A89-302
History:
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A89-595
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06APR51 | Serial number A89-595 allotted. (Source: 2) |
12OCT51 | Belly landed at Lake Muroc when starboard main gear would not lower. (Source: 2) |
22OCT51 | Flown from Muroc to Alameda for further repairs. (Source: 2) |
04NOV51 | Departed California on delivery to Australia. (Source: 2) |
21NOV51 | Received at No 1 Aircraft Depot, Laverton, Vic. (Source: 2) |
30NOV51 | Arrived
at No 11 Squadron Pearce, WA. Crewed by: WGCDR D. Vernon, DSO FLTLT P. Cooney FSGT G.W.A. Hessels FLGOFF R.B. Denniston FSGT M.L. Donoghue WOFF G.E.H. Wilson SGT L.E. Davies SGT A.G. May (Source: 1) |
A89-302
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15AUG52
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To be renumbered A89-302. (Source: 2) |
22AUG52
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Renumbered A89-302 "as part of a simplified numbering system". (Source: 2) |
15SEP52
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Scattered flower petals over St George's Terrace, Perth as part of Air Force Week. (Source: 1) |
08OCT53
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A89-302
departed Pearce for Cocos Island to provide a radio link for aircraft
participating in the London-Christchurch Air Race. The aircraft was
crewed by: FLTLT G. Michael (Captain) FLGOFF G.P. Watkin (Pilot) SQNLDR R. Heathcote (Signaller) FLGOFF M. Nestor (Navigator) FSGT P.H. Stephens (Navigator) WOFF A.K. Crooks (Signaller) SGT J.A. Treadwell (Signaller) (Source: 1) Photo of A89-302 on Cocos Island. |
09OCT53
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A89-302 arrived back at Pearce from Cocos Island. Total flying time: 18 hours. (Source: 1) |
24MAY54
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11SQN moved from Pearce, WA to Richmond, NSW. The aircraft were ferried during the period 24-27MAY54. (Source: 1) |
Mark
2 Conversion
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20OCT55
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Received at 2AD ex 11SQN. (Source: 2 shows 22MAR55) Explanation |
13SEP56
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Received at 11SQN ex 2AD. (Source: 2 shows 18SEP55) Explanation |
22MAR56
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Damaged in a storm at Richmond when the wheel chocks moved. Damage to nacelles was repaired at 11SQN. (Source: 2) |
19JUN59
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Received at 2AD, Richmond for preparation for ferry flight to Ontario, California for conversion to P2V-5F standards (Jet Pod Modification). (Source: 2) |
Mark
4 Conversion
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25JUN59
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Departed for USA along with A89-310 and A89-312 for Jet Pod Mod. (Source: 1) |
20OCT59
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Returned from the USA. (Source: 1) |
19JUN60
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Flown Richmond-Avalon for Mod 208 (WOMBAT) by CAC. (Source: 1) |
18JUL60
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Returned to 11SQN from CAC Avalon. (Source: 1) |
29MAR61
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Flown Richmond-Avalon for Mod 201 (FIREX) by CAC. (Source: 1). |
01MAY61
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Returned to 11SQN after FIREX mod. (Source: 1) |
62
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Redesignated P-2E. (Source: 2) |
28JUN63
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Received at 2AD, Richmond ex 11SQN for corrosion repairs. (Source: 2) |
15NOV63
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Received at 11SQN ex 2AD. (Source: 2) |
29APR66
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Air Test by FLGOFF P.G. Clarey after D Service at Richmond. (Source: 1) |
17OCT66
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The submarine USS Tiru reported engine problems 350 miles north-east of Townsville. A89-302 under the command of FLTLT A.R. Millman (RAF) departed Richmond at 2330 to drop a piston in a storpedo. After a successful drop the aircraft returned to Richmond after 15 hours in the air. (Source: 1) |
06DEC66
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Departed Richmond for East Sale on a crew training detail. The aircraft returned to Richmond on 07DEC66. This is the last recorded operation by A89-302 in the 11SQN ORB but evidently not all flights were recorded as the Squadron was preoccupied with the introduction of the P-3B Orion. (Source: 1) |
07MAR67
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Allotted to the RAAF School of Technical Training at Wagga Wagga, NSW for conversion to an instructional aid as INST No 2. (Source: 2) |
20MAR67
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A89-302 was flown to Wagga Wagga by FLTLT Richardson and a skeleton crew who returned to Richmond by civil aircaft the same day. (Source: 1) |
20MAR67
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Issued to RSTT Wagga. (Source: 2) |
10JUN74
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Being restored by RSTT for unit display purposes. Aircraft is in generally good condition but short of some components. (Source: 2) |
28JUL75
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It was reported that the aircraft had been inadvertently used as a fire training aid. Its condition is poor and approximately 500 man days will be required to restore the aircraft. (Source: 2) |
25AUG75
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Neptunes A89-302 and A89-301 are to be assessed with a view to restoring A89-302 as an item of historical interest. (Source: 2) |
SEP75
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Damage to A89-302 is considerable and disposal as scrap is recommended. It is further recommended that one of the current Neptunes be used as a museum piece. (Source: 2) |
