1950s Logbook

I don't know whether this will be of any interest as source material. My father, Lt Col Champ (r/h in photo), was an RAN pilot from 1948 - 1958, including Fireflies in Korea and later Venoms. As a tribute I'm slowly transcribing his log book here, http://ccgi.champwilde.force9.co.uk/ceclogbook/ , but I've also photographed all the Navy era pages and posted them on flickr here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/56735928@N05/...57640288732703/ . So if its of any use to anyone, well, good luck: his handwriting isn't the easiest to read. In general he entered serials rather than tail numbers, but not exclusively.

(IMG:http://farm1.staticflickr.com/160/333835069_0392241297.jpg)

O2 Morris (on the left) and Sub Lt Col Champ (right) on HMAS Sydney off Korea. Photo from Bauple328's Flickr collection.

This post has been edited by jimc on Apr 7 2014, 02:03 AM

Wonderful stuff Jim.

I enjoy seeing all those Wirraway hours!

Probably not as exciting to some as Fireflys and Furys, but this helps with my Wirraway research.

Regards,
Derek

Jim

Usually a pilot's log book is amongst his most precious possessions. They are also a invaluable resource for historians. Sadly they sometimes fall into the hands of uncaring relatives. Preservation of the contents is most important and you are to be commended for your diligence. You Sir have done your father proud. Congratulations.

Ron

Hi Jim
Congratulations and well done, a great effort. This information will end up getting used by many researchers. Each and every small part of the jigsaw puzzle that is history is welcome.
Thanks for taking the time and effort to share.
Cheers
Martin

Also my thanks 'jimc'. Logbooks are valuable as suggested. My own logbook starting with RAAF Basic / Advanced Flying Training beginning 1968 then RAN FAA Vampire/Venom/Macchi & A4G jet flying beginning 1969 to mid 1974 is available in PDF Format here on Microsoft OneDrive:

In the 'Documents & Videos Various' folder on the 'SpazSinbad' page:

https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=cbcd63d63407...6340707E6%21116

myRANraafLogBooks.pdf (51Mb)

I find whatever MS has done to the old SkyDrive now as OneDrive completely baffling. Let me know if the LogBook PDF cannot be downloaded. Meanwhile I will investigate the bafflements.

https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?cid=CBC...p=WordPdf&wdo=1

CLICK on the 'Red Text' DOWNLOAD button Top Left of page.

This post has been edited by Luig on Mar 27 2014, 03:10 PM

I guess this is the same 'Jim' who wrote this wonderful obituary (no longer available here due to the new FAAAA website I guess):

The 70Kb PDF file is now attached - made from the URL when active:

http://www.faaaa.asn.au/news/champ_colin_obit.htm

I see Colin had 22 night deck landings in the Sea Venom. Good One! :-) They were not easy aboard HMAS Melbourne. Mine were only A4G x 13 at night total.

This post has been edited by Luig on Mar 27 2014, 03:25 PM

Attached File ( Number of downloads: 435 )
 The_Life_Career_of_Colin_Champ.pdf

Photo of 808 Sqdn Aircrew at sea 1957. Is Colin Champ in this photo. I have a photo of some of the Sqdn in UK but a few aircrew are missing from it including Colin sadly.

My guess? Colin is seated on far left side? The contraption in front of him is a 'spring leaf' that can be raised or lowered to keep the arrestor wire off/on the deck as required.

This post has been edited by Luig on Mar 27 2014, 04:08 PM

Attached Image

Another version

Attached Image

No, I'm pretty confident he's not in that photo. He was last on Melbourne in Feb '57 according to his logbook and by April was with 724.

There are some photos in various albums, but most I've seen elsewhere. I'll try and get anything interesting made public at some stage.

Here's a cabin shot from Sydney, en route to or off Korea, which must be before December 1951.

This post has been edited by jimc on Apr 6 2014, 01:55 AM

Attached Image

OK - thanks Jim. Fred Lane - student on first RAN Flying Course flying Sea Furies in Korea off HMAS Sydney, later to command 805 Squadron with Sea Venoms, then the first cruise of VF-805 with A4Gs in 1969, has his arm outstretched over the Monopoly board.

SBLTs Coleman & Sinclair are two of the aircrew losses (of three) from 805 Squadron in Korea: (I could only guess other identities in the photo)

https://www.navy.gov.au/history/squadron-hi...quadron-history

This post has been edited by Luig on Apr 6 2014, 12:24 PM

I probably should have decoded...
Text on the reverse is
Macdonald?, Coleman
Lane, Sinclair, Wright
Webster, Roland
Playing monopoly in our cabin.

Thanks Jim, I know of the histories of some of the personnel via the RAN 805 Squadron History pages but do not otherwise know them. Exception is LCDR Fred Lane, as described, who retired from the RAN in the early 1970s.

In the first photo you have provided the chap "O2 Morris (L)" has me mystified. Does that mean LEUT Morris Observer? In the early 1970s there was a venerable air traffic controller RAN at Nowra, who may be the 'Morris' in the photo. He was known as 'Taffy' Morris and of course a lot older by then.

This post has been edited by Luig on Apr 6 2014, 08:59 PM