 | Fleet Air Arm |
| Fleet Air Arm |
Updated 15 October 2004
On 30 September 1944, the light fleet carrier HMS Terrible was launched at the Devonport Dockyard. Terrible was not destined to see service with the Royal Navy, as the ship was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy as HMAS Sydney on 19th December 1948.
Sixty years later on the same day of the launch, 200 people gathered at the Australian War Memorial on to witness the unveiling of the Fleet Air Arm memorial plaque.
The plaque, which recognises the operational service of Fleet Air Arm units, joins other similar memorials in the western courtyard of the AWM.
To enable all ships, squadrons and units to receive appropriate recognition of their operational service, the AWM has created a courtyard where commemorative plaques are installed for all visitors to see. The plaques are of equal size and are made of bronze.
The idea for the plaque came from the Association's National Executive, which negotiated with the AWM to have the plaque installed to recognise the role of Australian naval aviators in wartime.
It records the participation of 723, 805, 808, 816 and 817 Squadrons and the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam in the theatres of Korea, the Malayan Emergency, Malay Peninsula, Indonesian Confrontation, Vietnam and the Gulf Wars.
The unveiling of the plaque was performed by Commander Nat Gould RAN (Rtd) and Lieutenant Commander Paul Moggach RAN, Sea King Flight, HMAS Kanimbla [pictured in this AWM photograph].
Earlier, Commander Gould, who has seen service in the Australian Army, the RAAF, RN and the RAN, spoke of the beginnings of naval aviation in World War One, the formal establishment of the Fleet Air Arm in 1948, and the more recent operations in the Gulf.
Also taking part in the dedication ceremony were the Association Patron, Commodore John Goble RAN (Rtd); FAAAA National President, Commodore Toz Dadswell AM RAN (Rtd); Chaplain Col Acton, Chaplain RAN at the Australian Defence Force Academy; Mr Mark Dawes, Assistant Director at the AWM; and Musician Ben Fixter, bugler from the Band of the Royal Military College Duntroon.
Among the guests at the ceremony were Lady Smith, widow of Sir Victor, "the father of the RAN Fleet Air Arm", Admiral Sir Richard Peek, former Chief of Navy and Commanding Officer HMAS Melbourne, and Commodore Harold Adams, National President, RDFWA. The Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie, was represented by Commodore M. Smith.
A large contingent of FAAAA members traveled inter-State to witness the ceremony and were joined by serving naval officers from Canberra and Nowra. The ceremony began with the flypast of a Sea Hawk helicopter from HMAS Albatross.
See also:
Ceremony photographs
Plaque photograph
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