Commodore David James Orr RAN

1. IT IS WITH SADNESS, I INFORM YOU OF THE DEATH OF COMMODORE DAVID JAMES ORR, RAN (RTD), AGED 86
2. COMMODORE ORR WAS BORN IN PERTH IN 1931 AND JOINED THE RAN IN MAY 1952. AFTER COMPLETING HIS INITIAL TRAINING AT HMAS CERBERUS HE UNDERTOOK PILOT TRAINING WITH THE RAAF AT ARCHERFIELD QLD, URANQUINTY NSW AND POINT COOK VIC.  HE PROCEEDED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM IN OCTOBER 1953 FOR FURTHER FLYING TRAINING WITH THE ROYAL NAVY. UPON HIS RETURN HE JOINED 817 SQUADRON FLYING FAIREY ‘FIREFLY’ AIRCRAFT AT HMAS ALBATROSS AND IN HMAS SYDNEY DURING 1954-55.
3. AFTER SERVING WITH 723 AND 725 SQUADRONS AT ALBATROSS, HE COMPLETED FAIREY ‘GANNET’ CONVERSION IN 1957 AND THEN COMPLETED HELICOPTER CONVERSION IN 723 SQUADRON DURING 1958.  HE PROCEEDED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM AGAIN IN 1958 FOR THE ROYAL AIR FORCE HELICOPTER INSTRUCTORS’ COURSE AND WAS APPOINTED THE 723 SQUADRON SENIOR PILOT IN JANUARY 1960. 
4. DURING 1961 AND 1962 HE SERVED IN HMA SHIPS QUEENBOROUGH AND VAMPIRE FOR OFFICER OF THE WATCH TRAINING AND RETURNED TO FLYING IN WESTLAND ‘WESSEX’ HELICOPTERS WITH 817 SQUADRON UNTIL JULY 1964.  FROM SEPTEMBER 1964 UNTIL JULY 1965 HE COMMANDED 723 SQUADRON, AND THEN COMMANDED 817 SQUADRON FROM OCTOBER 1965 UNTIL JANUARY 1966, WHICH INCLUDED SERVICE IN HMAS MELBOURNE
5. HE WAS APPOINTED THE SENIOR OFFICER MINESWEEPER SQUADRON 16 AND COMMANDING OFFICER OF HMAS SNIPE IN AUGUST 1966.  POSTINGS IN ADMINISTRATIVE AND TRAINING POSITIONS OCCURRED FROM EARLY 1967 UNTIL MAY 1970 WHEN THEN CMDR ORR WAS APPOINTED COMMANDER AIR AT HMAS  ALBATROSS.
6. COMMODORE ORR’S SENIOR OFFICER APPOINTMENTS INCLUDED HMAS WATERHEN AND COMMANDER AUSTRALIAN MINE WARFARE AND PATROL FORCES (JUNE – OCT 1972), ‘SEA KING’ HELICOPTER PROJECT DIRECTOR (OCT 1972– JAN 1976), COMMANDING OFFICER HMAS STALWART (JUNE1977 – AUG 1978), AND COMMANDING OFFICER HMAS STIRLING AND NOC WESTERN AUSTRALIA (MAY 1982 – JUNE 1985).  HE CEASED FULL-TIME SERVICE IN JULY 1985.
7. AFTER  A DISTINGUISHED NAVAL CAREER COVERING 33 YEAR HE WAS APPOINTED EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE OFFICIAL CORRUPTION COMMISSION IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA IN 1989 AND SUBSEQUENTLY APPOINTED AS A MEMBER OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION IN 1996.
8. COMMODORE ORR WILL BE HONOURED WITH A SERVICE FUNERAL AT 1000H THU 22 JUN 17 AT WEST CHAPEL, FREMANTLE CEMETERY
9. ON BEHALF OF THE NAVY, I EXTEND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY.