The P2V-5 Neptune Enters RAAF Service

L-726-45-17 Neptune
P2V-7/SP-2H

The P2V-7 Neptune Enters RAAF Service

When No. 10 Squadron received its first three Neptunes on 10 March 1962, it was fortunate to receive the "broken-in" model P2V-7. Previously the Squadron had operated the Avro Lincoln in the maritime reconnaissance role but these aircraft had all been retired due to structural problems and the Squadron's establishment was only one Dakota (A65-70) and two Winjeels (A85-403 & 444) by the time the first Neptunes arrived. These aircraft were used mainly for pilot continuation training and instrument rating renewals although the Dakota was also used in the SAR role as required.

The P2V-7s were collected from Lockheed's Burbank plant by crews from No. 10 Squadron and delivered via Barbers Point, Hawaii, Canton Island and Nadi, Fiji. The first three aircraft were scheduled to arrive in Townsville on 10 March 1962 and for the occasion a welcoming ceremony complete with dignitaries and the RAAF Band was planned. The P2V-7 may have been the "broken-in" model but it still had the same engines and deliveries got off to an inauspicious start when A89-272 was delayed at Canton Island requiring an engine change. Word of the delay was received in Townsville late on 6 March and at midnight, C-130A Hercules A97-213 of No. 36 Squadron departed Richmond for Townsville after only two hours notice to uplift a replacement engine, ground staff and their tools. The Hercules refuelled in Nadi and arrived at Canton Island 17 hours after leaving Richmond. The two accompanying Neptunes (A89-271 & A89-273) had continued on to Nadi where they awaited the delayed A89-272 which departed Canton Island on the morning of 9 March. The three aircraft departed Nadi for Townsville on 10 March to rendezvous off the Queensland coast with Dakota A65-70 for air-to-air photos. The formation of three Neptunes over-flew RAAF Townsville on schedule at 1430 hours. Although rarely referred to as such, the P2V-7s were regarded as Mark 4s from the time of delivery, but surprisingly they still had no engine fire extinguishers. Nevertheless, within days of the second flight of three Neptunes (A89-270, 274 & 275) arriving in Townsville on 29 March, A89-272 was on its way to Laverton for a trial fitment of fire extinguishers. The third delivery flight (A89-276 & 278) arrived in Townsville on 19 April but leaving behind A89-277 which was delayed in Hawaii with engine trouble - for nine days! Another two aircraft (A89-279 & 281) arrived on 24 May and the final aircraft (A89-280) arrived on 25 May after a one day delay in Nadi - with engine trouble! This completed the Squadron's establishment of twelve Neptunes.

The first large scale training exercise for the Squadron commenced on 4 June 1962 when five Neptunes flew in formation over Townsville before heading for Richmond. For the remainder of the year and into early 1963, there were many meetings and trips to Laverton in connection the fitment of fire extinguishers. However, the modification programme did not begin in earnest until 1 November 1963 when A89-277 flew to Avalon to become the first aircraft to be fully fitted with fire extinguishers. By 3 December 1964, the final aircraft to be modified (A89-279) was back in Townsville.

In the meantime, the Squadron commenced its first overseas operation since converting to Neptunes when five aircraft departed for the U.S. Navy Base at Sangley Point in the Philippines on 24 April 1963. During May 1964, two Neptunes exercised with the USS Sculpin (SSN-590), the first time they had exercised with a nuclear submarine.

The first P2V-7 (by now known as the SP-2H) requiring a major service was A89-274 which departed for an "E" service in Richmond on 22 May 1964. Much of the radio, electrical and instrument equipment not required for flight was removed prior to departure for servicing by the Squadron in Townsville. When A89-274 returned to Townsville on 2 October 1964, it was the first aircraft to be painted in the new light grey colour scheme. For more information see Neptune Colours.

With the Great Barrier Reef on its doorstep, it is not surprising that the Squadron was frequently called out on search and rescue (SAR) sorties for all manner of vessels ranging from "tinnies" to tankers. These days such missions are usually flown by civilian contractors but while in service, the Neptunes often flew SAR sorties all along the Queensland coast. In addition to regular exercises with naval vessels, the Squadron also deployed overseas to locations such as the Philippines, Hawaii and New Zealand.

One notable mission was "Operation Trimdon" during June 1965 when No. 10 Squadron was tasked with shadowing the fast troop transport HMAS Sydney on its voyage to Vung Tau conveying 1 RAR to the Vietnam conflict. The Squadron flew eleven sorties during this operation.

During the period 5 July to 2 August 1967, four Neptunes deployed to the U.S. Navy base at Sangley Point in the Philippines for SEATO exercise "Sea Dog". During the deployment, the Squadron also operated from U-Tapao in Thailand, the first time that the Squadron had operated Neptunes from a Thai base. Around this time, USAF B-52s were operating bombing missions out of U-Tapao. This may be the source of the popular belief that No. 10 Squadron Neptunes had briefly used their limited AEW capabilities to protect the B-52s from surface-to-air missile attack although such an involvement does not feature in the Vietnam Nominal Roll. A more likely explanation for the Neptunes' presence at U-Tapao was that exercise "Sea Dog", although co-sponsored by the USA and Australia, was hosted by Thailand and, according to US Navy (CINCPAC) records, the "post-exercise assembly and critique were completed in Bangkok." Casting further doubt on the alleged Vietnam involvement, the Squadron's Operations Record Book states that an exercise held in Darwin in November 1967 was the Squadron's "first AEW role in an Air Defence Exercise".

Other interesting tasks performed by the Neptunes included the surveillance of a Russian Zulu Class submarine off the Queensland coast and shadowing a Russian "trawler" in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

With their base located in a cyclone area, it was common for all serviceable Neptunes to be flown south to Amberley in advance of forecast cyclones.

By the end of December 1976, the Squadron's Neptune establishment was down to 6 aircraft with another 3 in Class 9 storage. During the month, Squadron pilots had the melancholy duty of ferrying five Neptunes to Laverton to be converted to parts knowing that ultimately they would be broken up.

One of the last Neptune sorties was on 29 December 1976 when A89-275 was airborne at 0332 hours to locate and identify three foreign fishing vessels reported in the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria south of Weipa by an Ansett flight the previous afternoon. The vessels were located near Crab Island and identified as Taiwanese fishing boats.

The very last flight by a Neptune operated by the RAAF was on 6 December 1977 when A89-281 was flown to Amberley for disposal and literally parked on the grass in the middle of the airfield.