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| 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: 5 March 2007
Name: Keith Baker
Email Address:
Keith Baker looking for Barry Thatcher. Last known in Dorrigo area. My email address or (02) 4423 1087 - Keith Baker.
Date: 2 March 2007
Name: Gary (Joe) Linaker
Email Address:
John Witt has conveyed the sad news that Brian "Cowboy" Keating, 65, crossed the bar on Sunday, 25th February 2007, and was cremated following a well-supported poppy service in Rockhampton. His ashes were cast over the sea at Yeppoon by family and friends.
"Cowboy" was a warm and friendly LAAH who served in the FESR on HMAS Melbourne.
Many shipmates will recall Cowboy's remarkable escape from serious injury when he put "Jumbo", the ship's mobile crane, into the starboard forad sponson and then fell some 40' to the wharf, and then stood watching the panic on the Flight Deck. This incident examples the nonchalant easy-going nature of a "birdie" who would give you the shirt off his back.
Farewell old mate, God Speed and Good Sailing - Lest We Forget - Joe Linaker.
Date: 28 February 2007
Name: Peter Welsh
Email Address:
I am looking for a decent representation of the VC724 Squadron crest/badge (and/or all other Sqdn crests/badges). It is non-existent on the Net and all other crests/badges are usually in GIF format and too small to be of any use. Any decent photos or other representations, preferably in JPEG format, would be appreciated - Peter Welsh, National Vice President,
Fleet Air Arm Association.
Date: 19 February 2007
Name: Graham Fox
Email Address:
Thought you may like to know the ship's bell is on ebay at present for 10 bucks ... as an ex-RN greeny, I think it deserves more than that! Regards - Graham Fox.
Date: 17 February 2007
Name: Jason Reeve
Email Address:
Just to let everyone know John Michael Reeve (Mike) passed away 29 January 2007.Chief petty officer, stationed at HMAS Albatross, Nowra. Served in the Navy 1968-1980 on HMAS Melbourne, part of 851 Squadron (Trackers). Moved to Queensland in late 1980. Settled in Ipswich. Did 20 years in Queensland Railways (fitter and turner), 20 years in lawn bowls. Only 2 years in retirement, and only 59 years old. Privately cremated. Will be sadly missed by wife Dawn, son Jason, daughter Jannette and his 4 grandchildren. For any information, contact me - Jason Reeve.
Date: 12 February 2007
Name: Garry (Delo) Daly
Email Address:
G`Day Birdies, I am trying to contact or locate an ex-Leading Phot who served on Parramatta during the Indonesian Confrontation 1964-66. I can't recall his name but I do remember he had his office in 3M Stokers mess. Appreciate if anyone can help. Cheers, Garry (Delo) Daly, Ex-LME 63-72.
Date: 15 January 2007
Name: Michael Sandberg
Email Address:
My name is Michael Sandberg. I'm an ex-Tracker, then Iroquois, Squirrel, Kiowa and HS 748 maintainer.
At one stage when I was on VC 851 Squadron, our Senior Pilot was CDR (then LCDR) Richard Scott. Dick left the Navy and came here to Canberra and embarked in a real estate career. He has since left and moved to the Sunshine Coast.
He may be a member of the Queensland FAAAA chapter - but I doubt it, as he (like I and many others) was one of those bitterly-disappointed members that "paid off" soon after the demise of the fixed wing element.
My reason for tracking him down is to send him a DVD in which he figures, detailing a lot of Tracker flying from both HMAS Melbourne and Nowra. This DVD is courtesy of Phil Thompson (ex-A4 pilot) whose latest message about his marvellous A4 Scrapbook historical record, appears above in this log. I encourage you to have a look at that!
Can anyone help me find Dick? He would be "over the moon" to receive this DVD copy - regards,
Michael Sandberg, 0412 074 430.
Date: 15 January 2007
Name: Denis Mulvihill
Email Address:
Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Robert Charles Kerr (ex-AE), please contact me - Denis Mulvihill
Date: 12 January 2007
Name: Wes Yates
Email Address:
I am trying to catch with a number of ex-armourers. I was at HMAS Albatross and on the Melbourne between 1970 and '76; my postings included workshops (bomb rack, gun shop and ejection seat bay), 724 and 805 squadrons as well as a posting to headquarters on the Melbourne in '76 from where I paid off.
