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First accident 1949 HMAS SYDNEY
First accident 1949 HMAS SYDNEY

First accident 1949 HMAS SYDNEY

Date1949
Object number00040040
NamePhotograph
MediumSilver gelatin, paper
DimensionsOverall: 65 x 90 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Marian Halton
DescriptionThis photograph captures the aftermath of the first aircraft accident aboard the Royal Australian Navy's newly commissioned aircraft carrier, HMAS SYDNEY (III). Fairey Firefly FR.IV, serial number VG998, carried the fuselage number 238 and tail letter K for SYDNEY. Assigned to 816 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, it landed heavily on 8 February 1949 while being piloted by Acting Lieutenant Daniel Buchanan. The aircraft was severely damaged and skidded along the deck, subsequently being written off. This image shows the Firefly being recovered after the accident, illustrating the demanding environment of naval aviation.HistoryThe Fairey Firefly was the first type allocated to serve aboard Australia's first aircraft carrier, HMAS SYDNEY (III). The majority of early Fighter Reconnaissance FR.IV versions came from former Royal Navy stocks and were either flown or loaded aboard SYDNEY in late 1948 and early 1949, for carriage to Australia. Accidents were relatively common, especially during landing. This image shows a crash severe enough to write off the aircraft. VG998 was delivered to 816 Squadron Fleet Air Arm on 17 July 1948. This accident has been reported on the ADF Serials website as follows: "After a slow approach during arrester gear trials on HMAS SYDNEY, undercarriage and hook removed on the round down. Aircraft skidded into the barrier on its belly although the fuselage caught on No 8 wire" (http://adf-serials.com.au/n1.htm). Although difficult to identify in the photographs, the aircraft has a replacement rudder fitted after it was damaged on 26 November 1948, and also appears to have replacement engine cowlings. Another, clearer image of the accident on the Fleet Air Arm Association website clearly identifies its fuselage number as 238. The caption runs: "One of the early accidents. Firefly VG998 (238/K) after a slow approach during arrester gear trials on HMAS Sydney on 08 February 1949. The undercarriage and hook were removed on the round down, and the aircraft skidded into the barrier on its belly although the fuselage caught on No 8 wire. (Lt D. Buchanan, RAN). It was classified as a write off. (Image: I. Ladler)" (https://www.faaaa.asn.au/heritage/heritage-fairey-firefly/fairey-firefly-image-library/). The pilot during the accident was Acting Lieutenant Daniel Buchanan, born in Glasgow, Scotland on 20 August 1919. He joined the RAN on 5 January 1948, and after initially serving with the Royal Navy for flying training, was posted to SYDNEY before being based at HMAS ALBATROSS in Nowra. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in April 1951, Buchanan saw active service aboard the destroyer HMAS ANZAC (II) over August to October 1951. By 1956, Commander Buchanan was the Commander (AIR) at ALBATROSS, when on 8 October his de Havilland Vampire A79-841 flew into the sea during a night training exercise. Commodore Buchanan was killed, leaving a widow, Anne (National Archives of Australia, A6770, BUCHANAN D V).SignificanceThis image captures the first time that a Royal Australian Navy aircraft crashed aboard the service's newly commissioned aircraft carrier, HMAS SYDNEY (III).