A89-306 A Hard Days Night

 

Type: L-426 Neptune P2V-5/P-2E
MSN: 426-5094
Previous Identities: 133647
A89-228

History:

06APR51 Allotted serial number A89-228.
15AUG52 Renumbered A89-306.
03DEC52 Received 11SQN Pearce ex USA.
01DEC53 Departed Pearce for storage at 3AD Archerfield.
02DEC54 3AD instructed to upgrade the aircraft to fly-away status.
10JAN55 Back at 11SQN by this date.
Mark 2 Conversion
08DEC55
 Received 2AD ex 11SQN. (Source: 2)
13SEP56
 Received at 11SQN ex 2AD. (Source: 2)
06MAR57 Despatched ex 2AD Richmond to CAC, Avalon for initial fitment of WOMBAT. (Source: 3)
20MAY57 Received 11SQN ex CAC.
13NOV57 Allotted to ARDU for trials.
24NOV57 Allotted to 11SQN ex ARDU.
04MAY58 Despatched to ARDU for trials.
04JUL58 Received 2AD ex ARDU.
11AUG58 Despatched to ARDU for trials.
15AUG58 Planned date of return to 11SQN.
Mark 4 Conversion
25JUL59 Departed for USA for Jet Pod Mod.
14NOV59 Returned from the USA.
11APR60 Received at CAC, Avalon for Mod 208.
21APR60 Allotted 11SQN ex CAC.
07JUL61 Received at CAC, Avalon for Mod 201.
04AUG61 Received 11SQN ex CAC.
JAN65 Noted carrying the name Flt. Lt. Fred Weir Crew D under the cockpit on the left side. Below this was the name "A Hard Days Night" (a movie released in 1964) in light blue outlined in red. By this time the aircraft was painted light grey. (Source: John Bennett) Photo
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.
21MAY67 Photographed carrying the name LAZARET on the starboard side.
08JUN67 A89-306 & 304 departed Richmond for Darwin to serve in an AEW role during Exercise High Venus. No sorties were aborted and results were excellent. Both aircraft departed Darwin for Richmond on 15JUN67 but A89-304 had to return to Darwin for an engine change. This is the last recorded operation by A89-306 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 disposal decision.
19APR68 Hawker de Havilland, Bankstown advised to convert aircraft to components and declare residue for 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.
3
 NAA, RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 2 Aircraft Depot 1936 - 1961, Series number A9186.


Issue Date Remarks
11 19NOV21
Added an image of a Vulcan arriving at Richmond with A89-306 in the background.
10 02NOV21
Added details of Mk 2 conversion.
9 01NOV21
The previously unspecified modification in MAR57 has been identified from the 2AD ORB as the initial fitment of WOMBAT.
8 10JUN19
Added a reference to Exercise Sea Imp in MAY-JUN66.
7 09JUN19
Added a reference at 08JUN67.
6 08JUN19
Added two images thanks to Eric Allen. Image 1 Image 2
5 20NOV15
Added details of the storage at Archerfield.
4 15NOV15
Added further details of the name "A Hard Day's Night" thanks to John Bennett.
3 05NOV15
Added return date from the Jet Pod Mod.
2 28AUG15
Added three images thanks to Baldur Sveinsson.
1 24NOV02
Original issue.





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