A gift to Ron Cochrane, a member of the Navy commissioning team of HMAS Voyager. The box was handmade by two brothers CLARK/E (?) from Benalla. The signatures done in ball point pen belonged to the crew attached to the portside Forward Mess. They presented the box to Cochrane who was responsible for the Mess as a token of appreciation. Ron Cochrane R46195 served as a Leading Hand with the Royal Australian Navy between 1951 and 1957 and served on numerous ships including HMAS Voyager between 6/2 - 6/10/1957. He was born on 20/3/1933 at Ballarat East. Daring class destroyer, Voyager, was the first ship of her class to enter Australian service, and the first all-welded ship to be built in Australia. During the night of 10 February 1964, Voyager and the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne collided off Jervis Bay, when the destroyer passed in front of the carrier during post-refit sea trials. Voyager was cut in two by the collision, sinking with the loss of 82 of the 314 people aboard. This was the largest loss of Australian military personnel in peacetime, and the subsequent investigations resulted in the holding of two Royal Commissions—the only time in Australian history this has occurred.Cream painted wooden box with metal hinges. There is an inscription and ship on the lid and autographs written in ink on the underside of the lid. On top of lid - HMAS Voyager 1957 On bottom: Bills, bills and more bills !!!!!! Dotted line R Cochranehmas, voyager

At the height of the Vietnam War, allied tactical fighter aircraft flew over 700 missions every day against ground targets across the southern republic.vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 - aerial operations - american, air pilots ., military - australia - personal narratives., fac, forward air controllers, bird dog, cessna

Index, notes, Appendices, ill, p.134.In 'Seagulls, Cruisers and Catapults' Ray Jones has written an authoritative account of the technical, operational and political aspects of Australian naval aviation from Admiral Creswell's 1913 plan for naval aviation until the last aircraft catapult was removed from an Australian cruiser in 1944.The Navy's role as catalyst in the formation of the Air Force is outlined for the first time and details of the sometimes acrimonius struggle between Navy and Air Force over naval aviation are provided. No serious work of RAN history can deal with the mid-war years without taking account of advice from London and the Admiralty's influence on RAN aviation planning is made clear. Operation of aircraft, such as the Seagull III and Seagull V amphibians, from Australian warships are described and the rationale of cruiser aircraft operations are illustrated by the number shot down or damaged performing their essential task in wartime. The vital role of aircraft operating from cruisers searching for raiders and taking part in fleet operations defending Australia in 1942 is stressed. Extensive archival research in Melbourne, Canberra and London, combined with hours of interviews with the men who flew aircraft from cruisers and carrier, has ensured a balanced and well-rounded narrative which is an essential addition to the library of any naval or aviation history enthusiast.airplanes - military - australia, world war 1939-1945 - naval operations - australia