HMAS CANBERRA (2) - Commissioning Crew
The Guard of Honour marching onboard HMAS Canberra during the Commissioning Ceremony at Todd Ship Yards in Seattle, Washington USA. 21st March 1981.
A Brief History of the Crew and Families
The Commissioning Crew were selected from all over Australia, it was a great privilege to be posted to the United States to Commission the new Guided Missile Frigates being built in the US, to conduct the US Navy Training, work the ship up and bring her back to Australia.
Some members of the crew and there Families had been in the US up to 2 years prior to the Commissioning to undergo specialist weapons electrical and engineering training, a substantial number of the crew arrived in country in September 1980 followed by the balance crew in February 1981.
Initially the Families were settled in Seattle Washington were the ship was launch, constructed and commissioned, the Ship Builder's Trail and Acceptance trials were conducted in the Seattle area.
The Ship was then home port in Long beach California, all the Families and crew then moved to Southern California (SOCAL) to live whilst the ship worked up with the US Navy 9th Destroyer Squadron.
The Families settled in different suburbs in SOCAL, Huntington Beach, Palo's Verde's and Westminister were favourites. Twenty Three children were born in the States to Australian Families from HMAS Canberra. The Families were supported by the AUSTFASO Organisation a great team of Australian Naval Personnel that help settling personnel and Families into the Country.
A number of Sailors were married in the US and settled with their American wives back in Australia, some of the Sailors who loved the States returned to live and are still living there.
The Ship departed the US for Australia in February 1982, arriving in Sydney in April 1982...More
WOCOX Dean Parks
A nominal list and Flash presentation of the the Commissioning Crew is available here
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Commissioning Crew Image Galleries:
Commissioning Ceremony 1981
The Guard of Honour marching onboard HMAS Canberra during the Commissioning Ceremony at Todd Ship Yards in Seattle, Washington USA. 21st March 1981.
Commissioning Book
The Commission Book outlines the Commissioning Ceremony for HMAS Canberra and has information and images of the Commissioning Crew
A Nominal list, images of the Commission Crew is also available
The Crew Ashore 1981-1982
This Gallery features the HMAS Canberra commissioning Crew Ashore 1981-1982, the images were taken in the United States of America
The Families 1980-1982
The Families Gallery features the Australia Families that accompanied the Commissioning Crew to the United States of America 1980-1982
Ship Arriving in Australia 1982
Images of the Ships arrival in Sydney Harbour February 1982, most members of the Crew had spent 12 to 24 Months away from Australia and were glad to be home...
Reunions
The first Reunion of the Commissioning Crew was conducted in 2001, a part of the Reunion was conducted in HMAS Canberra where a Cocktail Party was held onboard hosted by the Commanding Officer, Commander Roger Boyce RAN, a Reunion was held in 2005 when the ship decommissioned and prior to the Ships scuttling in 2009...More
Final Searide - 2005
The Ship conducted its final searide for Family members of the Decommissioning Crew, it was also the last opportunity for Commissioning Crew members to go to see on HMAS Canberra, the ship departed Fleet base West and sailed to Fremantle, the HMAS Darwin crew manned the side and gave HMAS Canberra 3 cheers as the ship pulled out of Fleet base West
SS Canberra 1981
Images of the Cruise Liner SS CANBERRA and the Guided Missile Frigate HMAS CANBERRA took a unique historic maritime opportunity to meet at sea in the Pacific Ocean off California in 1981