Cyclone Tracy 1974

[nitpicker330]

Nope wasn't Wally, check the page notes.

[Dogimed]

Some photos trawled from the web

Credit



Credit

I notice there is no Electra on the list?



Credit


Credit

The momentum of the evacuations was regained, and in the end 25,628 people were evacuated by air, and 7,234 left by road. By 31 December 1974 only 10,638 people remained in Darwin. (Milliken, 199).

Dog

[Fris B. Fairing]

Dogimed

I notice there is no Electra on the list?

I hang my head in shame at such a serious omission even though I have tended to concentrate mainly on aeroplanes that evacuated pax. Having said that I suppose it's conceivable that some pax did travel on the Electras in small numbers even though all three were freighters by then. RMG wasn't delivered until August 75 so that leaves only RMA, RMB and RMC in the frame.

Anyone with log book entries to support their inclusion?

Rgds

[Fris B. Fairing]

Sit back, relax and enjoy the RAAF service

This precious memento of the Cyclone Tracy (no "e") airlift comes from the collection of Tracey (with an "e") Turner who was a passenger on the flight. The crew have thoughtfully amended the tail number so it can be presumed that the aircraft was C-130A A97-216. The date is believed to have been 27 December. Thanks Tracey for sharing this. Any of the crew out there?

[Flying Binghi]

...I hang my head in shame at such a serious omission even though I have tended to concentrate mainly on aeroplanes that evacuated pax...

What about them radial engined cargo planes ? (Not DC3) ah seems to recall seeing one or so in the weeks after the blow.




.

[30/30 Green Light]

F27 PK-VFM

PK-VFM was a FH227 with hydraulic systems rather than pneumatics.It was eventually ferried to CHC for repairs at the then NZNAC.It was jigged up and then both wing planks were totally replaced,rerigged and sent on its way.At the time there was a large team of ex Fokker sheeties employed there who made the whole job look rather mundane.Apparently it was the first time replanking had been undertaken outside the Fokker/Stork facilities.

[O_Wright]

Darwin GA companies

I've been reading this thread with fascination. Although not directly involved during the cyclone I joined one of the GA outfits in the Top End not long after. At the time I recall Arnhem Air Charter, NT Air Charter and SAATAS being there when the cyclone struck. The owner of NT Air Charter was Graham Ball who now lives on the Gold Coast and may be able to provide some more info for your project. A variety of SAATAS and Arnhem pilots are still in the business and I imagine that once the word gets around they may be able to supply some extra info. John Hardy, a well known DRW GA identity and who still lives in DRW would most surely have some info for you.

As a point of interest I recollect talking to Arthur Reddick who was one of the SAATAS pilots. He was forced to overnight on Melville Island (Pickertaramoor I think) due to deteriorating weather on the eve of the cyclone and next morning was unaware of what had transpired in Darwin. He left for Darwin at dawn but was unable to contact anyone on VHF but was able to talk to Katherine on HF who informed him that there seemed to be a "problem" in DRW. His description to me of what he saw as he arrived over coast north of Darwin is still stuck in my head especially as his wife and kids were down there amongst the debris. They survived. I suspect Arthur flew the first aircraft into DRW and his description via HF was one of the first available to the "outside world".

The evacuation and repair of DRW was an incredible effort and I salute all those involved.

[Fris B. Fairing]

Thanks Orv for reminding us of the significant part played by GA. The existing list shows that a SAATAS C310 was first into DRW on Christmas Day but I would really appreciate more details to confirm this. If any readers were involved in GA ops or know of someone who was involved please ask them to come forward.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed. I'm getting a lot of PMs with log book details so the response has been even better than this thread suggests. I'm gradually working my way through them and adding them to the list. Keep it coming.

Flying Binghi

What about them radial engined cargo planes ? (Not DC3)

I presume you are talking about Caribou. Supporting evidence will be most welcome.

Regards
Ron

[lurker999]

I was on one of those 747s to Sydney and yes there were people et al everywhere. the old terminal didn't look too much different, the missing windows etc made little difference really. piece of crap that place was.

on a lighter note, i hope no one was hauled over the coals for that TAA 727 having Ansett stairs.

[Flying Binghi]

I presume you are talking about Caribou. Supporting evidence will be most welcome.

Nah, looked more like a British machine like that Freighter at moorabbin museum. Many beers ago now so memorys a bit vague.




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[Fris B. Fairing]

Flying Binghi

There were 4 Bristol Freighters still in service at the time of Tracy (ADL, SJG, SJQ and TBB) so it is conceivable that they were used for disaster relief. Supporting evidence would be welcomed.

There is anecdotal evidence that RAAF Caribou and Ansett Air Freight Electras were used. It surprises me that no Bou drivers have come forward thus far. If you know one please ask him to check his log book. Similarly any Wombat crews.

