflects what they want to say. Contributors can choose to remain anonymous or to have a credit for their stories in the book.
I can be contacted at or at 8 Redgate Court, Moana Heights SA 5169.
I will offer 20% off the purchase price to associations that want to market the book through their newsletters or by other means. Thanks, Allen Lyne, Ex-POUC.
Date: 15 July 2005
Name: Ron (Nullarbor) Baker
Email Address:
Discovered your site whilst searching for some info on HMAS Melbourne (carrier), and thought you might be interested in the following:
In 1994 in Canberra, I and ex-WORSS Arthur "Jock" Donnelly organised the first reunion in Australia for the survivors of the collision between HMAS Melbourne and USS Frank E Evans. Several of your members attended.
Since that reunion (and the 1999 Sydney and 2004 Adelaide reunions), I have been travelling to the States annually for the USS Frank E Evans reunions.
At this year's reunion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I presented letters of introduction and invitation from the Mayor of Ipswich (QLD) for the 40th anniversary memorial service to be held in Ipswich in the first week of June 2009. The membership voted unanimously to hold their official 2009 Frank E Evans reunion in Ipswich.
I know it is still a fair way off, but thought some of your members may be interested in attending. I can provide updates as they occur.
Also, if any Melbourne "survivors" are interested in travelling to the States for Frank E Evans reunions, I can also provide information on those. For example, the next three reunions are 2006 in Mobile, Alabama; 2007 in Seattle, Washington; 2008 in Colorado Springs, Colorado (and 2009 in Ipswich).
I can be contacted by phone on (07) 3389 9325, mobile 0422 077 781 or email on or . Cheers, Ron (Nullarbor) Baker, ex-CPORS.
Date: 3 July 2005
Name: Ron Gent
Email Address:
Was allocated exchange duty with RAN from RN 1966-68 and served as Senior Observer 817 Sqdn. Some of the pilots were seconded to Vietnam just before my time ended. Good friends such as Tony Casadio and Pat Vickers were first casualties of that infamous conflict. As a Pommie, I was reluctantly allowed to accompany the first batch to Vietnam on the Melbourne. Quite hilarious when we got back to RNAS - 2 Pom observers and no pilots!!! If a test flight had to be done, we "borrowed" Lt Jim Buchanan who I think was SAR!!!
Good times but I never was able to handle the beer! Left Navy in 1970 and held my farewell party at Jim Firth's place (he was on exchange to RN at that time at RNAS Portland).
Hope to re visit Albatross one day but no doubt it has changed drastically - Ron Gent (now living in Mandurah, Western Australia).
Date: 5 June 2005
Name: Bob Witt
Email Address:
The following appeared on the Exbirdie web forum http://www.exbirdie.com/:
"Hi, I'm 68-years-old and my dad's brother, Glyn Morris, left here (England) at the end of the war to enlist on the HMAS Sydney. He was a chief petty officer, and later on the HMAS Melbourne. He remained in the Australian Navy all his life; we have some wonderful pictures of his funeral. But now my memories are going and I try to tell my children about their uncle and the lovely wife he married there and his daughter. If anybody can give me any other information, I would be ever grateful. All the best, Cliff Morris
3 June 2005 - Burntwood, England."
Someone may have known him if he was a Birdie and maybe able to help - Bob Witt.
Date: 31 May 2005
Name: Allan T. Jones
Email Address:
I am trying to trace an old friend of Gus Murray's, skipper of Teal 1964-66. His name is John Robert Franklin (Judge). He was an 805 Sqd pilot in the sixties and was last heard of in the Maroochydore area of Queensland. People can contact me or go direct to Gus on his email . Many thanks, Spike.
Date: 31 May 2005
Name: Neville "Junior" Faulks
Email Address:
I am trying to find any information, or anyone who may have served with my uncle, Neville Faulks, in the Fleet Air Arm. He was killed on 12/3/46 when his plane crashed into the sea during take off from HMS Implaccable. If anyone from your organisation can give me any details or ideas of where to search, it would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Date: 3 May 2005
Name: Denis Mulvihill
Email Address:
For the information of those that knew him, Frank Rankin (ex-WOATA) passed away in his sleep at home last week. Regards, Denis
Date: 26 April 2005
Name: Neil Lesmond
Email Address:
Change of email address - see above. Thanks to Dave Hines, after 26 years, finally found Bob Benjamin - Neil Lesmond. (See also earlier message).
