A89-312 The Longest Day

History:

06APR51	Allotted serial number A89-405.
15AUG52	Renumbered A89-312.
30JAN53	Received at 11SQN Pearce ex USA.
05JAN55	Forced landing at Canberra with excessive oil leak in port engine.
17JAN55	Forced landing at Richmond with port engine trouble. Port tyre burst on landing.
Mark 2 Conversion
28JAN55	Allotted to 2AD for port engine change and installation of MAD.
07FEB55	Received at 2AD ex 11SQN for Mk 2 conversion.
MAR55	2AD advised 11SQN that the target date for delivery of the second MAD converted aircraft (A89-312) was 13MAY55.
27MAY55	Received at 11SQN ex 2AD.
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)
22MAY56	Landed at Richmond with port engine shut down.
24JUL56	Landed at Richmond with port engine shut down.
07MAY57	Severe vibration in port engine.
Mark 4 Conversion
25JUN59	Departed for USA for Jet Pod Mod.
06OCT59	Returned from the USA.
08JUL60	Allotted to CAC, Avalon for Mod 208.
09AUG60	Received at 11SQN ex CAC.
29JUN61	Despatched to CAC, Avalon for Mod 201.
28JUL61	Received at 11SQN ex CAC.
29SEP61	Received at 2AD ex 11SQN for modifications.
03NOV61	Received at 11SQN ex 2AD.
JAN65	Noted carrying the name F/Lt Jim Lambley Sqn. Ldr. Jack Ingate Crew F under the cockpit on the left side. Below this was the name The Longest Day (a movie released in 1962) in yellow outlined in white. Photo 18JUL65
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.
31AUG67	Departed for Pearce on a NAVEX returning to Richmond the following day. This is the last recorded operation by A89-312 in the 11SQN ORB but evidently not all flights were recorded as the Squadron was preoccupied with the introduction of the P-3B Orion.
18DEC67	Received at Hawker de Havilland, Bankstown for storage pending a decision on disposal.
NOV68	Broken up 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, 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
10	02NOV21	Added a reference to operations in Malaya at 26MAY55. Added details of Mk 2 conversion.
9	10JUN19	Added a reference to Exercise Siysat in MAR67.
8	09JUN19	Added a reference at 31AUG67.
7	08JUN19	Added an image thanks to Eric Allen.
6	02MAR16	Added an image of the aircraft in the light gull grey livery. Thanks to Eric Allen.
5	20NOV15	Added a reference to the Malayan Emergency 1950-60. Also added areference to the Mk 2 conversion.
4	15NOV15	Added further details of the name "The Longest Day" thanks to John Bennett.
3	05NOV15	Added return date from the Jet Pod Mod.
2	07JUN12	Added two images thanks to Philip Tracy, Howard Morris and Greg Weir.
1	24NOV02	Original issue.

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