We have been notified that LCDR Raymond (Ray) Marshall Jones GLEX (O) RAN (Ret’d) has passed away recently in Canberra. Ray was born 28th February 1943 at Oakleigh Victoria and joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Midshipman SLEX from Murrumbeena Victoria on 17th April 1963 for initial Navy and Aircrew Training. After basic training he was posted to Malta in August 1963 for No. 71 Observer Course with the Royal Navy.
This course was conducted on the Percival Sea Prince for navigation, target tracking and tactical coordination training.
On completion of the Observer’s course, Ray joined 725 Squadron at HMAS Albatross for No. 3 Operational Conversion on the Wessex Mk 31A and then to 817 Squadron for each occasion of embarkation in HMAS Melbourne.
In 1966 this cycle was interrupted for a short period with a posting to 724 Squadron for a Sea Venom conversion and then 816 Squadron “B” Flight for embarked operations in HMAS Melbourne. 1967 saw Ray serving in the First Contingent of the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam and after training in Australia and then deployment to South Vietnam Ray was detached from the 135th AHC to undertake operations and Intelligence Duties with the 214th Aviation Battalion Headquarters at Bearcat which was to the West of Blackhorse the home base of the 135th. Later in 1968 Ray returned to the 135th at Blackhorse as the Company Assistant Operations Officer responsible for Intelligence and Briefing Support for the 135th AHC Aircrew.
January 1969 Ray had returned to HMAS Albatross and took up duties as SO (Air) a position he held for 18 months prior to being posted for Exchange Duties with the Royal Navy at HMS Osprey as an Instructor.
On return to Australia Ray became the Basic Aircrew Training Officer at HMAS Cerberus and later postings included HMAS Brisbane for Bridge Watchkeeping Training, Air Operations Officer at NAS Nowra, the Directorate of Naval Air Policy in Canberra and after completing the RAAF Advanced Navigation Course as Senior Naval Officer at RAAF Base East Sale.
Ray left the Navy after a 20-year career and gained a Bachelor of Arts degree before securing a job with the University of Tasmania, the State in which he lived. Amongst his many accomplishments he was as a published author reflecting his keen interest in Naval History. His book “Seagulls, Cruisers and Catapults” was an example, together with many other contributions of historical interest, and to professional naval and defence journals.
Ray’s daughter has advised that her father’s funeral will be on 9 June at 1600 at Canberra Memorial Park Memorial Hall.
Vale: LCDR. Ray Marshall Jones GLEX (O) RAN (Ret’d)
Thanks to Peter Coulson, Marcus Peake, Jack McCaffrie and the National Archive for help in complying this Notification.
Regards
Murray Smythe and Jeff Dalgliesh.
29 May 2026.