I was hoping to contact or just see if all were still around and OK - Stumpy Malloy, Terry (OD) O'Donnell, Steve (Dumas) Donaldson, Dave Read, Colin Blonde and Blue Croxford to name a few (there are numerous others) - all were armourers, and most were at my wedding. I lost contact in '89 when I moved to Queensland.
My contact details are listed below; it would be great to hear from any of them. Regards, Wes Yates, , , or phone 0411 267 017.
Date: 23 November 2006
Name: Doug Eastgate
Email Address:
Joined as ERA on HMAS Woomera, later HMAS Penguin, HMAS Morton, went to England for start of Fleet Air Arm in 1947 - HMS Condor, Arbrothe Scotland, Yoevil Somerset, St. Mirren Cornwell.
Home in 1949, joined HMAS Albatross, served 723, 724, 816, 817, 804, 805 squadrons. Served on board HMAS Sydney 1951 and did the coronation trip. Had frequent service aboard HMAS Melbourne with strategic reserve. Promoted warrant officer when warrant officers introduced to service.
Medals received British Korea Medal, United Nations Service Medal, General Service Medal with Clasp, Malay Peninsula, Returned from Active Service Badge, Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Honourable discharge 12 November 1975.
Date: 26 October 2006
Name: Noel O'Leary
Email Address:
Noel O'Leary (Irish), joined JRTE in July 1963 and paid off JRTE in July 1983, would like to hear from old oppos.
Date: 24 October 2006
Name: David Lorenzini
Email Address:
I'm a former US sailor and served aboard the destroyer USS Walker (DD517) and am
trying to contact LSBA EJ Anderson, R52734, who served aboard HMAS Melbourne in 1967 when the ship visited Hawaii. We exchanged hats after a long night of drinking. My wife found it among my memorabilia and I was very curious of what may have become of him. Any info would be greatly appreciated and can be sent to the above address. Thank you - David Lorenzini.
Date: 11 September 2006
Name: Ron Batchelor
Email Address:
Ex-CPOPH Mal Wilson passed away in the early morning of Monday, 11th September, after a long illness. Mal will be surely missed by his old shipmates - Ron Batchelor.
Date: 30 August 2006
Name: Ray Murrell
Email Address:
I would like to make contact with anybody that would have been in my recruit school class at Albatross. I first went to FND in July 1952 as a R/steward after the recruiting office assured me I could change to a naval airman once I got to Flinders (how many of us where told this?). Anyway, after several visits to the captain's table, I got my wish but I did not get out of Flinders until 21st Jan '53. My recruit class at Albatross was class 72. I then went to Nirimba for airframe training in class A24. If anyone out there remembers me and has photos, I would love to hear from you - Ray Murrell, ex-CPO ATA.
Date: 25 August 2006
Name: Joe Linaker
Email Address:
A note to advise former shipmates of John 'Monty' Moncrieff, an aircraft handler from the class of '48, that he is presently in Greenslopes Hospital, Queensland, fighting the big "C". I have spoken with him and he would welcome calls from friends and shipmates. Telephone (07) 3394 7405 - Joe Linaker.
Date: 27 March 2006
Name: Stewart Harding
Email Address:
Calling all 18th intake JRTE HMAS Leeuwin sailors. I am organizing a 40th reunion to be held 9-11 March 2007 at Sanctuary Point.
Please contact Stewart Harding (R95884) on (02) 4443 8919 or 0422 208 982 to register your expression of interest or just to help me update the database of 18th intakers. - Stewart Harding.
Date: 16 March 2006
Name: Philip Long
Email Address:
G'Day to all those that may remember me. I joined 22 July 1975 to be an ABATC (Air Technical Communications).
Served with 724 SQN, Avionics Workshop, commissioned to be an ATC (Air Traffic Controller) in June 1979, resigned from RAN on 27 Feb 1984 and joined RAAF the next day. Still serving and currently in my first non-operational ATC post in 26 years at HQ Air Command, Glenbrook NSW.
Very pleased to find this website and look forward to renewing old acquaintances.
- Philip Long.
Date: 12 March 2006
Name: Joseph Kaposi
Email Address:
I served aboard Melbourne from early '77 till late '79 as an AVN. Looking to swap (or buy) carrier mishap footage or original 'home movie' style footage of carrier flight ops on any format.
I have many PLAT clips of carrier plane crashes, including Aussie, Russian, French, British and heaps of US stuff. - Joseph Kaposi.
