countyclass

NOT a Walrus - its a different model. This is the earlier one its a Seagull Mk III (the Walrus was the Seagull Mk V) - both HMAS Canberra and HMAS Australia had them as did HMAS Albatross. A9-6 This Airframe was Ordered by the RAAF in 1925 from Supermarine UK and it was shipped over to Australia crated as 'general cargo' on board the SS MALDARIA. It was then taken over by the RAAF and assembled and prepared for service in the usual manner. On 3 April 1934 this airframe and its RAAF Detachment (including Pilot) were embarked on board HMAS AUSTRALIA, they were disembarked on 8 April, then reembarked once more on 24 April 1934. On 26 April 1934 the Airframe was involved in making a forced Landing after suffering from engine trouble while becoming airborne off Port Jackson in Sydney Harbor and while still being on board HMAS Australia. Due to this the Airframe was Disembarked to RAAF Richmond on 9 May 1932 and in turn replaced on ship. After being reembarked by HMAS Australia after the completion of the necessary 'minor repairs' on 11 July 1932, she remained on board the cruiser as her regular aircraft for most of her service life. On 24 August 1934 the Airframe was wrecked while on board carrying out this duty during a severe gale while the Cruiser was under passage from Devonport to Bunbury, with the Airframe shortly afterwards being declared as beyond repair and SOC (Struck off charge) as of this date. A later combined RAAF/RAN Enquiry found that the cause of the Loss of A9-6 was that the main ring bolt securing the aircraft to the catapult platform failed. More Seagulls were lost in this manner on both HMAS Canberra and again on HMAS Australia before this situation was finally 'resolved'. This pick shows A9-6 shortly after this event took place. Stephen. NSW Aust.

Stephen Wow thanks for all the info Stephen - our records have been updated. A great pic!

I certainly thank you for sharing so many wonderful images. An excellent collection which we enjoy very much! If you look at the scrip (Bottom of photo) seems to be flipped...

Carlos Ariel Salamantes (Off) Thank you Carlos Ariel Salamantes. We are happy to share it! The handwriting at the bottom of the photo is indeed reversed because it is a glass plate negative. Please watch this space for more uploads, you're feedback is always welcome.

This is a great shot - always good to see images from the ANMM collection.

It would be good to identify this flag, which seems to have three bars and an elephant in the middle. A social oprganisation's flag I'm guessing. Our group will post here if we find out. We learn elsewhere that crane rides like this were conducted during Navy Week at Garden Island up to the 1950s, sometimes using the famous 250 ton hammerhead crane [the demolition of which is now being discussed] but we don't think the crane rides could happen today. There's a lady holding a baby up high above the safety rail in one of the companion photos!

THE FLAG. This information comes from Kim Dunstan of Melbourne, RAN 1958-1967, who does a lot of investigation of our photos, and sometimes extensively so. Kim tells us the flag seen here above the slide chute is the naval ensign of Siam, now Thailand, and probably from the WWI era. We agree. Look closely at your enlarged image and you can see the similarity here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flying_Naval_Ensign_of_Thailan... Kim also notes that there is an officer in a foreign naval uniform - black epaulettes, collar and dark tie, where an RAN officer's tunic is buttoned to the throat and collar - standing below the crane talking to a lady. The point is, a man in the same uniform can be seen standing fourth from the left in your image of a naval launch, several photos along at Object 00010453. Effectively this ties these two images to the same occasion, and dates the naval launch image for you as Dec. 12, 1931, same as here. We think the men in the launch are those who did entertainment for the children, with a diver looking for 'lost children,' as described in the linked newspaper articles under the companion 'crane basket' image. Well, that's it.

majestic!

Sorry, the date 1949 must be amiss: this is pre AUSTRALIA's April 1938- Sept. 1939 modernization, which changed the bridge considerably [installed spliunter shields], and she still has pole masts [replaced by tripods, mid-WWII]. Maybe an earlier regatta or the sesquicentenary in 1938? LATER: again sorry - round scuttles on the compass platform. It's HMAS CANBERRA [I] not AUSTRALIA [square windows there pre-WWI]I. She's wearing an admiral flag on the foremast too, which tallies - CANBERRA was flagship for most of the 1930s.

Horatio J. Kookaburra Thanks for those details Kookaburra2011, we had the same issues with the following pics. See the comments below about the windows, what are your thoughts?