Colour Photo in Gold Frame. Burgandy Mat crashed Wessex Helicopter- Shoalwater Bay 1966 7 RAR Badge/ British Marine helicpoter.SHOALWATER BAY 1966. Donated by PTE LYALL CLAYTON,TPT PLATOON,ADMIN coy.7 RAR.7 rar, wessex (helicopter)

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of Australian Navy Sea King Wessex helicopters prepare to take off the flight deck of the "Vung Tau Ferry" HMAS Sydney to carry out anti-submarine sweeps around the Sydney and her destroyer escort.photograph, hmas sydney, vung tau ferry, wessex (helicopter), gibbons collection catalogue, australan navy sea king wessex, denis gibbons

31B Westland Wessex helicopter, painted blue and white. On the side of the helicopter reads NAVY 30model, helicopter, wessex 31b

Manual has a yellow cover with black writing on it. Manual is enclosed in a A4 plastic cover.wessex (helicopter), royal australian navy

Two blue coloured manuals with a white sticker in the middle of the page. The manuals are held together with metal screwswessex (helicopter), lecture notes

The Wessex was used between 1964 and 1984 by the Australian Navy in Australia and Oceania. This helicopter, no 31, also use for disaster relief in Darwin after Cyclone Tracy.Manufactured in Britain from a USA design, the Wessex was jet powered (Napier Gazelle), a multi-role helicopter used in air sea rescue, anti-submarine, ambulance, troop and freight carrying. Dependent on the mission profile, the aircraft carried a crew from three to five including two pilots.Includes a full set of Royal Australian Navy insignia and carries the Serial No. N7-221 and Navy Side No. 31.RAN Roundel. Navy Registration N7-221. No31, a/c safety markings. Tiger Head Unit Logo of 816 Sqnhelicopters, military equipment, wedssex, troop carrier, navy

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph two Australian Navy Wessex helicopters return to the flight deck of the "Vung Tau Ferry" HMAS Sydney after completing anti-submarine sweeps around the Sydney and her destroyer escorts. the Syndey was ferrying 9 RAR to Vung Tau to commence was service.photograph, ran, wessex, hmas sydney, vung tau ferry, 9 rar, gibbons collection catalogue, australia. royal australian navy, vung tau, helicopters, denis gibbons

In July 1947, the Commonwealth Defence Council approved the formation of a Fleet Air Arm which would be controlled and operated by the RAN. The initial planning included purchase of two aircraft carriers, aircraft and establishment of shore facilities. The carriers were named HMA Ships Sydney and Melbourne, and the shore facilities were at Nowra. HMAS Albatross was commissioned in August 1948 and the 20th Carrier Air Group, comprising Sea Fury and Firefly aircraft, was brought from England to Australia by HMAS Sydney. These aircraft, operated by 805 and 816 Squadrons, disembarked to Nowra in May 1949. In November 1950, they were joined by the Carrier Air Group of 808 and 817 Squadrons, also flying Sea Furies and Fireflies. HMAS Albatross has been expanding ever since. As more capable aircraft have been acquired, so ground support facilities have had to be built. In 1955, Sea Venoms and Gannets arrived, requiring radar workshops and test facilities. More aircraft necessitated stricter standards of air traffic control and a new control tower was built in 1958. In 1964 the introduction of Wessex helicopters, with a dunking sonar capability, required a further expansion of services. In 1965, it was decided to buy American aircraft to replace the ageing British Gannets and Sea Venoms. McDonnell Douglas Skyhawks and Grumman Trackers were chosenand additional avionics facilities were built to service the complex equipment they carried. The helicopters now based at HMAS Albatross have restored to the RAN much of the anti-submarine capability lost when the Tracker squadron was disbanded in 1983. In recent years significant redevelopment has taken place, continuing the operation of HMAS Albatross and recognising its strategic importance as the sole Royal Australian Navy Air Station.Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S. Albatross H.M.A.S. Albatross

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of two Navy pilots from the Sea King anti-submarine helicopter on board "the Vung Tau Ferry" HMAS Sydney, delivering the 9th Battalion to war service. They prepare to take off on patrol once HMAS Sydney reached the waters off Vietnam.photograph, ran, wessex, hmas sydney, vung tau ferry, 9th battalion, anti-submarine, sea king, navy, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, australian navy pilots, sea king anti-submarine

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of the naval ground crew preparing a Sea King helicopter for a Anti-submarine flight around Vung Tau Ferry HMAS Sydney. Sydney had entered Vietnamese waters and went on full alert as it headed for Vung Tau with the 9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.photograph, sea king helicopter, hmas sydney, vung tau ferry, 9th battalion, royal australian regiment, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, navy ground crew, vung tau