A89-310

History:

06APR51	Allotted serial number A89-236.
15AUG52	Renumbered A89-310.
24DEC52	Received 11SQN Pearce ex USA.
22FEB53	En route Richmond-Pearce, landed Woomera with a split hydraulic pipe.
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)
Mark 2 Conversion
19JUN56	Received 2AD ex 11SQN. (Source: 2)
23APR57	Received at 11SQN ex 2AD. (Source: 2)
Mark 4 Conversion
25JUN59	Departed for USA for Jet Pod Mod.
06OCT59	Returned from the USA.
13AUG60	Despatched to CAC, Avalon for Mod 208.
05SEP60	Despatched to 11SQN ex CAC.
17MAR61	Received CAC, Avalon for Mod 201.
14APR61	Received 11SQN ex CAC.
22MAR63	Operated Changi-Darwin. Captain Howard Morris and FLTLT Peck. (Source: Log book of Howard Morris)
23MAR63	En route Darwin-Richmond diverted to Mount Isa with a fuel leak. Blew two tyres on landing. Captain Howard Morris and PLTOFF Clarey. (Source: Log book of Howard Morris)
	After departing Darwin for Richmond, a large fuel leak on the left hand side of the aircraft required the shutting down and feathering of the port piston engine. The jets were lighted and an emergency landing made at Mount Isa. After landing, reverse pitch was applied on the starboard piston engine and when the aircraft started to swing to the right, reverse pitch was deselected but there was no response and the prop stayed in reverse and the aeroplane continued to veer to the right side of the runway. Left brake was applied as the aircraft was about to go off the strip. This effected a left turn by the aeroplane and kept it on the strip but the left tyre blew which then caused the aeroplane to veer to the left hand side of the runway. Nose wheel steering was ineffective so just before going off the strip the pilot applied some right brake which straightened the aeroplane up again but the right hand tyre blew. At this stage, with no braking means being available, full rudder was applied to steer the aircraft off the runway to pull it up. Later investigation revealed that the aeroplane had been filled with fuel on the ground at Darwin where the aeroplane was very hot and the fuel was cool. On reaching altitude, the fuel started to heat up and the aeroplane cooled down and shrank so the petrol no longer fitted in the tanks and was coming out the relief valve through the overflow vent. It was impossible from any position on the aeroplane to see where the petrol was coming from so the only safe thing to do because of the fear of the sparks coming out of the exhaust on the port engine was to shut the engine down. At that moment that the engine was shut down, by pure chance, the fuel stopped coming out of the vent. (Source: Howard Morris interviewed by Greg Weir)
25MAR63	Operated Mount Isa-Richmond. Captain Howard Morris and SQNLDR Jessop. (Source: Log book of Howard Morris)
16MAR64	Despatched to CAC, Avalon for photographic design study.
24MAR64	Received 11SQN ex CAC.
03MAR67	Flew from Richmond to Cocos Island via Pearce on staff ferry duties. The aircraft returned to Richmond on 08MAR67. This is the last recorded operation by A89-310 in the 11SQN ORB but evidently not all flights were recorded as the Squadron was preoccupied with the introduction of the P-3B Orion.
20APR67	Issued to RSTT, Wagga as INST No 3.
01OCT70	Still held RSTT, Wagga.
03MAY77	Has been totally destroyed during the course of fire training.
29JUN77	Base SQN Wagga advise aircraft has been written off.

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, RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 11 Squadron Nov 50 - Jun 67, Series number A9186.
2	RAAF Form E/E.88 Record Card.

Issue	Date	Remarks
9	09AUG22	Added an image thanks to Eric Allen.
8	02NOV21	Added a reference to operations in Malaya at 26MAY55. Added details of Mk 2 conversion.
7	12JUL19	Added an image thanks to Phil Tracy.
6	09JUN19	Added a reference at 03MAR67.
5	16DEC17	Added an image thanks to Bob Howe.
4	20NOV15	Added a reference to the Malayan Emergency 1950-60.
3	05NOV15	Added return date from the Jet Pod Mod.
2	07JUN12	Added details of a forced landing at Mount Isa in 1963. Also added 6 images thanks to Howard Morris and Greg Weir. Added a colour image thanks to Philip Tracy.
1	24NOV02	Original issue.

Return to the Neptune Menu



Return to the Lockheed File