The Sea Fury and Firefly In Service With The Ran Fleet Air Arm Part III

On 16 July 1952, VW622 crashed on the runway at Nowra while performing a low-level roll during aerobatic practice for an Air Day with the loss of Lieutenant Commander Douglas Hare, CO of 805 Squadron.

On 17 May 1953, Sea Fury VX762 flown by Lieutenant Commander Reginald Wild DFC, a World War II and Korean War veteran, Commanding Officer of 850 Squadron was lost when his aircraft collided with a de Havilland Tiger Moth over Forest Hill aerodrome near Wagga Wagga. The Tiger Moth occupants were uninjured after their aircraft came down.

The flight of four Sea Furies was returning to Nowra after exercises over Wagga Wagga and the Uranquinty air base. A witness said the aircraft continued for another two miles and tried to make a forced landing, gradually losing height before coming down in trees.

The Sea Furies were in formation about 150 feet above the ground when the Tiger Moth took off with the Sea Fury colliding with the Tiger Moth’s undercarriage.

The attendees at an air pageant held at Griffith airfield, NSW, on 15 May 1955 got a demonstration of survival from an aircraft collision between Sea Furies from 805 Squadron during a formation landing display. The aircraft were landing in sequence in dusty conditions, which progressively reduced visibility. Sea Fury WZ642, the third aircraft to land, collided with preceding Sea Fury WZ652 slicing off the tail section with fortunately no injuries suffered.

On 21 July 1955, WZ644 Lieutenant Ronald Leeson from No 805 Squadron was engaged on a cloud flying exercise and reported overdue. The wreckage was subsequently found at the Beecroft Head Bombing Range with the pilot having died in the accident.

On 19 October 1955, WZ646 acting Sub Lieutenant K C W Henry from No 805 Squadron was killed when he crashed into the sea off Wreck Bay, NSW.

On 12 April 1956, WH586 flown by acting Sub Lieutenant Brian Howe of 724 Squadron on a night flying sortie was killed when the aircraft dived into ground near RNAS Nowra.

On 14 June 1957, WZ645 flown by acting Sub Lieutenant C Patterson suffered an engine failure after completing a 30-degree rocket dive and force landed on Currawong Beach, with the pilot escaping before a fire broke out and destroyed the aircraft.

On 18 June 1957, VX730 flown by Sub Lieutenant Davidson of 805 Squadron suffered an engine failure and made a wheels up forced landing on Currawong Beach with the aircraft slightly damaged. The recovery from an inaccessible location saw the aircraft suer more damage than experienced in the landing. Sold to NSW Department of Education 9 March 1959. Later displayed in AWM with parts possibly from Sea Furies TF925 and VW232.

Of some of the Firefly losses, mention is made of two, seeming to be sadly linked by fate to a planned event, another was a collision with a later dogged determination to find the lost crew, and a third due to bad luck in night flying.

On 19 February 1952, WB523 did not return from a night patrol exercise and thought to have crashed into sea off Moruya with loss of Lieutenant Brian Wall and Sub Lieutenant Douglas Saunders. Despite an extensive search by RAN and RAAF aircraft and ships over several days, the aircraft and crew were never located.

“In action over Korea, The Sea Furies were used for ground attack and not as interceptors”

On 22 February 1952, WB522, after a flare dropping exercise, crashed o Seven Mile Beach into sea with Sub Lieutenant Durrant Small and Chief Petty Officer OBS1 J G Sharpe declared missing and presumed dead. SBLT Small was to have been soon married, and SBLT Saunders, lost three days earlier, was to have been his Best Man.

On 27 November 1956, after a rendezvous over Huskisson, WD887 flown by acting Sub Lieutenant Arthur Arundel RN with observer Midshipman Noel Fogarty were killed when their aircraft collided with VX381 flown by acting Sub Lieutenant John David Eagles RN with observer Midshipman Donald Debus over Jervis Bay near the opening to Moona Moona Creek. An extensive search at that time for WD887 was unable to locate either the wreckage or its crew. The other Firefly VX381 ditched in Hare Bay on the Beecroft Peninsular with both crew rescued by a RAN helicopter. Many years later in a quest to solve the mystery of the missing WD887, North Nowra diver Greg Stubbs contacted survivor David Eagles in the UK, who in an impressive flying career, had become the chief test pilot for British Aerospace.

The approach to Eagles saw him visit Australia in 2016 to assist in a new search. The wreckage of WD887 was eventually located, and on 27 November 2016, exactly 60 years later, a memorial service was conducted by the Commander of the Fleet Air Arm, Commodore Chris Smallhorn, with a wreath placed over the site in Jervis Bay. Even more moving and symbolic was the placing of a granite plaque on the sea floor by Stubbs and Navy divers next to the sunken aircraft. As for VX381, in 1983 it was found in 15 metres of water to become a popular site for divers.