01FEB77
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Still held at Wagga. (Source: 2) |
01DEC80
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Held at Base Sqn Wagga/RSTT with R-3350 #562837 & #562842 and J-34 #201171. (Source: 2) |
01AUG83
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Still held at Wagga. (Source: 2) |
85
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The aircraft was photographed at Wagga painted light grey. Given photographic evidence that the aeroplane was still painted Sea Blue when it was delivered to Wagga as Instructional Neptune No 2, it is concluded that the aircraft was subsequently repainted Light Gull Grey at Wagga, possibly in 1974. By the time the aircraft was delivered to the RAAF Museum it was again Sea Blue so evidently it was repainted a second time while at Wagga. |
DEC85
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Still held Wagga. (Source: 2) |
DEC88
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Still held Wagga. (Source: 2) |
14SEP97
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Due to be trucked from Wagga to Point Cook for restoration by the RAAF Museum. As of May 1998, most of the airframe was still at Wagga although some components had been trucked to Point Cook. |
FEB00
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Major airframe components sighted at Laverton. Remainder of the aircraft is at Point Cook. |
25MAR12
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The fuselage was moved from external storage at Laverton to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. (Source: AA May 2012) |
01JUN18
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Gifted to HARS by the RAAF. |
14NOV18
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The aircraft departed Point Cook by road. |
16NOV18
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The aircraft arrived in Parkes. |
30JAN20
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The forward fuselage was attached to the centre section and the aircraft raised on its undercarriage. |
08OCT20
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By this date the aircraft was externally complete except for a few panels. The aircraft has also been painted. |
CAN YOU ASSIST WITH THE RESTORATION OF A89-302?A89-302 is the only remaining P2V-5/P-2E Neptune in Australia and HARS is committed to returning her to her former glory as a static exhibit. Unfortunately, time in storage has not been kind to the aeroplane and many internal items have gone missing over the years. If you can assist with genuine P2V-5/P-2E components, HARS will be very pleased to hear from you. Please contact HARS directly via their Website or email the Lockheed File. |
Notes
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SOURCES
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1
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NAA, RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 11 Squadron Nov 50 - Jun 67, Series number A9186. |
2
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RAAF Form E/E.88 Record Card. |
Issue | Date | Remarks |
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25 | 09AUG22 | |
24 | 27JAN22 |
Added
an image of the aircraft as A89-595.
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23 | 02NOV21 |
Added
references from 22MAR55 to 22MAR56.
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22 | 24NOV20 |
Added
a recent image of the aircraft
which is now externally complete. Thanks to Bob De La Hunty.
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21 | 10OCT20 |
The
aircraft is externally complete and has been painted.
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20 | 14FEB20 |
Added
a recent image of the aircraft
back on its undercarriage thanks to Bob De La Hunty.
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19 | 31JAN20 |
The
aircraft has been raised on its undercarriage.
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18 | 09JUN19 |
Added
references at 17OCT66 and 06DEC66 from Source 1.
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17 | 08JUN19 | |
16 | 07JUN19 |
Added
references at 29APR66 and 20MAR67 from Source 1.
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15 | 28NOV18 |
Added
three images of the aircraft being dismantled and loaded at
Point Cook.
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14 | 17NOV18 |
Added
details of the move from Point Cook to Parkes thanks to HARS.
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13 | 22AUG18 |
Added
an image of the aircraft at Wagga
in 1987 painted light gull grey. Thanks to Stephan Bowdrey.
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12 | 05JUL18 |
The
aircraft has been gifted to HARS. Added further information
from Source 2.
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11 | 10JUN16 |
Added
an image of the aircraft at Wagga
in 1985 painted light gull grey. Thanks to Marty Watson.
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10 | 12MAR16 |
Added
a reference to the aircraft assisting in the London to Christchurch
Air Race in October 1953.
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9 | 27FEB16 |
Added
an image thanks to Maurice Ritchie.
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8 | 05NOV15 |
Added
return date from the Jet Pod Mod.
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7 | 02JUN12 |
The
fuselage has been moved from Laverton to Point Cook.
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6 | 23AUG05 |
Deleted
reference to 11 Sqn being at Richmond when the aircraft was
delivered. At this time the squadron was still at Pearce.
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5 | 25NOV02 |
History
expanded from Status Card.
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