The following table provides a complete record of the major events of Operation Bursa from its conception in 1980 to its eventual handover at the end of 1989.
| Start | Event | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Jun-80 | BSORS Patrols | Commenced with Attack and Fremantle class patrol boats. |
| 01-Aug-80 | COSC Minutes | PM directed use of helicopters in support Op BURSA to be effective from 30 Sep 80. |
| 25-Aug-80 | CN Op BURSA signal | Navy allocated CT helo support task. HC 723 UAE 10 x Wessex. Priority role was insertion of TAG. Dedicated to operation on continuing basis. |
| 01-Aug-80 | MHQ signal | Navy and Air Force to provide helo support to TAG on fortnightly rotational basis.4 hr standby to move to have acft ready to deploy with TAG from East Sale 10 hrs fm alert.Outline night tactic requiring surprise and speed of action; low-level, high speed approaches with quick-stop terminations without illumination until final stages of assault. |
| 22-Sep-80 | 723 Sqn survey East Sale | Battese/Mayo visit to reach local agreement accommodate 10 Wessex, aircrew & maintainers. |
| 27-Oct-80 | 723 Sqn East Sale | [until 01Nov80]. First approaches to oil-rig Snapper. Fly-off 9 Sqn UH-1H vs 723 Sqn Wessex. |
| 08-Dec-80 | 723 Sqn East Sale | [until 12Dec80]. Training with TAG – first night approaches. |
| 05-Mar-81 | VC751 NAS Nowra | Tracker used to illuminate HMAS Derwent |
| 27-Jan-81 | 723 Sqn NAS Nowra | [until 28Jan81]. NVG trial – not successful due non-compatible cockpit |
| 08-Apr-81 | 723 Sqn East Sale | [until 14Apr81]. Day tactical approaches to rigs with TAG. |
| 26-May-81 | 723 Sqn NAS Nowra | Trialed beta lights on rotors for night formation – failed. |
| Mid81 | CDS signal | Navy to assume CT helicopter support role on full time basis from 15 Oct 81.5 x Wessex required online at East Sale.12 hrs notice to move from NAS but may be shortened if specific threat develops. Army to provide a C2 aircraft. Air Force to provide helo capability if Navy cannot meet requirement.Navy will provide SAR and admin support if Wessex deployed |
| 08-Oct-81 | 723 Sqn East Sale | [until 16Oct81]. Approaches to Rigs |
| 13-Apr-82 | 723 Sqn East Sale | [until 22Apr82]. Full exercise with TAG. |
| Oct-Dec82 | 723 Sqn NAS Nowra | 2 x Tac App exercises with HMAS Parramatta |
| 28-Nov-82 | 723 Sqn East Sale | [until 11Dec82] Full exercise with TAG – 8 x Wx; departure exercised recall procedures. Exercised Nightsun illumination unlit rigs with live rappelling. 13 Wx UAE |
| 24-Jan-83 | 723 Sqn Laverton/ Watsonia | [until 26Jan83]. Single aircraft deployment investigating alternate CT basing destinations. |
| 03-Feb-83 | 723 Sqn East Sale | [until 21Feb83]. Full exercise with TAG. – 10 x Wx ; 522.2hrs/108hrs NF. |
| 11-Apr-83 | 723 Sqn East Sale | [until 21Apr83]. Full exercise with TAG – 9 x Wx – Nightsun illumination incorporated in SOPs. |
| 14-Jun-83 | 723 Sqn East Sale | [until 24Jun83]. Full exercise with TAG – 10 x Wx. |
| 13-Aug-83 | 723 Sqn East Sale | [until 18Aug83]. Full exercise with TAG – 9 x Wx – witnessed by Fleet Commander Hudson. |
| 11-Oct-83 | 723 Sqn NAS Nowra | [until 13Oct83]. Exercised with TAG. |
| 19-Nov-83 | 723 Sqn NAS Nowra | 21st Birthday RAN Wx – 14 x Wx, 3 x UH-1B, 1 x B206 Flypast. |
| 28-Nov-83 | 723 Sqn East Sale | [until 04Dec83] Exercise with TAG – 10 x Wx – exercise suspended 4 Dec due fatal crash N7-215. |
