Raymond Vincent Morritt O788 passed away in Sydney on 3rd May 2026. He was 92.Ray was born in Poona, India on 19th December 1933 before moving to Parkdale, Melbourne. He worked as a Clerk before joining the RAN for a six-year short service engagement on the 18th of January 1954 at HMAS Cerberus as a Naval Airman (Air Recruit). HMAS Moreton, RAAF Uranqunity and Point Cook for flying training followed as a member of 18 RAAF Pilots Course. Ray was promoted to ASLT on graduation from Flying Training on 17th June 1955.
At various times during his early flying career, he served in 724,725,816, 851 and 817 Squadrons, where he mainly flew Gannet ASW Aircraft from HMAS Albatross and embarked in HMAS Melbourne. 10th and 11thFebruary 1964 saw LEUT. Morritt as Senior Pilot of 816 Squadron actively involved in the Search for survivors after the HMAS Voyager disaster.
In 1965 Ray was one of a group of RAN Pilots and Observers who were sent to HMCS Shearwater, Nova Scotia, for a two-year training course on Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Trackers, which included embarked operations in HMCS Bonaventure the Canadian Aircraft Carrier. After converting to the S2E model of the Tracker with VS41 USN at NAS North Island San Diego the crews returned to NAS Nowra and formed the RAN Tracker Training Unit within VS816 complete with a Weapons System Trainer.
In late 1972, as CO of 816 Squadron (Trackers), he became the record-holder for carrier deck landings when he celebrated his 816th landing, most of them on Melbourne. He subsequently achieved 864 deck landings, a figure unlikely to be ever surpassed in the RAN. His previous records included the first night single-engine landing of a Gannet aboard Melbourne, and the first night ‘bolter’, again after an engine failure.
After promotion to Commander Ray became the Carrier Air Group Commander embarked in HMAS Melbourne before it paid off in March of 1978.
After retirement Ray became involved in various aviation pursuits both in Australia and overseas and he was a long-time member of the FAAAA but became inactive when he moved to into a high care facility in 2020.
Ray was a loving husband to Sue (deceased), treasured father & father-in-law to Mary Lou & Mark and Michael & Wendy. He was a cherished grandfather to Sarah, Katie & Matthew & great grandfather to Noah & Ethan.
Family and friends are warmly invited to attend his funeral service on Friday 15th May 2026 at 1pm, South Chapel, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, 199 Delhi Road, North Ryde. For those who are unable to attend a livestream link is available at
www.northernsuburbs
Vale: CMDR. Raymond (Affie) Vincent Morritt GLEX (P) RAN (Ret’d) 1933-2026.
Thanks to Jeff Dalgliesh, Murray Smythe, Phil Thompson and Jack McCaffrie for this obituary.
