Richard Siudak
10th October 2008, 12:05 AM
Belated headsup,
Arriving Friday into Sydney harbour are a pair of USN vessels with USS Peleliu carrying 12 CH-46E Sea Knights, 4 CH-53E Super Stallions, 4 AH-1W Super Cobras, 2 UH-1N Hueys and 6 AV-8B Harrier II aircraft under a composite USMC squadron HMM-165 coded YW. Also on board are a pair of MH-60S Nighthawks from USN squadron HSC-23. The second ship is an Arleigh Burke cruiser USS Halsey which carries a pair of USN SH-60B Seahawks from HSL-45 Det 3. These ships had a 26 hour stopover for fuel in Fremantle last Friday/Saturday and I was very lucky to be able to tour both ships and photograph albeit in overcast conditions on the day. For the spotters out there collecting serials, I do have a list of all aviation assets on both ships with the exception of CH-53E coded 22 which I missed in my ten minute photographing run on the flight deck to which I had full access. If any one wants the list, I'll email it direct to you. According to the Assistant PAO, the expectation is that the ship will have an open day(s) of sorts but no details given so I suggest you contact the relevant people to see what the procedure is. Should anyone be fortunate - your mission will be to get the Bu number of CH-53E coded 22, it will be 16_ _ _ _
Good luck with getting on board and hope you get nice blue skies as some of these aircraft are very dirty after performing in war zones for the past six months or so.
Ciao
Richard Siudak
Perth
Arriving Friday into Sydney harbour are a pair of USN vessels with USS Peleliu carrying 12 CH-46E Sea Knights, 4 CH-53E Super Stallions, 4 AH-1W Super Cobras, 2 UH-1N Hueys and 6 AV-8B Harrier II aircraft under a composite USMC squadron HMM-165 coded YW. Also on board are a pair of MH-60S Nighthawks from USN squadron HSC-23. The second ship is an Arleigh Burke cruiser USS Halsey which carries a pair of USN SH-60B Seahawks from HSL-45 Det 3. These ships had a 26 hour stopover for fuel in Fremantle last Friday/Saturday and I was very lucky to be able to tour both ships and photograph albeit in overcast conditions on the day. For the spotters out there collecting serials, I do have a list of all aviation assets on both ships with the exception of CH-53E coded 22 which I missed in my ten minute photographing run on the flight deck to which I had full access. If any one wants the list, I'll email it direct to you. According to the Assistant PAO, the expectation is that the ship will have an open day(s) of sorts but no details given so I suggest you contact the relevant people to see what the procedure is. Should anyone be fortunate - your mission will be to get the Bu number of CH-53E coded 22, it will be 16_ _ _ _
Good luck with getting on board and hope you get nice blue skies as some of these aircraft are very dirty after performing in war zones for the past six months or so.
Ciao
Richard Siudak
Perth