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On the beach at Shark Bay. The beginning of the end of A9-6
On the beach at Shark Bay. The beginning of the end of A9-6

On the beach at Shark Bay. The beginning of the end of A9-6

Date1934
Object number00029059
NamePhotograph
MediumBlack and white photographic print on paper
DimensionsOverall: 91 x 124 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Philip Stafford Jay
DescriptionDuring a voyage of HMAS AUSTRALIA from Devonport, Tasmania to Bunbury, Western Australia in 1934, gale force winds tore the eyebolt which was anchoring the Seagull III A9-6 plane to the ship. It was overturned onto one of the ship's a 4-inch guns, and was wrecked. The plane was taken to Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia, and destroyed on a beach at Shark Bay. The plane is shown here being burnt.HistorySix Seagull III seaplanes joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1926, and undertook surveying duties of the Great Barrier Reef and New Guinea based from a shore station at Point Cook, Victoria and later Richmond, New South Wales. Additional Seagull IIIs joined the RAAF, and with the introduction of aircraft carrier HMAS ALBATROS to the Royal Australian Navy in 1929, six Seagull IIIs were hoisted on board. Once ALBATROS was laid up in 1932, the remaining Seagull IIIs were transferred to the cruisers HMA Ships CANBERRA and AUSTRALIA. During a voyage of HMAS AUSTRALIA from Devenport, Tasmania to Bunbury, Western Australia in 1934, gale force winds tore the eyebold which was anchoring the Seagull III A9-6 plane to the ship. It was overturned onto one of the ship's a 4-inch guns, and was wrecked. The plane was taken to Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia, and destroyed on a beach at Shark Bay.