Search and Rescue (SAR) boat HMAS Air Nymph (Y257), carrying survivors and towing a raft of ...

Search and Rescue (SAR) boat HMAS Air Nymph (Y257), carrying survivors and towing a raft of survivors of the RAN Daring class destroyer HMAS Voyager, comes alongside the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, after a collision on the night of 10 February 1964. HMAS Voyager was sunk in the collision with the Melbourne off Jervis Bay, which claimed the lives of 82 crew members of the Voyager. The Air Nymph, under the command of O1104 Lieutenant Kerry Stephen (front., second from left, white shirt), was the first of two SARs to arrive at the scene and pick up survivors from the water and from life rafts. It attempted going alongside the Melbourne but suffered damage to the radio aerials on the top of the mast. Also it was not safe for injured survivors to climb the cargo nets on the side of the Melbourne. So instead, the Air Nymph took 34 survivors to the RAN base, HMAS Creswell, Jervis Bay. HMAS Air Sprite, the other SAR operating that night, rescued 36 men. Front, third from left, is R44824 Petty Officer Ronald (Ron) William Budd. HMAS Voyager survivor Leading Airman Photographer (LAPHOT) Richard John (Rick) Reynolds is seated to the left of the mast supports, with his arms folded. (Same image as 305885 Naval Historical Collection).