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Old 9th Mar 2006, 01:46
  #105 (permalink)  
Nigel Osborn
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
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Unlike the RAF who only had the twin engined Mk2, the RN had the single engined Mk1 for commando/troop carrying as well as anti sub, then later the Mk3 for AS only. The Mk5 did its IFTU at Culdrose in 1963/4 & went to sea in Albion with 848 Squadron, which was the first overseas operational squadron, to Malaysia via Aden & Mombasa.
I had the pleasure of being involved at the tail end of the IFTU period which was great fun & a huge learning curve. The Mk5 behaved very well considering it was a new machine & all the pilots were off singles. I last flew one in 1967 & never heard any nick names for them.
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