A89-309 Pussy Galore

History:

06APR51	Allotted serial number A89-694.
15AUG52	Renumbered A89-309.
DEC52	Received at Richmond on delivery from the USA (exact date not shown on E/E88). Starboard prop shaft has excessive movement.
23DEC52	Dakota A65-104 departed Pearce for Richmond with a replacement prop for A89-309.
06FEB53	Received 11SQN ex USA.
29APR53	Received 3AD Archerfield for storage.
29JUL53	11SQN requested return of aircraft.
04SEP53	Held at ARDU.
18DEC53	Issued 11SQN ex ARDU.
18DEC53	Under the command of FLTLT R.E. Graham, A89-309 departed Laverton at 1930 for Pearce. After approximately 90 minutes, the port engine suffered a complete loss of power. The prop was feathered and the engine was shut down. The aircraft turned back for Laverton but was unable to maintain altitude on one engine with a heavy fuel load. The aircraft was then 40 miles south of Nhill, Vic so the captain decided to make a forced landing and requested an emergency flare path. The aircraft landed safely at Nhill at 2200. (Source: 1)
20DEC53	Dakota A65-102 departed Pearce under the command of FLGOFF A.A. Swinbourne AFC carrying technical musterings to repair A89-309. (Source: 1)
27DEC53	Dakota A65-102 departed Pearce under the command of WGCDR E.C. Saunders for Forrest and Nhill with a replacement engine. On arrival in Nhill it was found that there was no suitable equipment to unload the engine so the aircraft departed for Laverton where the engine was unloaded and trucked to Nhill. (Source: 1)
04JAN54	A89-311 departed Pearce for Laverton under the command of FLTLT G.R. Cullen carrying a spare crew led by FLTLT C.A. Voges to ferry A89-309 back to Pearce. (Source: 1)
06JAN54	A89-309 (FLTLT G.R. Cullen) and A89-311 (FLTLT C.A. Voges) departed Laverton for Pearce. (Source: 1)
MAR55	At this time A89-309 was the only aircraft fitted with ADRIS. (Source: 1)
18MAR55	The aircraft was allotted to 2AD for Neptune Modification 40, the trial installation of a British sonobuoy system. However 11SQN requested that the allotment be deferred pending a conference on Neptune fitment at Department of Air on 08MAR55. (Source: 1 & 2)
14APR55	Above allotment cancelled. (Source: 2)
26MAY55	"Verbal advice received from W/Cdr Barrett at Department of Air that this aircraft has been selected for operations in Malaya." Aircraft selected were A89-303, 309, 310, 311 and 312. There is no further mention of Malaya so evidently these plans were dropped. (Source: 2)
22MAR56	Wing tip nacelles damaged in a storm at Richmond.
25JUL56	Port undercarriage retracted prior to engine start. Propeller damaged.
Mark 2 Conversion
23APR57	Received at 2AD ex 11SQN for "servicing, retro mod and painting"
29OCT58	Received at 11SQN ex 2AD.
Mark 4 Conversion
24AUG59	Departed for USA for Jet Pod Mod.
29DEC59	Returned from the USA.
05MAR60	Received CAC, Avalon for Mod 208.
11APR60	Despatched to 11SQN ex CAC.
28JUL61	Received CAC, Avalon for Mod 201.
18AUG61	Received 11SQN ex CAC.
JAN65	The name "Pussy Galore" would have been applied to the aeroplane around this time.
18MAY66	Four Neptunes departed Richmond for NAS Sangley Point in the Philippines via Townsville, Port Moresby and Guam for SEATO Exercise SEA IMP. The aircraft were A89-304, 306, 307 and 309.
30MAY66	The four aircraft flew from Sangley Point to Butterworth to continue Exercise SEA IMP.
07JUN66	A89-306, 307 and 309 departed Butterworth for overnight stops at Cocos Island and Pearce returning to Richmond on 09JUN66. A89-304 departed for Bangkok for the SEA IMP debrief departing for Butterworth on 09JUN66 returning to Richmond via Cocos Island and Pearce on 12JUN66.
10MAR67	Three aircraft departed Richmond for Darwin (overnight) and NAS Sangley Point, Philippines for SEATO Exercise SIYASAT. The aircraft were A89-309, 311 and 312. The aircraft arrived at Sangley Point on 11MAR67 with A89-309 making an emergency landing with main hydraulic system failure.
16MAR67	A89-311 and A89-312 participated with other nation's aircraft in a flypast for President Marcos.
17MAR67	A89-309, 311 and 312 departed Sangley Point for Darwin (overnight) returning to Richmond on 18MAR67.
25SEP67	A89-309 and 307 participated in the search for the pilot of Mirage III A3-52 which crashed at Gloucester, NSW. The pilot ejected and was rescued with only minor injuries. These are amongst the last recorded Neptune operation in the 11SQN ORB but evidently not all flights were recorded as the Squadron was preoccupied with the introduction of the P-3B Orion.
15DEC67	Received at Hawker de Havilland, Bankstown for storage pending a disposal decision.
19APR68	Hawker de Havilland advised to convert aircraft to components and declare residue for disposal.
12FEB69	Aircraft was 65% converted by this date.
JUN69	Tenders closed for the removal of the aircraft ex Hawker de Havilland. The aircraft was subsequently scrapped at Bankstown.

Notes The first two aircraft (A89-301 & 302) were commenced as P2V-4 but were brought up close to P2V-5 standard on the production line. Nevertheless, there were differences between these two aircraft and the following ten, principally in their electrical systems. Initially, RAAF serials were "scrambled" for security reasons. Mark 1 - Initially all P2V-5 were designated as Mark 1. Mark 2 - With the removal of the nose and tail turrets and the addition of a clear nose and a MAD boom, the aircraft were redesignated as Mark 2. Mark 3 - With the removal of the dorsal turret they were redesignated as Mark 3. Mark 4 - With the addition of Westinghouse J34 jet pods they were redesignated P2V-5F Mark 4. In 1962 the P2V-5 designation was changed to P-2E in line with USN designations. All P2V-5/P-2E served with No 11 Squadron RAAF, initially at Pearce, WA but by 31MAY54 the squadron had completed its move to Richmond, NSW.

 

SOURCES
1	NAA, Series A9186, RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 11 Squadron Nov 50 - Jun 67
2	Aircraft Record Cards (aka Status Cards) Form E/E.88

Issue	Date	Remarks
13	09AUG22	Added an image thanks to Eric Allen.
12	02NOV21	Added a reference to operations in Malaya at 26MAY55 and other references at 23APR57 and 29OCT58.
11	10JUN19	Added a reference to Exercise Sea Imp in MAY-JUN66. Added a reference to Exercise Siysat in MAR67.
10	09JUN19	Added a reference at 25SEP67.
9	29JAN19	Added details of the forced landing at Nhill on 18DEC53 from Source: 1. Note: This incident was previously shown incorrectly as 18SEP53.
8	04JAN19	Added a glorious air-to-air portrait thanks to Maurice Ritchie.
7	02MAR16	Added an image thanks to John Bennett. Added two images thanks to Eric Allen. Image 1 Image 2
6	27FEB16	Added an image thanks to Maurice Ritchie.
5	20NOV15	Added a reference to the Malayan Emergency 1950-60.
4	05NOV15	Added return date from the Jet Pod Mod. Added an image thanks to John Bennett.
3	30JUL14	Added an image thanks to Les Golder.
2	17JUL13	Added a reference to a double engine change at Nhill on 18SEP53. Thanks to Bob Wylie.
1	24NOV02	Original issue.

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