On November 27, 1956 The Shoalhaven and Nowra News reported on a royal visit to the area.
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Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was in Australia to officially open the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games and on November 21, the Duke travelled from Canberra to HMAS Albatross aboard a naval Dakota aircraft.
On arrival, the Duke was welcomed by the Minister for the Navy Mr Davidson, Captain Fenshawe and Rear Admiral Buchanan.
The Duke was given a tour of the station, standing in a modified Land Rover, then watched mechanics servicing aircrafts, inspected the new canteen, the recruits’ quarters and the various hangars.
According to the front page article he “appeared to be particularly interested in the Australian Joint Anti-Submarine School”.
From the control tower, he watched an air display featuring all types of aircraft in service at the station, from helicopters to Sea Fury, Vampire Jet, Firefly and Gannet aircraft.
Three pilots in Sea Furies put on a thrilling display of aerobatics and world glider speed record holder Cmdr GAJ Goodhart provided an exhibition of gliding aerobatics at about 2000 feet, performing a series of loops, rolls and dives, before landing gracefully in front of the control tower.
It was reported the Duke then watched on as Safety Equipment Instructor Cmdr LM Bateman demonstrated how pilots escape from aircraft when forced down in water.
“Lt Cmdr Bateman, who was strapped in an old aircraft cockpit, was hurled into the swimming pool by a special device used for training purposes and in a remarkably short time had freed himself, inflated his rubber dinghy and with paddles reminiscent of the old time ‘butter pats’ rowed ashore non the worse for the experience, but very wet”.
Officials at HMAS Albatross presented the Duke with a brass ornament with a design including a boomerang and an albatross.
Following lunch he went on to HMAS Creswell by helicopter, which was piloted by Lieut JH O’Farrell and escorted by two other helicopters.