Date: 8 February 2005
Name: Les Mcglinn
Email Address:
My name is Les Mcglinn and my father Mr Jack Mcglinn served in the Australian Navy from 1950 to 1962. During that time he was a crew member on the HMAS Sydney.
I have little information and only a few photos of my father's time in the Navy. He is 74-years-old and suffers from dementia and a loss of memory. He cannot remember his service number.
I was hoping you could email me any contact numbers or any other information that could help me retrace my father's time in the Navy.
Maybe there is a list of personnel who served on the carrier or something like that? I would be grateful for any information you could give me in regards to the above.
Yours thankfully, Les Mcglinn.
Webmaster's note: the writer has been informed about the availability of records from the National Archives of Australia. If you have information you would like to share, please email the writer.
Date: 8 February 2005
Name: Werner Sperber
Email Address:
My name is Werner Sperber and I work for DoD. Recently, a friend told me that he is trying to put together his family tree and that he was having problems finding information on his father's military service. His father's name was ECPO Ronald Huxley and he served with 830 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm.
He was with the British military before coming to Australia and joining 830 SQN. I even have two numbers, one of which must be his service number. They are HFX75988 and A15834. Ronald was discharged in 1952 at RAN Barracks, Balmoral.
Is there any way of tracking down records that show where and when he served in particular areas? Any assistance you can provide would be very much appreciated. I can be contacted on the phone numbers below during business hours.
Werner Sperber, Logistics Officer, PCMAD, EGRESS Team, phone (02) 4737 0783; fax (02) 4737 0689; werner.sperber@defence.gov.au.
Webmaster's note: the writer has been informed about the availability of records from the National Archives of Australia. If you have information you would like to share, please email the writer.
Date: 31 January 2005
Name: Christopher Jarman
Email Address:
I served as an Observer in 723 Squadron Nowra, on loan from the RN, between 1954 and 1956. My CO was Col Wheatley. There were three of us who arrived together - the late Joe Jones, Reg Phillips and myself, Sub Lieut Christopher Jarman RN.
I have a whole lot of colour slides and photos of our time at Nowra. I was also lucky enough during that time to go on two cruises, one in HMAS Sydney to New Zealand, and one in HMAS Vengeance to Japan.
I would be very happy to hear from anyone who remembers the Poms from those great days.
While at Nowra I won a competition to design the RAN FAA tie, so anyone who has the tie with the kangaroo and pilots wings on is wearing my design! As you can gather, I was usually the line-book officer in the squadrons in which I served. I think I must have been responsible for the 723 Squadron line book between 1954-56, but my memory serves me rather badly :-).
Christopher Jarman Lieut (O) RN retd.
Date: 30 January 2005
Name: Alex Hudson
Email Address:
HMAS Moresby will be holding its bi-annual reunion at Norfolk Island from 6-13 November 2005. All ex-members of the ship's crew are invited.
Date: 24 January 2005
Name: Neil Lesmond
Email Address:
Neil Lesmond, started as NAAH 1970, finished as LSAVN 1980, now station officer with Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, 24 years. Live in beautiful Hervey Bay.
After leaving pussers, moved to Townsville, joined the Fire Brigade, married Andrea (nee Barnes, ex-WRAN Medic).
Date: 17 January 2005
Name: Bruce D. Hoy
Email Address:
Further research through old newspapers has revealed that HMAS Sydney arrived in Port Moresby on 23 February 1973, on its way to Singapore from Sydney. I think this was one of the ship's last overseas visits before its paying off.
Sincerely, Bruce D Hoy.
Note: see earlier message
Date: 14 December 2004
Name: Bob Witt
Email Address:
I feel that if the website had a more friendly user message board, as most other associations and home pages have, it would generate more discussion and lift the site. Just a suggestion.
To all Birdies old and young, greetings from the 'Premier Branch' of the old fixed wing days. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year. To all who surf, you may like to check out www.exbirdie.com and scan the photos - Bob Witt.
Date: 29 November 2004
Name: David Cole
Email Address:
Hello, we are trying to find anybody that knew our Father John ( Darky ) Cole. He
served at Albatross and on the Melbourne, joined the RAN 1957, retired 1977.
He also played football for the Navy. Our Father also returned to England 1974 to Culdross for the new Sea Kings.
The family is looking for names such as Brian Sargason, Noel Fisher, Lenny Boldon, Arthur Healey, D. Matterson - can someone please help us out? Any info will do, from anybody who knew John Cole - David Cole.
See also Later messages and earlier messages (to publish your own message on this website, see details at top of this page).