Date: 13 February 2006
Name: John (Kipper) Keefe
Email Address:
The USN ASW training squadron VS-41 based at NAS North Island, San Diego USA
will be officially decommissioned on the 30th September 2006.
Decommissioning functions including the official decom ceremony will be
held in the squadron hangar at North Island starting the week 24th July
2006.
All former VS-41 personnel are invited to attend. This may be of interest
to former FAA personnel who were in San Diego during 1966-67 to
pick up the S2E Tracker aircraft for the RAN, most of whom were posted to
this unit.
Kind regards.
John (Kipper) Keefe, Intelligence Systems Manager, AJAAC, HMAS Albatross.
Date: 24 January 2006
Name: Brian Cook
Email Address:
CPOATWL4 John Purdie entered Nirimba as an apprentice on 7 Jan 1968 and completed his training on 10 June 1970.
He was posted to Albatross on 26 Oct 1971 and stayed until 28 June 1982. He was posted to Nirimba 29 April 1983 to 11 Dec 1984. He transferred to the RAAF 30 Jan 1985 to 11 April 1988.
He died of cancer on 24 Nov 2003 at Canberra. John was affected by psoriasis from August 1979 which caused him intense irritation, discomfort and embarrassment. His complaint never abated and most probably would have been exacerbated by stress.
To assist his widow, Wendy, with her application for a widow's pension under the Veterans' Entitlement Act, information is needed about his Navy working life with the FAA, both at Albatross and his trips onboard HMAS Melbourne when he was treated for psoriasis.
Any assistance which would help to win this case would be greatly appreciated - Brian Cook OAM, Veteran's Advocate, (02) 6281 2626.
Date: 19 January 2006
Name: Peter Welsh
Email Address:
I am seeking a good quality colour photograph/negative or Jpeg format of one of 724's Skyhawks with the dove grey colour scheme and blue fin with yellow flash. Any assistance would be appreciated.
Contact Peter Welsh (ex-CPOATA3) - 6 Banksia Avenue
Bonny Hills NSW 2445, email , phone (02) 6585 4576; mobile 0412 082 601.
Date: 18 January 2006
Name: Les Figg
Email Address:
Happy 2006 to all. Planning is underway for the 2006 ANZAC Memorial/Meet & Greet in Cayucos, CA, over the weekend of April 21-23. Anyone interested in participating, please email me.
Also, if you know of other ex-Pussers living in the US, please have them contact me. Note: We have yet to have any ex-birdies people turn up to this annual event. Best regards - Les Figg, ex-LEMWR, 1963-69, HMA Ships Sydney, Hawk, Perth.
Date: 9 January 2006
Name: Joe Linaker
Email Address:
With sadness I wish to inform shipmates and friends that William (Billy) Julius crossed the bar yesterday (Sunday 08 January 06) at 1420. His funeral service to be held 1300 Thursday 12 January 2006 at the Uniting Church, 160 Sibley Rd., Wynnum West.
Shipmates & friends are then invited to gather at 27 Ryder St., Wynnum North.
Heartfelt sympathy is extended to daughter Kim & family and son Bill, as we say farewell to their father and our own Navy warrior - God Speed Bill & Good Sailing.
Lest We Forget.
Date: 5 December 2005
Name: Diana Linford (nee Baines)
Email Address:
My father served at HMAS Albatross during the war and I would love to know if anyone remembers him. His name was Gerald Patrick Baines. He was from Preston, Lancashire, England. Thanks - Diana Linford (nee Baines)
Date: 23 September 2005
Name: Duncan Harris
Email Address:
Does anyone know the present whereabouts of Reg Torrington? He and I were on 580 Course at Arbroath and subsequently both served on Arctic convoys, but not on the same ships. Would be glad to have news of him - Duncan Harris
Date: 6 September 2005
Name: Dave Peters
Email Address:
CPO Russell Laycock, ex-NAS Nowra, 817 Sqdn, et al. For those who remember, one of the best artificers I had the privilege to work with. Russell passed away from a very quick cancer aggression, within 5 weeks. He is to be cremated on Thursday, 8th September, at the Woongarra Crematorium, 5km south of Townsville, at 2pm. All who remember this incredible guy are invited - Dave Peters.
See also Later messages and earlier messages (to publish your own message on this website, see details at top of this page).