One of the few RAN Trackers to escape destruction in a 1976 hangar fire at Nowra. Now in hands of a private collector.

Destroyed in hangar fire at Nowra December 4, 1976

Destroyed in hangar fire at Nowra December 4, 1976

Destroyed in a hangar fire at Nowra (YSNW) on December 4, 1976

Here, this VS-71 Tracker has remained mercifully free of the dreaded Spraylat. She was one of those with a new career ahead. Having arrived at DM in 12.74, she went on to the Venezuelan Navy in 5.81 as AS-108, the last of eight supplied (6 in 1975, 2 in 1981). They were replaced by ASW version of the C.212 and put into store at naval air base Puerto Cabello.

Became a training aid after being damaged in the hangar fire that destroyed most of the RAN S-2E Trackers.

Withdrawn from use in 1984 and sold to Hookway Aviation

Ah, the colourful days of the USN... the last USN Tracker squadron, VS-37, was disestablished in 1976 when the S-3A Viking took over the ASW role. 152806 was one of their aircraft and arrived at MASDC in 2.75 and seemingly has since been broken up like so many others

Unit: VS-38. USS Bennington. 152333 sold to the Royal Australian Navy in 1977 as N12-152333. Later VH-NVX with Navy's historic flight. At Garden Island Naval Base.

Lost when forced to ditch during a bolter on the HMAS Melbourne February 10, 1975. Crew escaped.