The Geoff mentioned in the inscription is Geoff Biddington.Children's book with colour and black and white illustrations.Inside front cover "To Geoff With Best Wishes From Aunty Vi 1932army, airforce, navy, armed service, royal marines, sailors, naval aircraft carrier, signalling, submarine, royal horse guards, military band, drum major, argyll and sutherland highlanders, royal artillery, machine gunners, tanks, bridge building, the piper, whippet tank, airmen, armstrong whitworth atlas machine, hawlker fury aeroplance, super-marine napier, schneider racing aeroplane, fairet iiif sea-plane, hawker hart day bomber, parachute jumping, schneifer trophy sea-plane, bristol bulldogs, iris flying-boat, geoff biddington, uniforms

HMAS Melbourne (R21) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Australian Navy. Operating from 1955 until 1982, she was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier to serve in the RAN. Melbourne was the only Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions.Melbourne never fired a shot in anger during her career, having only peripheral, non-combat roles in relation to the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and the Vietnam War.Rectangular in shape Fibreboard mounted print of HMAS Melbourne.australian aircraft carrier, hmas, lara r.s.l., hmas melbourne

HMAS Melbourne (R21) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Operating from 1955 until 1982, she was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier to serve in the RAN. Melbourne was the only British Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions. The ship was laid down for the British Royal Navy as the lead ship of the Majestic class in April 1943, and was launched as HMS Majestic (R77) in February 1945. At the end of World War II, work on the ship was suspended until she was purchased by the RAN in 1947. At the time of purchase, it was decided to incorporate new aircraft carrier technologies into the design, making Melbourne the third ship to be constructed with an angled flight deck. Delays in construction and integrating the enhancements meant that the carrier was not commissioned until 1955. Melbourne never fired a shot in anger during her career, having only peripheral, non-combat roles in relation to the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and the Vietnam War. However, she was involved in two major collisions with allied vessels. On the evening of 10 February 1964, Melbourne collided with and sank HMAS Voyager when the Daring class destroyer altered course across her bow. Eighty-two of Voyager's crew were killed, and two Royal Commissions were held to investigate the incident. The second collision occurred in the early morning of 3 June 1969, when Melbourne collided with and sank the Allen M. Sumner class destroyer USS Frank E. Evans in similar circumstances. Seventy-four United States Navy (USN) personnel died, and a joint USN–RAN Board of Inquiry was held. These incidents, along with several minor collisions, shipboard accidents, and aircraft losses, led to the reputation that Melbourne was jinxed. Melbourne was paid off from RAN service in 1982. A proposal to convert her for use as a floating casino failed, and a 1984 sale was cancelled, before she was sold in 1985 and towed to China for breaking. The scrapping was delayed so Melbourne could be studied by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as part of a secret project to develop a Chinese aircraft carrier and used to train PLAN aviators in carrier flight operations. HMAS Melbourne was decommissioned on 30 June 1982, having spent 62,036 hours underway and having steamed 868,893 nautical miles. A proposal to convert her for use as a floating casino failed, and a 1984 sale was cancelled, before she was sold for scrap in 1985 and towed to China for breaking. The scrapping was delayed so Melbourne could be studied by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as part of a secret project to develop a Chinese aircraft carrier and used to train PLAN aviators in carrier flight operations.The pictorial history of HMAS Melbourne with rare photos. Now a scarce title and highly desirable title that is now long out of print. Has provenance history of all ships movements from 1955 till decommissioned.HMAS Melbourne 25 YearsOn the front page is a picture of HMAS Melbourne with the words at top "H.M.A.S. Melbourne. At bottom are the words in orange, '25 Years'. In white, are the words 'by Ross Gillett' then 'Forward by Rear Admiral G.G.O. Gatacre C.B.E. DSO. DSC & Bar, RAN'. On the rear page is a list of all the Captains that served on the HMAS Melbourne between 1955-1980.hmas melbourne, aircraft carrier, royal australian navy, australian navy, westland whirlwind, sea venom, fairy gannet, bristol sycamore, westland wessex, douglas skyhawk, grumman tracker, westland sea king, fleet air arm, hmas albatross, nowra

Index, ill, p.141.non-fictionIncludes ships from the Nile craft of 3000 B.C. to the modern American aircraft carrier. Emphasizes that the fighting ship has always been not merely a weapon of war but a beautiful and intensely personal creation, possessing a supreme combination of functional and decorative qualities.naval art and science, warships - history

