This is very much a naval matter but hopefully the mods will let it go for it,s historical value…This last week has bought to an end to one of Australias most famous Naval Actions.And one of it,s most mysterious..full story here and the aviation link to it.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23386556-661,00.html
CPA 067/08 Tuesday, 18 March 2008
AIR FORCE DETACHMENT ON HMAS SYDNEY II
The discovery of the wreck of HMAS Sydney II helps close a chapter of Royal Australian Air Force history.
Six RAAF members were among the ship’s 645 crew when it went down with all hands in 1941. This small party was a detachment from RAAF’s No. 9 Squadron based at Rathmines, New South Wales. The detachment was embarked to operate and maintain the Seagull V Walrus amphibious aircraft which the light cruiser normally carried for reconnaissance, gunnery spotting, and search and rescue work.
Reports from German eyewitnesses (the only survivors of the action) later described how, during the opening salvos of the engagement, Kormoran hit HMAS Sydney II in the area between the ship’s funnels, where the Walrus A2-L2177 was sitting on its catapult.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, both acknowledged the sacrifices of the Air Force detachment when they addressed Parliament yesterday on the loss of HMAS Sydney II.
“I add my congratulations to The Finding Sydney Foundation and the Royal Australian Navy in locating HMAS Sydney II. This discovery is also a significant and emotional event for Air Force,” Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd said.
“I hope that tracing the ship’s resting place provides a degree of comfort to the families of the six RAAF members and the Royal Australian Navy crew who served their nation with courage and died in this fierce battle.” AIRMSHL Shepherd said.
The Air Force members lost with HMAS Sydney II were:
Flying Officer Raymond Barker Barrey (pilot), 25, from Welland, SA Flight Sergeant Sidney Marley (fitter 2E), 29, from Hamilton, NSW Corporal Arthur John Clarke (fitter armourer), 34, English-born, from Edithvale, Vic Corporal Roy Ebenezer Foster (fitter 2A), 36, from Petrie, QLD Leading Aircraftman Richard Dodds (fitter 2A), 26, English-born, from Sydney, NSW Leading Aircraftman Keith Homard (photographer), 27, from Maitland, NSW
Air Force is now seeking to contact the families of the No. 9 SQN members who were lost on HMAS Sydney II. Defence is establishing a toll free number and a website. Details will be announced shortly.
Taken from the Aussie modeller website.
By: Pete Truman - 21st March 2008 at 09:37
… after being ambushed by a german ship??? the germans had ships in the south pacific? thats crazy, though wonderful that she’s now been found 🙂
Nashio
The best thread on this is on General Discussion, Creaking Door found a fantastic site, you’ll see it on one of his postings, ref the Bismark, it will tell you all you want to know about the extent of German commerce raiding, and the action between the 2 ships, Sydney and Kormoran, the account of the Kormorans sea going ‘adventures’ is a fascinating read, and to keep on Historic, Kormoran was equiped with 2 Arado seaplanes.
By: Arabella-Cox - 21st March 2008 at 04:33
Not to get all moddy but there is already a thread running on this subject in Naval aviation.
But it is good news none the less.
curlyboy
By: Bager1968 - 21st March 2008 at 00:24
Here are links to the reports of the group that found both Sydney II and Kormoran:
The reports include sonar images and detailed descriptions of both what they found and how they found it.
The location (100 nm west of the coast of Western Australia) could actually be described as “extreme Eastern Indian Ocean”, not “South Pacific”.
By: CSheppardholedi - 20th March 2008 at 17:40
The German surface raiders roamed far and wide. Sank MUCH more shipping than the rest of the surface navy combined at a fraction of the cost. Tied up a lot of resources in searching for them and trying to sink them.
Here is a link to more specifics on this raider
http://www.scharnhorst-class.dk/miscellaneous/hilfskreuzer/kormoran.html
and at the bottom of the page you can toggle to other raiders
By: Nashio966 - 20th March 2008 at 17:10
… after being ambushed by a german ship??? the germans had ships in the south pacific? thats crazy, though wonderful that she’s now been found 🙂
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March 20, 2008 at 1:17 pm