| 04-Dec-83 | Crash N7-215 | Catastrophic failure and ditching with 2 x fatalities (LSA Macey and RAAF CPL Campbell); aircraft captain LEUT Mark Henschke commended. |
| 09-Feb-84 | HU 816 Commissioned | Assumed CT role from 723 Sqn A Flight. |
| 30-Apr-84 | 816 Sqn East Sale | [until 11May84] Full exercise with TAG. |
| 05-Jul-84 | 816 Sqn NAS Nowra | [until 26Jul84]. Full exercise with TAG. |
| 26-Oct-84 | 816 Sqn Point Cook | [until 29Oct84]. Deployment exercise. |
| 15-Nov-84 | 816 Sqn NAS Nowa | [until 21Nov84]. Skills maintenance with SASR. |
| 22-Nov-84 | 816 Sqn NAS Nowra | Exercise Call-out. |
| 05-Feb-85 | 816 Sqn NAS Nowra | [until 15Feb]. Full exercise with TAG including insertions to HMAS Tobruk – one TAG injured. NAS ROP state exercises with TAG including to Tobruk 11-16 Feb) |
| Apr-Jun85 | 816 Sqn | Concerns relating to National Task skills retention without access to “in-area training”. |
| 28-May-85 | 816 Sqn NAS Nowra | Night SAR/recovery trials with SASR waterborne TAG. |
| 01-May-85 | 817 Sqn East Sale | Recce East Sale in preparation for assuming role |
| 09-Sep-85 | 816 Sqn NAS Nowra | [until 19Sep85]. Full exercise with TAG including insertions HMAS Tobruk. NAS ROP has TAG exercising 16-20 Sep) |
| 29-Nov-85 | 816 Sqn NAS Nowra | [until 02Dec85] TAG insertions HMAS Adelaide and skills maintenance NAS. (NAS ROP stated FFG07 a better platform for Nat Task training than Tobruk or Jervis Bay) |
| 21-Apr-86 | 816 Sqn Edinburgh | [until 01May] Exercised deployment capability for CT |
| 01-May-86 | 816 Sqn East Sale | [until 24May86]. Full exercise with TAG – first Bass Strait exercise for 2 years. (NAS ROP has CT exercise 10-24 May – Exercise Swallow Dive 1/86) |
| 01-Jul-86 | 816 Sqn NAS Nowra | [until 30Jun86] SASR CT skills support – Exercise Jupiter. |
| 01-Jul-86 | 817 Stalwart Flight | Recce RANKIN rig WA with SAS |
| 11-Aug-86 | 816 Sqn East Sale | [until 22Aug86]. Full exercise with TAG – Exercise Rubber Duck 3/86. (NAS ROP has exercise from 11-23 Aug) |
| 26-Nov-86 | 816+817 Sqns East Sale | [until 03Dec86]. Full exercise with TAG – Exercise Red Fin. |
| 01-Feb-87 | 817 Sqn East Sale | Op Bursa workup |
| 01-Apr-87 | 817 Sqn East Sale | [until 10Apr87]. Full exercise with TAG – 4 x SK – Exercise Swallow Dive. |
| 30-Jun-87 | HU 816 Decommissioned | CT role transferred to HS 817 Sqn Sea King Mk 50/50A. 5 x Wx and 43 personnel transfer to 723 Sqn for utility duties including embarked ops. |
| 25-Nov-87 | 817 Sqn East Sale | [until 02Dec87]. Full exercise with TAG – 4 x SK – Exercise Swallow Dive – final assault not achieved due weather. |
| 10-May-88 | 817 Sqn East Sale | [until 19May88]. Full exercise with TAG – (4?) x SK – Exercise Swallow Dive. |
| 24-Nov-88 | 817 Sqn East Sale | [until 08Dec88]. Full exercise with TAG – (4) x SK – Exercise Red Fin. |
| 05-14Apr 89 | 817 Sqn East Sale | Full exercise with CDT4 & TAG – (4) x SK – Exercise Swallow Dive. |
| 27Nov 89-? | 817 Sqn East Sale | Full exercise with TAG – (2) x SK – Exercise (Red Fin). |
| Early Dec 89 | 817 Sqn East Sale | Two aircraft began the month at RAAF EAST SALE in support of Exercise SWALLOW DIVE. Owing to the reduced number of aircraft required flight hours were not achieved and the aims of the exercise only partially achieved. The attachment returned to NAS NOWRA on Saturday 9. |
| 01-Dec-89 | CT role transferred fm HS 817 Sqn |
