Neptunes scrub up just nicely

No. 27 Squadron members carry out restoration work on one of the two Neptunes on show at RAAF Base Townsville.

TWO Neptune aircraft on display at RAAF Base Townsville have been given a makeover.

Since the two aircraft had not had a spruce up for some years, members of No. 27 (City of Townsville) Squadron obtained permission to clean them up and carry out minor repairs ahead of a No. 10 Squadron reunion.

Aircraft A89-272 and A89-280, originally from No. 10 Squadron, stand at the front and rear gates of the base as a reminder of the significant contribution the Neptune has made in its service to the Air Force.

Both aircraft had to be washed and scrubbed down by hand to remove a build up of oxidised film.

Other work involved repairs to the ray domes, relocation of bird nests, repainting and replacement of some aircraft parts.

Wing tanks obtained from the RAAF Base Townsville museum, were installed on A89-280.

The search light dome had been damaged in storage and had to be sent to a local contractor to be remade.

Much of the work was carried out by Warrant Officer Kevin “Skeet” Parker, Sergeant Allan O’Connor, Corporal Peter Tyack and crane operators Warrant Officer Gavan Greaves and Warrant Officer Mick Wallace.

No. 27 Squadron Commanding Officer Squadron Leader Noel Hinschen made the final inspection in time for No. 10 Squadron’s reunion and gave the work his stamp of approval.

The Neptunes were brought into service in 1962 to replace Lincolns as a maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine aircraft.

They were involved in every major air exercise in Australia at this time and in surveillance work around fishing zones.

By mid-1977 Neptunes were withdrawn from active service and No. 10 Squadron was transferred from RAAF Base Townsville to RAAF Base Edinburgh and converted to Orions.

 

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