Wessex22Planeguard

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Wessex822


N7-212 Aircraft History:

  • First Flight 18/01/63.
  • Ditched Jervis Bay near Bowen Island 22/1/78 when with 817 Sqn for SAR duties – was transiting from RANAS Nowra to HMAS Melbourne when it suffered engine failure. Leut(P) D.Anderson RAN LSA R.Cousins and AB Wilkinson swam ashore.
  • The helo remained afloat and was towed to Murrays Beach from where it was underslung on an RAAF Chinook helicopter and flown to NAS Nowra.
  • Stored but never repaired and while after being on loan on static display in Melbourne City N7-212 was struck off charge on 12/04/89.
  • Was located at Country Fire Authority Training ground at Fiskville, Vic as a fire training aid.
  • 10/2012 moved to and on display at Richard Winterburn’s aircraft museum at Heathcote, Vic.
  • 2015 Sold to Badgery Creek, NSW Paint Ball Park

Read Aircrewman’s article on ditching here


Wessex822DitchingClip

Left:  Newsclipping of 822 Ditching from unknown newspaper.  Below:  822 on the beach prior to return to NAS.  The aircraft never flew again and was acquired by a private collector before being reportedly sold to a Paint Ball park. Wessex822OnBeach

Wessex822Demise

Images from HS817 Squadron Line Book:

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Return to Wessex Home Page Airframe History Index

Below.  Wessex 822 suffers the indignity of being part of a Paint Ball park near Badgery’s Creek in NSW. (Image: Derelect Aircraft Museum)