FLIGHTS OVER CITY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29051, 13 November 1959, Page 7

FLIGHTS OVER CITY

Australian Jets From Carrier Sea Venom jet fighters and Gannet anti-submarine aircraft of the Royal Australian Navy will be launched from the aircraft-carrier H.M.A.S. Melbourne to fly over Invercargill on the morning of November 16, Dunedin on the afternoon of the same day, Christchurch at 8.45 a.m. on November 17, Wellington and Wairarapa at 11.30 a.m. on November 21 and Auckland at midday on November 25. They will come from the two squadrons in the ship, 805 and 816. These are normally based at the R.A.N. Air Station at Nowra, 100 miles south of Sydney but they embark in Melbourne for two cruises a year, says a Royal New Zealand Navy news release. The first squadron, 805, was first formed on New Year’s Day, 1941, in the Mediterranean. It took part in the Battle of Crete, being based on Maleme airfield with an emergency collection of four different types of aircraft. When these were all destroyed the survivors were evacuated to Egypt where the squadron was reformed and.continued to fight from desert bases. It became ‘an Australian squadron in 1948 and saw Korean war service in a ground attack role. In 1958 it received its Sea Venoms; it was then under the command of a New Zealander serving in the Royal Australian Navy, Lieutenant Commander G. A. Beange, of Hamilton. Other New Zealanders .who have served at times with 805 Squadron are Commander W. G. Bowles (Auckland), Lieutenant Commander P. W. Seed '(Wellington), Lieutenant H- S. C. Young (Wanganui) and Lieutenant E. A. Barnes (Rotorua),

Anti-submarine Roles The other squadron, 816, began with the outbreak of war in September, 1939. It was equipped with the famous Swordfish and has had anti-submarine roles throughout its history.

This began with the first airborne torpedo attack on enemy shipping off the Norwegian coast in April, 1940. The squadron continued operating in the North Sea area until 1941 when it was transferred to the Ark Royal which was operating in the Mediterranean. When the Ark Royal was sunk, the squadron temporarily disbanded, but was reformed to spend the remainder of the war flying from carriers on antisubmarine operations. ' It became an Australian squadron with 805 and also served in Korea. It received its Gannets m 1955 and has since flown 6700 hours and made more than 3500 deck landings. One New Zealander, Lieutenant J. G. Corbett, of Otorohanga, has served with tne squadron.