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

Ill, p.176.non-fictionFlying allied carrier aircraft of World War Two illustrated with cutaway and cockpit interior drawingsworld war 1939-1945 - aerial operations, carrier based aircraft

Ill, p.159.non-fictionThe battle of Midway, as a result of US forces sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers the tide of war changed in the Pacific world war 1939 – 1945 – campaigns – pacific, world war 1939-1945 - naval operations - united states

Ill, p.32.non-fictionPlans, photographs and descriptions of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV10)naval art and science - history, naval ships - history

The dates and compsition of the 25 Troop Transport Task Force groups that served in the operational area during Australia's involvement in Vietnam 1965-72.vietnam war, 1961-1975 - naval operations, hmas sydney (aircraft carrier), the vung tau ferry, royal australian navy, hmas sydney, 25 troop transport task force

The dates and compsition of the 25 Troop Transport Task Force groups that served in the operational area during Australia's involvement in Vietnam 1965-72.vietnam war, 1961-1975 - naval operations, hmas sydney (aircraft carrier), the vung tau ferry, 25 troop transport task force, royal australian navy, australia. royal australian navy, hmas s, hmas sydney

The dates and compsition of the 25 Troop Transport Task Force groups that served in the operational area during Australia's involvement in Vietnam 1965-72.vietnam war, 1961-1975 - naval operations, hmas sydney (aircraft carrier), hmas sydney, the vung tau ferry, 25, 25 troop transport task force, royal australian navy

Its called the Silent Service. The Royal Australian Navy is not always in the news or in the spotlight, or sought out by the news, as are the other military services of this great country of ours, us matloes or sailors tend to be the most effective and efficient in times of war as well as peace over the horizon - away from the media.cruisers (warships) - australia - history, vietnam war, 1961-1975 - naval operations, hmas sydney (aircraft carrier), the vung tau ferry, royal australian navy, australia. royal australian navy

An imaginary gathering of the nine Australian Ships which at different times served the United Nations Forces fighting the North Koreans and Chinese during the Korean War of 1950-53. The item belonged to Clarence Stanley FLENTJAR R38429 who enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy. He served on HMAS Cerebus, Tobruk and Melville and a veteran of the Korean War. The Korean War was a war fought between North Korea and South Korea from 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953. The war began on 25 June 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea following clashes along the border and rebellions in South Korea.North Korea was supported by China and the Soviet Union while South Korea was supported by the United Nations, principally the United States. The fighting ended with an armistice on 27 July 1953.Black frame with cream mount containing a screen print on silk depicting 9 naval ships and 4 airborne aircraft at sea Australia's Navy in the Korean War 1950-53 An imaginary gathering of the nine Australian Ships which at different times served the United Nations Forces fighting the North Koreans and Chinese during the Korean War of 1950-53. The aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney, in the centre, is being screened in close order by (clockwise from top centre) the frigates Condamine, Culgoa, Shoalhaven and Murchison, and the destroyers Tobruk, Warramunga, Anzac and Bataan. Airborne overhead are Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft from HMAS Sydney. White Plaque - mounted on glass - C S FLENTJAR 38429 HMAS Tobruk D37 Korea 1951-1952ran, korean war, hmas tobruk, hmas cerebus, hmas melville

HMAS Melbourne never fired a shot in anger during her career, having only peripheral, non-combat roles in relation to the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and the Vietnam War. She was, however, involved in two major collisions with allied vessels; though Melbourne was found not to be the primary cause of either incident. The first occurred on the evening of 10 February 1964, in which Melbourne rammed and sank the RAN destroyer HMAS Voyager when the latter altered course across her bow. Eighty-two of Voyager's personnel were killed, and two Royal Commissions were held to investigate the incident. The second collision occurred in the early morning of 3 June 1969, when Melbourne also rammed the United States Navy (USN) destroyer USS Frank E. Evans in similar circumstances. Seventy-four American personnel died, and a joint USN–RAN Board of Inquiry was held. These incidents, along with several minor collisions, shipboard accidents, and aircraft losses, led to the reputation that Melbourne was jinxed. HMAS Melbourne was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Operating from 1955 until 1982, she was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier to serve in the RAN. Melbourne was the only Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisionsMoulded patterned black plastic frame and mount containing black and white print of hand drawn ship at seaThe Majestic Melbourne Dedicated to those who servedhmas melbourne, ran, aircraft carrier

Index, bib, ill, maps, p.349.non-fictionAn account of the aircraft carrier Ark Royal during World War twoworld war 1939-1945 - naval operations - britain, aitcraft carriers - britain