Aviation in the Aftermath of Cyclone Tracy

EVACUATION FLIGHTS OUT OF DARWIN

AFTER CYCLONE TRACY IN DECEMBER 1974

THE TRANS-AUSTRALIA AIRLINES SCHEDULE

DATE	AIRCRAFT		FLT	FROM	STD	ATD	TO	STA	ATA	PAX	FLYING	REMARKS
BLANK
25DEC74	F.27	VH-TQT	556	KTR	1530	1635	DRW	1625	1737	1	1.02
BLANK
26DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	591	PER	0010	0010	ADL	0410	0402	48	2.27	DIVERTED VIA ADL FOR SAILORS ADL-SYD
26DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	591	ADL	0440	0440	SYD	0630	0641	121	1.31
26DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJA	556	ASP	1135	1233	DRW	1320	1430	72	1.57
26DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJA	557	DRW	1345	1525	ASP	1555	1710	120	1.45
26DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJA	557	ASP	1600	1755	ADL	1850	2045	120	1.50
26DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJA	2890	ADL	-	-	ASP	-	-	-	-	CANCELLED
26DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJA	2890	ASP	-	-	DRW	-	-	-	-	CANCELLED
26DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJD	412	ISA	1105	1305	DRW	1220	1425	17	1.50
26DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJD	465	DRW	1255	1535	ISA	1510	1815	120	2.10
26DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJD	465	ISA	1535	1900	BNE	1730	2058	120	1.58
26DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJD	2856	BNE	1825	2159	SYD	2125	0020	101	1.21
26DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJD	2856	SYD	0015	0105	MEL	0125	0215	19	1.10
26DEC74	F.27	VH-TQT	2893	DRW	1155	1155	ISA	1615	1545	60	3.20
26DEC74	F.27	VH-TQT	2893	ISA	1645	1645	BNE	2100	2030	60	.45
26DEC74	F.27	VH-TFF	?	BNE	?	?	DRW	?	1100	-	?	(See Note: 2)
26DEC74	F.27	VH-TFF	?	DRW	?	1324	MKY	?	?	43	?	(See Note: 2)
BLANK
27DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	Q96	PER	1150	1300	DRW	1540	1600	1	3.30
27DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	Q96	DRW	1800	1800	BNE	2155	2234	275	4.04
27DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBK	Q95	BNE	0400	0415	ISA	0610	0625	64	2.10
27DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBK	Q95	ISA	0640	0708	DRW	0755	0830	70	1.52
27DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBK	Q97	DRW	0910	0910	ISA	1125	1125	217	1.45
27DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBK	Q90	ISA	1230	1330	DRW	1345	1500	NIL	2.00
27DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBK	Q91	DRW	1430	1608	BNE	1825	2016	207	3.38
27DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBK	2858	BNE	2310	2303	ISA	0110	0115	211	3.12	(Pax count believed to be 211)
27DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJE	Q91	BNE	2145	2147	SYD	0001	0002	135	1.15
27DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJF	Q92	ADL	1545	1600	DRW	1810	1810	6	3.10
27DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJF	Q93	DRW	2030	1921	BNE	2335	2332	245	3.41
27DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJK	2855	BNE	2245	2245	MEL	0150	0154	82	2.09
27DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJO	2894	BNE	1515	1512	ISA	1730	1713	30	2.01
27DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJO	2895	ISA	1800	1800	BNE	2005	2005	68	2.05
27DEC74	B727-76	-	522	ASP	-	-	DRW	-	-	-	-	CANCELLED
BLANK
28DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBG	2856	SYD	2200	2210	ADL	2320	2325	143	1.45
28DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	2902	BNE	0215	0240	ISA	0425	0445	11	2.05
28DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	2902	ISA	0455	0557	DRW	0640	0718	10	1.51
28DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	2901	DRW	0720	0943	ISA	0935	1210	294	1.57
28DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	2904	ISA	1025	1305	DRW	1130	1430	NIL	1.55
28DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	2907	DRW	1425	1525	ADL	1845	1935	270	3.40
28DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	2891	ADL	2015	2050	MEL	2145	2233	81	1.13
28DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	2892	MEL	2215	2306	SYD	2325	0010	7	1.04
28DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBJ	2792	PER	1200	1212	DRW	1550	1612	1	3.30
28DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBJ	2909	DRW	1710	1730	BNE	2100	2125	307	3.25
28DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBK	2859	ISA	0145	0155	BNE	0325	0355	242	2.00
28DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJC	2851	BNE	-	-	SYD	-	-	-	-	CANCELLED
28DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJC	2860	BNE	1425	1700	ISA	1640	1910	39	2.10
28DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJC	2861	ISA	1710	1940	BNE	1915	2144	121	2.04
28DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJC	2856	BNE	2200	2231	ISA	0015	0050	3	2.19
28DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJC	2855	ISA	0115	0135	SYD	0445	0449	159	2.14
28DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJD	2790	ASP	1135	1155	DRW	1320	1340	20	1.45
28DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJD	2903	DRW	1505	1540	ADL	1920	1920	229	3.10
28DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJF	2893	SYD	2200	2337	MEL	2310	0041	32	1.04
28DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJF	Q93	BNE	0010	0013	SYD	0225	0239	NIL	1.13
28DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJK	483	BNE	2100	2221	MEL	2255	0120	39	1.59
28DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJQ	2881	CNS	1945	2020	BNE	2140	2220	?	2.00
28DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJS	2877	TSV	0145	0145	BNE	0335	0315	NIL	1.30
28DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJS	2877	BNE	0415	0515	SYD	0630	0729	95	1.14
28DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJT	2878	SYD	0400	0400	TSV	0530	0534	97	2.34	NAVY (See Note: 1)
28DEC74	F.27	VH-TFL	2894	GOV	1455	1457	DRW	1645	1647	10	1.50
28DEC74	F.27	VH-TFL	2895	DRW	-	1739	ISA	-	2147	64	3.38
28DEC74	F.27	VH-TFL	2895	ISA	-	2259	BNE	-	0305	64	4.06
28DEC74	B727-276	-	2905	DRW	-	-	ISA	-	-	-	-	CANCELLED
28DEC74	B727-276	-	2906	ISA	-	-	DRW	-	-	-	-	CANCELLED
28DEC74	DC-9	-	2883	MKY	-	-	SYD	-	-	-	-	CANCELLED
BLANK
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBG	2922	ADL	0455	0615	DRW	0715	0839	12	3.24
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBG	2923	DRW	0830	0950	ADL	1250	1412	297	?
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBG	2924	ADL	1230	1535	DRW	1530	1750	25	3.15
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBG	2925	DRW	1700	1900	ADL	2120	2320	175	3.20
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBG	2898	ADL	2230	0053	ASP	2325	0155	6	2.02
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBG	2898	ASP	2359	0230	ADL	0250	0517	235	1.47
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	2880	SYD	0320	0323	TSV	0445	0503	140	2.40	NAVY (See Note: 1)
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	2880	TSV	0525	0527	CNS	0550	0606	NIL	.39	POSIT
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBI	2928	MEL	0445	0450	DRW	0645	0716	NIL	3.55
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBI	2929	DRW	-	0815	BNE	-	1207	289	3.27
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBI	2932	BNE	1200	1335	DRW	1515	1645	3	3.40
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBI	2915	DRW	1625	1745	BNE	2015	2133	293	3.28
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBJ	2910	BNE	0300	0330	ISA	-	0602	10	2.22
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBJ	2910	ISA	-	0627	DRW	0700	0750	10	1.53
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBJ	2933	DRW	0730	0900	BNE	1120	1252	295	3.22
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBJ	2930	BNE	1230	1405	DRW	1545	1545	1	3.40
29DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBJ	2931	DRW	1700	1700	SYD	2115	2115	226	3.45
29DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJB	2856	SYD	2230	2245	ADL	2350	2350	53	1.35
29DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJC	2892	SYD	2230	2330	ADL	2350	0042	131	1.42
29DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJM	2894	SYD	2245	2342	BNE	2300	0001	97	1.19	EVACUEES
29DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJO	2882	SYD	0400	0403	TSV	0530	0550	98	1.47	NAVY (See Note: 1)
29DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJO	2780	TSV	0600	0615	ISA	0710	0730	4	1.15
29DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJO	2781	ISA	0740	0800	TSV	0845	0910	148	1.10
29DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJO	2781	TSV	0915	0941	BNE	1050	1115	141	1.54
29DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJO	2884	BNE	1130	1145	TSV	1305	1325	7	1.40
29DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJS	2893	SYD	2255	0005	MEL	0010	0110	27	1.05
29DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJT	2890	BNE	2215	2243	ISA	0025	0055	NIL	2.12
29DEC74	F.27	VH-TQS	2896	BNE	0735	0737	ROK	-	0920	5	1.43	DIVERTED ROK FOR FUEL
29DEC74	F.27	VH-TQS	2896	ROK	-	0935	CNS	1230	1230	NIL	2.55	(Evidently pax disembarked ROK!)
29DEC74	F.27	VH-TQT	2926	ASP	0130	0340	KTR	-	0626	NIL	2.46	VIA TCA FOR FUEL
29DEC74	F.27	VH-TQT	2926	KTR	-	0650	DRW	-	0747	NIL	.57
29DEC74	F.27	VH-TQT	2927	DRW	0740	0945	ASP	1055	1315	60	3.30	(via TCA for fuel?)
29DEC74	B727-276	-	2851	BNE	-	-	SYD	-	-	-	-	CANCELLED
29DEC74	B727-76	?	516	MEL	2155	-	PER	2225	-	-	-	DIVERTED VIA ADL FOR DRW-PER EVACUATION
29DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGF	2850	BNE	-	1820	CTL	-	2045	-	2.25
29DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGF	2850	CTL	-	2111	CNJ	-	2356	-	2.45
30DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGF	2850	CNJ	-	0018	TCA	-	0237	-	2.19
30DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGF	2850	TCA	-	1038	ASP	-	1228	-	1.50
30DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGF	2850	ASP	-	1510	TCA	-	1655	-	1.45
30DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGF	2850	TCA	-	1730	KTR	-	1930	-	2.00
30DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGF	2850	KTR	-	1945	KTR	-	2130	-	1.45	(Local flying?)
30DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGF	2850	KTR	-	2203	DRW	-	2320	-	1.17
29DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGG	2852	BNE	-	1625	CTL	-	1850	-	2.25
29DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGG	2852	CTL	-	1913	CNJ	-	2153	-	2.40
29DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGG	2852	CNJ	-	2218	TCA	-	0035	-	2.17
30DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGG	2852	TCA	-	0055	KTR	-	0300	-	2.05
30DEC74	DHC-6	VH-TGG	2852	KTR	-	0900	DRW	-	1007	-	1.07
BLANK
30DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	2942	BNE	-	-	ISA	-	-	-	-	CANCELLED
30DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBH	2943	ISA	-	-	BNE	-	-	-	-	CANCELLED
30DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBJ	2854	SYD	0100	0221	BNE	-	0332	60	1.11
30DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBJ	2854	BNE	0145	0305	ISA	0355	0525	3	2.20
30DEC74	B727-276	VH-TBJ	2857	ISA	0115	0643	SYD	0445	0906	148	2.25
30DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJA	2854	ADL	2135	2135	PER	2305	2305	94	3.00
30DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJA	2855	PER	2335	2335	MEL	0445	0445	NIL	3.10
30DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJB	2898	MEL	1330	1340	ADL	1405	1425	42	1.15
30DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJB	2898	ADL	1435	1455	ASP	1530	1545	2	1.50
30DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJB	2899	ASP	1610	1610	ADL	1900	1900	120	1.50
30DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJC	2897	ADL	-	0155	SYD	-	0331	?	1.36
30DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJD	2891	ADL	-	-	MEL	-	-	-	-	CANCELLED
30DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJD	2890	ADL	1730	1730	ASP	1820	1820	1	1.50
30DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJD	2891	ASP	1855	1837	ADL	2145	2125	119	1.48
30DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJD	2860	ADL	2215	2210	ASP	2310	2300	NIL	1.50
30DEC74	B727-76	VH-TJD	2861	ASP	2340	2325	ADL	0230	0212	153	1.47
30DEC74	DC-9	VH-TJT	2895	ISA	0130	0140	BNE	0325	0340	74	2.00
BLANK
03JAN75	DC-9	VH-TJK	2854	BNE	1930	1933	ISA	2200	2210	NIL	2.22
03JAN75	DC-9	VH-TJK	2855	ISA	2220	2237	BNE	0025	0052	86	2.10
BLANK
05JAN75	F.27	VH-TQS	1415	GOV	0810	0828	CNS	1135	1200	36	2.52
BLANK

