Aviation in the Aftermath of Cyclone Tracy

EVACUATION FLIGHTS OUT OF DARWIN

AFTER CYCLONE TRACY IN DECEMBER 1974

THE QANTAS SCHEDULE

ISSUED	FLT NBR	AIRCRAFT		STD SYD	STA DRW	STD DRW	STA SYD
260610	QF007A	B707	VH-EAG	262230	270245
260610	QF008A	B707	VH-EAG			270415	270820
260610	QF007B	B707	VH-EAH	270001	270415
260610	QF008B	B707	VH-EAH			270545	270950
270654	QF007E	B747	VH-EBB	271615	272030
270654	QF008E	B747	VH-EBB			272200	280200
270654	QF007F	B747	VH-EBB	280330	280745
270654	QF008F	B747	VH-EBB			280945	281345
280116	QF007H	B747	VH-EBB	281600	282015
280116	QF008H	B747	VH-EBB			282215	290210
280116	QF007I	B707	VH-EBT	282100	290115
280116	QF008I	B707	VH-EBT			290315	290715
280116	QF007J	B707	VH-EAG	282300	290315
280116	QF008J	B707	VH-EAG			290515	290915
280116	QF007K	B747	VH-EBB	290345	290800
280116	QF008K	B747	VH-EBB			291000	291400
290635	QF007M	B707	VH-EAC	292100	300115
290635	QF008M	B707	VH-EAC			300315	300715
300406	QF007L	B707	VH-EAH	300545	300945
300406	QF008L	B707	VH-EAH			301145	301545

QF007G/QF008G	See Note 8
QF007R	See Note 9

PLANNED BUT DID NOT OPERATE

ISSUED	FLT NBR	AIRCRAFT		STD SYD	STA DRW	STD DRW	STA SYD
290005	QF007L	B747	VH-EBI	291600	292015
290005	QF008L	B747	VH-EBI			292215	300210
290005	QF007N	B707	VH-EAA	292300	300315
290005	QF008N	B707	VH-EAA			300515	300915
290005	QF007Q	B747	VH-EBI	300345	300800
290005	QF008Q	B747	VH-EBI			301000	301400

NOTES

1	These schedules are extracted (with some difficulty!) from faded photocopies of Qantas operations messages held in the compiler's collection.
2	It should be noted that this is a schedule which does not necessarily reflect actual operations.
3	All times are GMT. (SYD is +10, DRW is +9:30 )
4	Although there are some variations and perhaps some typographical errors it would appear that planned flight times were 4 hours 15 mins SYD-DRW and 4 hours DRW-SYD for both B707 and B747. Time on the ground at DRW was mostly planned at 2 hours.
5	Stated seating configurations are: VH-EBB 32/339 plus lounge. VH-EAH 173 all economy
6	B747 VH-EBI was delivered in Seattle on 12OCT74 and it would appear that special efforts were made to allocate the aircraft to Darwin relief flights as it was appropriately named "City of Darwin". In the event the aircraft did not operate any relief flights.
7	STD = Scheduled Time of Departure. STA = Scheduled Time of Arrival.
8	Not shown on this schedule, QF007G/QF008G operated SYD-BNE-SYD on 28DEC. The Qantas Brisbane Movement Log shows VH-EBW, commanded by Captain Clark, arrived from SYD on schedule at 0415 local on 28DEC as QF007G. The aircraft returned to SYD as QF008G departing at 0518, just three minutes behind schedule with 250 passengers. (Other sources state 247 passengers). This flight was originally shown as being operated by VH-EBU but It has since emerged that VH-EBU was in Nadi, Fiji at the time and a poorly formed character in the Qantas Brisbane Movement Log is actually a "W" so the relief flight must have been operated by VH-EBW.
9	Also not shown on this schedule is the very first Qantas relief flight which was operated by B707 VH-EAF on 26DEC74 as QF007R (Relief). The flight was operated by an all volunteer crew, most of whom were on leave and who had contacted Crew Scheduling as soon as the news broke on Boxing Day. The flight carried 14 passengers and 11 crew as per the General Declaration: Captain John Brooks First Officer Bryan Griffin Second Officer John Daley (shown incorrectly as Daily) Engineer Officer Norman King Flight Hostess Chris Pink Chief Steward S. Holland Senior Steward R. Cowell Flight Steward R. Boxall Flight Steward J. Greenhill Flight Steward J. McLean Flight Traffic Officer Michael Bonaccorsi (a hand amendment) The document was signed by F/H Chris Pink. (Source: Norman King Collection)

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ISSUE	DATE	REMARKS
3	25DEC24	Added Note 9 (on the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy!)
2	25OCT24	Added Note 8.
1	07JAN12	Original.