HMAS Air Mist

HMAS Air Mist was one of 21 air/sea rescue (ASR) vessels originally built in the United States and Canada between 1943 and 1945, and transferred to the Royal Australian Navt under their Lend-Lease Agreement. These vessels were originally designed as anti-submarine craft, but their high speed and manoeuvrability made them ideal as search and rescue vessels. In this role, their hulls were painted black and their upper decks and superstructure painted bright yellow. One vessel, HMAS Air Sprite, was built locally in 1960 to an almost identical design.

Air Mist was commissioned on 20 September 1944 in Sydney under the command of Skipper (later Sub Lieutenant, RANVR) James Needle and officially listed as a tender to HMAS Rushcutter, and later to HMAS Madang. It remained alongside in Sydney preparing for sea until 1 March 1945 when it proceeded for Jervis Bay, and on 10 March commenced passage northwards bound for Morotai, Indonesia, in company with HMAS Air Save and was joined by HMA Ships Air Wave and Air Host in Brisbane.

It arrived at Morotai on 3 June, having conducted part of the passage under tow by MV Comara in tandem with HMAS Air Master, and commenced ASR duties but at the end of the month was once again reallocated to Balikpapan. It departed Morotai on 28 June under tow from HMAS Cootamundra, again in tandem with Air Master, and arrived at Balikpapan on 3 July. It conducted normal ASR duties at Balipapan through to November.

Air Mist’s return to Australia began on 22 November being taken in tow that afternoon by HMAS Inverell in tandem yet again with Air Master. They arrived in Brisbane on 14 December where HMAS Geraldton took up the tow. On 18 December Air Mist’s tow parted and it drifted away in a northerly direction. Attempts to resume the tow were unsuccessful and Air Mist was abandoned the following morning as it drifted dangerously close to rocks off Morna Point, Air Master taking off its crew before it ran aground.