Thanks again folks for all the input. I reckon I'm up to date with the list so if your flights do not appear please give me a reminder using the email link on the page.

The List

Rgds

[angry ant]

Tracy

Frizzie,

Check your PM's re Wombat 2 and myself

angry ant

[angry ant]

Tracy

Gidday Frizzie,

Check your Email,

I arrived on Boxing Day morning, just after dawn, in Wombat 2, Electra VH- RMB, I was the F/O. The tower told us that we were no. 2 to arrive, a RAAF C- 130 was 1st, a bit under 30 minutes before us.

angry ant

[TROJAN764]

F.B.F.

Finally e-mailed the Tracy info I promised. Don't know why the attachments doubled up.

Regards

[Revcorp]

I've followed this thread with interest. It brought back memories of what happened here in Christchurch a bit under a year ago.

I'm a civil engineer with an interest in aviation, and have been involved in the disaster response here. I would like to make some comments on disaster response based on my experiences here and on some of the responses to this thread. I apologise for a slight thread drift, and for some not specifically aviation comments.

1. Transportation is absolutely essential for getting urgent supplies, equipment and personnel in, and injured, sick and vulnerable residents out. Time is of the essence in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, and air transport is the quickest way of getting in and out. Therefore a functioning aerodrome is invaluable in the immediate aftermath. I would see a "functioning aerodrome" as consisting of: a usable runway, somewhere to park aircraft, and rudimentary navigation and communication. I would welcome comments from pilots on that list.
2. I'm concerned that many of the airports in NZ are located near the coast where they would be vulnerable to flood or tsunami and on ground which is vulnerable to liquifaction in earthquakes. If Christchurch's airport had been in the eastern (coastal) suburbs, the runways would probably have been unusable.
3. People making decisions on the ground need to know enough about what they're doing to be able to know when the consequences of following the letter of the rule book may be worse than the consequences of bending the rules a bit.
4. These people need to make decisions quickly under extremely difficult conditions. Occassionally they will make mistakes. The last thing we need is for some shiny arse lawyer to crucify their decision after having carefully considered all the pros and cons over many months
5. When mother nature is throwing her toys out of the cot big time, and your world is being turned inside out, simple human kindnesses (like making an effort to come and help, adopting a couple of homeless cats, a kind word to someone on a flight out....) makes a huge difference. I for one have really appreciated the efforts of aviation people (and countless others) from around NZ and Aus who came to help us. I have a much better understanding now (than a year ago) of how much difference the guys & girls mentioned in this thread would've made to the people of Darwin. I salute you, and hope you realise how incredibly valuable your contributions have been.

[Fris B. Fairing]

Flying Binghi

I am advised by someone who used to fly Bristol Freighters that it would have taken almost 14 hours to fly to Darwin from their Melbourne base! Given that an Ansett Electra was flying that route on Boxing Day I think it most unlikely that the B170 would have been pressed into service.

Revcorp, thanks for your insight.

Rgds

[teresa green]

A good article Revcorp, especially the legal bit. I doubt any airline would want to be involved if it happened this month again, they certainly would not take the loads that they took, and I personally would pale at the thought of wandering around the countryside becoming desperate as I could not find any hospital who could take my Ladies. The legal implications that would take place if a baby was born dead, or the mother herself died from lack of medical care, simply because I decided to go onto Mackay, instead of insisting that ISA take them, makes my blood run cold. But then it was not even a issue, it was the last thing on my mind, just managing a aircraft full of the most unusual PAX and with the possibility of adding to the PAX list at any time was enough for me, and if I had my time over again I would have landed at ISA and refused to budge, that trip to Mackay was the longest and most stressful of my life as a airline pilot, as we also had indigenous mums to be on board, some who had barely seen a aircraft much less having to endure two take offs and landings, they were terrified. I cannot speak highly enough of the CC and medical people we had with us, without their dedication and kindness to all on board we could not have pulled it off. As for the two cats, they took over the house, and ruled it with a iron paw, as only cats can, and both lived to a ripe old age, we enjoyed their company.

[Taildragger67]

TG,

Let me guess, you named them 'Darwin' and 'Fitzroy'?

Slight Thread Drift alert

Good on you all, I was only a young tacker at the time, our only family involvement was Dad (RAAFR) being called away from Christmas to help on the logistics side at Riccy. I recall being made to feel very lucky that I had a solid roof over my head with some of the stories he came back with a few days later.

Hats off... still.

[teresa green]

Eh no, we called them "Clawed" who destroyed the furniture, and TFF (TIF) named after the aircraft involved.

[Jenny12]

That's 'our' house behind the DC3. Dad (David Hitchins) got a parking ticket which had been placed on it by the Service Police.