On 20 March 1957, WD869 impacted high terrain when the pilot incorrectly believed the light observed from Kiama Lighthouse was being emitted from Point Perpendicular Lighthouse on Beecroft Head, the assumption placing the aircraft about 20 miles north of the required track for a safe descent to HMAS Albatross. The Firefly tragically hit mountains surrounding the Foxground Valley near Berry with the loss of Sub Lieutenant Warren Browne and observer Midshipman Ian Caird.

A RAN Sea Fury claims an airborne target

In action over Korea, the Sea Furies were used for ground attack and not as interceptors. But at last, a RAN Sea Fury was to claim its first and what was its only kill. At 0856 hours on 30 August 1955, Anthony Thrower was at Bankstown engaged in a flying training session in Auster J/4 Archer VH-AET hired from Kingsford Smith Flying Service, unaware of what he was about to set in motion. He had earlier flown in the aircraft and after encountering engine problems returned to the airport. After landing he swung the propeller to recommence his training session as the aircraft did not have a self-starter. To his dismay the aircraft moved off before he could rejoin it and took off on its pilotless flight. After circling Bankstown for about 15 minutes the Auster flew over the city and out to sea climbing to about 10,000 feet.

To remedy the situation the military was called into action with the RAAF rallying to the cause. A Wirraway arrived on the scene but with temperatures sitting at about minus 5 degrees the gunner’s hands froze to his Bren gun and the aircraft disengaged the chase. Undaunted, the RAAF enlisted a Meteor into battle, only to find its guns jammed after firing a few rounds. The RAN now joined the battle with two Sea Furies from 805 Squadron summoned into the fray, with VW645 flown by Lieutenant John Bluett RN and WZ650 flown by Lieutenant Peter McNay RN shooting down the Auster about six miles north-east off Broken Bay at about 1135 hours. A crowd of thousands on surrounding vantage points was watching the drama unfold over the ocean. It was believed to be a record for the duration of a pilotless aircraft to remain airborne.

Disposal and other careers

The disposal of Sea Furies took place during 1959-1963 and a number were observed stored in the open in a cocooned state at HMAS Nirimba at Schofields. A large number ended their days sold to scrap metal companies. Some survivors were used for flying training with 724 and 725 Squadrons with the last recorded flight in October 1962. A farewell flight was conducted over Sydney Harbour on 18 March 1958 but there was one opportunity to still see them flying. At Nowra on 2 October 1961 the public had the opportunity to observe the beautifully painted blue gloss duo WH588 and WH589 participating in an air display. Both these aircraft, together with WH587, were later sold overseas, highly regarded as air racers with modifications to improve performance. The blue twins had diverse careers, with WH588 initially registered as VH-BOU, then N588, eventually to the UK as G-EEMV. Unfortunately, it crashed at Sywell tragically killing owner pilot Paul Morgan and later moved to Sweden for restoration. The other aircraft, WH589, ended up as part of the highly modified Sea Fury named Furias, now powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major 28-cylinder four row engine, normally installed in aircraft such as the B-50 and B-36.

However, after Navy service there was another use for two Sea Furies, with VW647 and WG630 sold on 15 November 1959 to the CSIRO’s Commonwealth Experimental Building Station located off Delhi Road, Ryde, Sydney, and used for testing the strength of windows in buildings. To achieve this, WG630, now painted yellow with a red painted tail, propeller spinner and canopy surround, was mounted on a very rugged steel stand with the outer wings removed. The windows to be tested were mounted in a structure behind the aircraft. To achieve the desired effect of the test structure being impacted by a water deluge, a circular ring to dispense water was placed in front of the tail. The engine was started, water introduced to flow from the ring, with the high velocity water stream then testing the window strength. Retained as a spare, VW647 was similarly painted and stored in a nearby shed.

When this writer told Harold Thomas, who owned the aircraft museum at Camden, about the Ryde test facility, he expressed interest in obtaining one of the Ryde Sea Furies. He said, “If I get one of the Sea Furies I might be able to get a Fairey Gannet for the Experimental Station to be used as substitute.” In the end, Thomas did get VW647, which was removed from Ryde to Camden on 25 October 1969. In his typical “can do” manner, Thomas reassembled and restored the Sea Fury appearing once again in RAN colours. As for the other Ryde Sea Fury, WG630, when no longer required by the CSIRO for the tests, it went in 1986 to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, then to the RAN Historic Flight at Nowra where selected parts were used for the restoration of the Flight’s Sea Fury VW623, formerly a gate guard at the base entrance. In December 2018, WG630 together with other naval aircraft from Nowra was moved to Albion Park as part of the HARS Navy Heritage Flight. There is no evidence the Gannet was considered as a Sea Fury replacement for the Ryde installation.