COMPILER'S NOTES

This list is a combination of three lists obtained from contemporary TAA sources. The principal source is a typed memo from OCM dated 31DEC74 with an addendum dated 06JAN75. Reference has also been made to two hand-written lists from the same source. These lists do not have the scope of data contained in the official memo and as might be expected there are anomalies. Flights recorded on the memo might be missing from the hand-written lists and vice versa. In such cases all flights have been added to this compilation. Although much effort has gone into achieving consistency with dates, registrations and sectors flown, the variations in arrival and departure times are deemed beyond the mental capacity of the compiler!

In an attempt to gain a better appreciation of operating patterns, the above listing has been re-sorted under aircraft types and registrations.

Uppercase remarks are reproduced verbatim from the original sources. Lowercase remarks in brackets have been added by the compiler.

The typed memo makes no reference to time zones but one of the hand-written lists specifies that all times are in Eastern Summer Time.

It will be noted that some flights extend into the following day. There has been no attempt to split the flights into two days except with the Twin Otters.

The following statement accompanies the typed memo:

Attached is a complete list of flights operated to uplift passengers from Darwin plus those secondary flights operated to uplift Darwin passengers from their first point of disembarkation to their nominated "home port".

Only flights carrying passengers out of Darwin, Alice Springs and Mount Isa have been transferred to the main list. (Many evacuees travelled by road to ASP and ISA)

NOTES

When the first elements of the Royal Australian Navy fleet sailed from Sydney on 26 December, approximately 50 per cent of all Sydney-based ships’ companies were on annual leave, with many interstate. Of the 2700 personnel on leave, 2200 were able to return to their ships prior to sailing, and others subsequently managed to join their ships in Townsville.
Source: http://www.navy.gov.au/w/index.php/Publication:Semaphore_-_Issue_14%2C_2004

This flight has been entered in red because it does not appear in the official TAA schedule. It does, however, appear in the log book of Capt David Baker so it has been added in the interests of completeness.

AIRPORT CODES
ADL	Adelaide
ASP	Alice Springs
BHQ	Broken Hill
BNE	Brisbane
CNJ	Cloncurry
CNS	Cairns
CTL	Charleville
DRW	Darwin
GOV	Gove
ISA	Mount Isa
KTR	Katherine/Tindal
LRE	Longreach
MEL	Melbourne Tullamarine
MKY	Mackay
PER	Perth
ROK	Rockhampton
SYD	Sydney
TCA	Tennant Creek
TSV	Townsville
YAMB	Amberley RAAF Base
YLVT	Laverton RAAF Base
YSNW	[NW] Nowra RAN Station Albatross
YSRI	[RI] Richmond RAAF Base

Note: As they will be more familiar to most readers, the three letter IATA codes
are used. If none is available the four letter ICAO code is used.

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ISSUE	DATE	REMARKS
2	20JAN12	Added Note 1. Added a flight by F.27 VH-TFF on 26DEC (see Note 2) Minor corrections to some flights on 27DEC due to legibility issues.
1	15JAN12	Original.