Fleet Air Arm
Association of Australia
Sea Venom Target Towing
10 February 2009
Letter from Roger Lambert, Sydney, NSW
I'm currently compiling an article for our modelling club magazine on the use of the RAN Sea Venom F(AW).53 in the target towing role. To date, FAAAA members Brian Farthing, Phil Thompson and Bob 'Windy' Geale have been of tremendous assistance in providing information on the use of the Sea Venom in the TT role.
While all information to date has been gratefully received, Brian's and Phil's personal experience (as former RAN pilots) with the use of the Sea Venom as a target tower has proved invaluable.
Brian has provided me with details of his TT sorties with the cable and banner target while Phil has provided details of his experience with the Delmar towed target. It is this latter target that I'm particularly interested in obtaining additional information on in RAN service although any additional information on Sea Venom target towing would be beneficial.
Phil suggested that I contact you in the hope that members of your association may be able to provide the additional information that I seek. Besides pilots and observers, Phil suggested that former Air Engineering Officers may be able to provide details of the Delmar target towing system as fitted to the Sea Venom.
Phil has very kindly drawn this image of his recollection of the target system (click on image to see larger picture). This may serve to jog a few memories of former pilots and AEOs. Phil's diagram certainly correlates to a description by a former USAF of the cumbersome system:
The Delmar Target System looked like a half droptank with a Day Glo Orange 2,000 pound bomb stuck in the tail of it.
Photographic evidence of the Delmar Sea Venom is particularly difficult to find although a colleague may have tracked down a black and white image of the cumbersome rig fitted over the port wing of a Sea Venom at NAS Nowra. I'm hopeful of receiving a copy shortly.
However, to support my article, I'm especially interested in any photographs that your members may have in their private collections, together with any technical manuals, diagrams and instructions pertaining to the use of the Delmar target system on the Sea Venom.
These will assist in the drawing of aircraft plan and profile views that we endeavour to include in all our magazine articles to assist modellers construct an accurate scale model of the particular subject.
I'm also interested in personal experiences with either of the TT systems employed. Extracts from log books with aircraft side numbers, dates are more than welcome together with amusing or otherwise anecdotes of TT sorties.
Any asistance from your membership would be greatly appreciated. All information received will be formally acknolwledged in the subsequent article and a copy of the article provided to each contributor.
Thank you in anticipation. Regards, Roger Lambert, Sydney, NSW - email address
.
Return to:
News and Information Index