The Firefly continued in service until 1955 with deliveries of its replacement Gannet underway, with Nos. 816 and 817 Firefly Squadrons decommissioned at Nowra on 27 April 1955. Some aircraft were modified to T.5 standard with a distinctive dual cockpit pilot training configuration while others served as target tugs with altered colours in service at different times with 723, 724 and 725 Squadrons. The final RAN Firefly flight took place on 1 March 1966.

However, the appeal of the Firefly saw examples retained for exhibition in Australia while others were sold overseas. On 27 October 1966, the Department of Supply called tenders for the sale of six target towing Fireflies, VX388, WB271, WB518, WD828, WD840 and WD901 and four spare engines. After retirement in February 1966 the aircraft were flown the following month from Nowra to Bankstown where they were kept at de Havilland in a state of partial airworthiness pending sale. All of these aircraft were subsequently purchased with five eventually ending up overseas in the UK, US and Canada. One Firefly in particular was to be given an impressive send-off.

The largest peace-time naval exercise held near Australia took place in October 1966 involving 20 ships and submarines from Australia, New Zealand, Britain and the US. After the conclusion, a flotilla of 18 ships headed by HMS Victorious entered Sydney Harbour on 28 October, the largest fleet visit since the end of World War II. The CO of No. 814 Squadron, the ship’s helicopter squadron, was aware of the surplus RAN Fireflies on offer and after finding WB271 was in exceptional condition, the aircraft was bought for £160 sterling. On 10 November 1966, with WB271 proudly parked on board with sailors ceremoniously arranged on the deck, the ship with its new Firefly departed for home. After arrival, the Firefly was transported by road to new owners the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton. On 12 July 2003, the aircraft was lost in an accident while performing a solo display at Duxford with the sad loss of Lieutenant Commander Bill Murton and Neil Rix.

Apart from the sale of the Australian Fireflies there was also a market for their liquid-cooled Rolls-Royce Griffon engines adapted for marine use. This saw former RAN Griffons installed in racing hydroplanes taking advantage of the immense power of the engine. Both engines and boats were modified to enhance performance.

Of the 101 Sea Furies in RAN service, 10 were lost in crashes and 10 lost in combat in Korea. Of the remainder, 44 were sold to scrap dealers while others were removed from service and struck off charge.

Of the 108 Fireflies, 11 were lost in crashes including three in the Korean theatre of operations. A significant 75 were sold to scrap dealers and others were scrapped by the military after withdrawal from service.

“A large number ended their days sold to scrap metal companies”

A proud legacy

A pleasing development in recent years has been the recognition of the benefit of preserving our military aviation heritage. This has resulted in some of the surviving Sea Furies and Fireflies on display in locations, such as aircraft museums and the Australian War Memorial, readily accessible to the public. Others are in private museums not currently open, while some are in the process of restoration. One important move has been the establishment of the HARS Navy Heritage Flight (NHF) to restore and operate selected RAN heritage aircraft. HARS successfully tendered to acquire selected aircraft and spares formerly in service with the RAN Fleet Air Arm. This will see restoration of some airframes to at least static status in the years ahead. One of the aircraft included in the impressive list of airframes acquired is the Sea Fury WG630 previously with the Experimental Building Station, Ryde. This aircraft, along with some of the other NHF aircraft, is temporarily located at the Air Affairs Albatross Aviation Technology Park. Other aircraft are at Albion Park and one at the HARS Parkes Aviation Museum.

In addition to retired RAN aircraft, the popularity of the Sea Fury saw five former Iraqi FB-10s imported into Australia in the 1980s, wearing representations of RAN markings with some subsequently exported.

The infant RAN Fleet Air Arm formed in the 1940s, thrust into combat not long after in the early 1950s, acquitted itself with distinction in the Korean War. After completion of the seven Korean patrols, HMAS Sydney arrived in Sasebo on 26 January 1952 on her homeward voyage to Australia. Among farewell messages received, one was from Vice Admiral Harold Martin USN, Commander US 7th Fleet, which concluded, “Sydney has upheld highest traditions of Commonwealth Navy. With great respect for the proven fighting ability of this fine ship and its embarked air groups, I extend to all hands our heartfelt thanks for a job well done. May you all have a safe and happy journey to a well-deserved rest”

The events of those early years have been instrumental in establishing a proud tradition of the Navy’s Air Arm, embracing new generations of aircraft, which has served Australia so well in times of war and peace, illustrated prominently in times of recent natural disasters in our country.