Sea Venom WZ-939 was formally delivered to the RAN in February 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland, and shipped to Australia on the newly commissioned aircraft carrier, HMAS Melbourne, in March that year.

The Sea Venom's basic role in the RAN during its 18 years of service was to provide fighter protection for the Melbourne and accompanying fleet, day and night.

The aircraft was powered by a De Havilland Ghost 104 engine and had a maximum speed of 563 mph at sea level and 544 mph at 30,000 feet.

The DH Sea Venom was considered by its pilots to be a good, sound aircraft with no vices and served well until replaced in 1967 with the Douglas A4 Skyhawk. Eleven Sea Venoms were written off in service with the loss of 9 aircrew.

This CJFM Sea Venom went into RAN service in May 1956, and was disposed of to the Tuggerah Lakes War Museum in 1971. It later went into storage until purchased by CJFM in late 1993. After an intensive restoration program, WZ-939 was stored to await the opening of CJFM at Parafield in 1996.

Flight Crew: Cmdr. Josselyn, Sblt. Kimpton
Service Crew: NAM Washbrook, NAM Allen

Role
Two seat all weather naval fighter

Engine
One DH Ghost Mk.104 turbojet; 4,950lb thrust

Dimensions
wing span - 42ft 10in (13.1m)
length - 36ft 7in (11.2m)
height - 8ft 6in (2.59m)

Weight
empty - 11,000lb (4,990kg)
maximum load - 15,900lb (7,212kg)

Armament
4 x 20mm cannon; 8 x 60lb (27kg) rockets

Performance
maximum speed - 489kt (906 kph)
patrol/cruise speed - 295kt (546kph) initial climb rate - 4850ft (1,478m) per min
service ceiling - 40,000ft (12,192m)
maximum range - 869 nautical miles (1,609km)

RAN service
1956-67

Number
39

Serial Numbers
The original RN numbers were retained: WZ893 to 911; WZ927 to 946

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