Fleet Air Arm History

[saudipc-9]

Anyone know if there is a point of contact for finding out the service history of a person in the FAA going back to 1966. I have a friend who is trying to trace her father's service history as she didn't know him growing up.

Thanks much

[Tea White Zero]

Try the Royal Naval Historical Branch at Portsmouth.

But I think you have to be a direct relative.

TWZ:cool:

[stimpingtrimmer]

Saudipc-9,

Suggest the Fleet Air Arm Museum:

Search the Fleet Air Arm Roll of Honour- Fleet Air Arm Museum (http://www.fleetairarm.com/en-GB/rollofhonour.aspx)

It should certainly work if he died in service. FAAOA may also be of help:

Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association, FAAOA (http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/)

A good starting point if nothing else.

[saudipc-9]

TWZ Thanks I'll pass that on to her as she obviously is a direct relative.

Cheers

[6Z3]

Pretty good chance that someone reading this thread will remember him. Why not just drop the name and background you do know; then sit back and enjoy.

[Treble one]

This may be of use.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/upload/pdf/famhist-rnavy2010-4.pdf

[david parry]

I was in the FAA in 66 and am in contact with loads of oppos from that time, also i am a member of one or two, ship and squadron associations. A name trade and rank, would be of help;)

[saudipc-9]

Fleet Air Squadron 849c name - Robert Curtis He was based in Brawdy in 1966.

Anyone know him?

thanks

[david parry]

A Gannet boy ,i will ask around for you Fleet Air Arm page (http://www.radfanhunters.co.uk/FAA.htm)

[david parry]

send these two forms to Portsmouth:

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/85836...n_part1_v4.pdf (http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=1e0cbeb2e87ef6ff7686460ef3b197eb&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.navy-net.co.uk%2Ffleet-air-arm%2F62305-849c-flightgannet-1966-help-wanted.html&v=1&libid=1312174100060&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mod.uk%2FNR%2Frdonlyres%2F858365CA-C169-4F56-B8DE-0F351AFE2126%2F0%2Frequest_for_service_details_nok_applicati on_part1_v4.pdf&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.navy-net.co.uk%2Flast50.php&title=849c%20FlightGannet%201966%20help%20wanted&txt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mod.uk%2FNR%2Frdonlyres%2F85836...n_par t1_v4.pdf)

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/66F6D...tion_part2.pdf (http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/66F6DC3B-9A00-41F4-B322-5F3A0706CBE1/0/request_for_service_details_rnrm_application_part2.pdf)

[Old-Duffer]

Steady Shipmates!

Post 1 suggests that the lady's father was not around during her childhood.

This has several connotations eg; father had legged it, was unknown parent, etc. Of course it might simply be that not much was said at home but if father is still alive, he might be a tad miffed if sprog bursts in to upset family harmony! A night of passion behind the Brawdy NAAFI could be about to blow up.

Have checked the Armed Forces Roll of Honour and he ain't on there, so he did not die in service.

Old Duffer

[saudipc-9]

Duffer,
I don't believe that this is case as I believe that the gentleman in question has passed away a few years ago. The lady in question simply would like to know more about her father and his service.

David,
Thank you for your help.

[david parry]

Think 849C flight Gannets were embarked on Hms Ark Royal in 1967, we had 849 A flight Gannets on HMS Victorious 1966 iirc PM John Eacott, he will know and has loads of Photos he will lend you;)

[CharlieOneSix]

849C were indeed on the Ark, but not in 1967 as they were disbanded shortly after they flew off Ark for the last time on 1 October 1966, having joined her from September 1961 until February 1964 and again from November 1964 until 1 October 1966. Ark was in refit from the latter date until early 1970 - and the Gannets were then provided by 849B Flight.

If the person in question was with 849C but physically at Brawdy in 1966 then the timeframe is limited from around early June 1966, when the Gannets disembarked to Brawdy from Ark after arriving from the Far East, until just after 1 August 1966 when they re-embarked for Exercise Straight Laced and the final flying sessions thereafter until they went back to Brawdy to disband in October 1966.

[goofer3]

As CHARLIEONESIX stated 849C were Ark Royal Nov'64 - Oct'66. I hope the following sections will view OK. It covers the above dates to the end of Beira patrols, but not "Straight Laced", so may be a little early for the lady, but of some interest to others.

http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/ae294/goofer33/848C1.jpg?t=1312491251

http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/ae294/goofer33/848C2.jpg?t=1312490436
http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/ae294/goofer33/848C3.jpg?t=1312490618

[It's Life Jim 208]

Firstly let me introduce myself, my name is Ian Shaw, I live in Lincoln and I’m an ex RAF Warrant Officer who served for 32 years before leaving to work for Lincolnshire Police 5 years ago. I am very keen to try and contact any crew members who flew on the AEW versions of the Skyraider or Gannet as I and a friend are in the process of writing a book on the history of AEW aircraft.

The book we are writing is being adapted from a manuscript my Brazilian friend Sergio (who has two of his aviation articles published in this months's Air Forces Monthly magazine) written over the past few years in Portuguese, so he had most of the story and data prepared. However, our new European Publisher has asked us to modify the style and format somewhat as I translate/edit it into English. He threw us a curved ball by asking that we try and find quotes and stories from the original Air and Ground crews who operated the various types of AEW aircraft. Which as everyone is getting older could have proven difficult to say the least but several members from various AEW websites have come up trumps for us giving us some wonderful stories and annecdotes to include.

We are very keen to get in contact with any ex aircrew from 849 Sqn who flew or maintained Skyraiders AEW Mk1 or Gannet AEW Mk3's and obtain some input from them about the missions that they flew. We feel that it is vital that their story be told as part of the AEW history, especially as we are struggling to get any input from the MOD at all at the moment having written to HQ Air Command via the RAF Waddington CRO 7 months ago without a reply! Which is very unfortunate as we wanted to write the full story and give credit where it was due, which is sadly lacking in the only other recent published book on AEW Operations by an American Hawkeye operator.



So, we were hoping that some one on this part of PPrune would be willing to pass this email request onto any ex 849 Sqn members that you might be willing to recount their stories and anecdotes to us for inclusion in our book. We are outside the 30 year rule for the early part of the Squadron's operations so we should be okay in including their Cold War stories now. RN FAA AEW crews deserve their place alongside their contemporaries in a tome specifically about them and their aircraft.

Thanks in anticipation and best regards

Ian Shaw & Sergio Santanna

Any responders please PM me in thefirst instance and will pass on my snailmail and email addresses as required.

[genes on]

hi we may be able to help in part - how old is the female relative? We certainly have links with Bob from the 60's in brawdy please don't hesitate to get in touch

[genes on]

Hi we have fleet air arm service info on Bob Curtis from the early sixties - my uncle was his best mate in the fleet air arm - we are happy to discuss further :)

[genes on]

Where is best place to view old photos of 849c fleet air arm based in Brawdy in the 1960s please :)