Calling Fleet Air Arm air and ground crew

[Steve Bond]

Once again the call goes out for contact with "those who were there". My publisher agrees that the Fleet Air Arm deserves better coverage then hitherto in the popular 'Boys' format of books, covering stories by air and ground crew. Accordingly, for the first volume of a two volume set, I am now seeking contact with anyone who flew or maintained any of the following:

Sea Fury
Sea Hornet
Attacker
Sea Hawk
Sea Vixen

plus any more Sea Venom people who have yet to get in touch following an earlier appeal.

Please get in touch - your stories deserve an audience!

Thanks.

[ImageGear]

Hands up if you were thinking that this was the big "Your country needs you - come back to the RN", all is forgiven, we have great opportunities awaiting you with long term benefits. Ohhhh, perhaps not. :E

IG

[Bonkey]

I worked on flight test analysis on the Sea Vixen Drone program after they left FAA service in 1972 - this was the D Mk3 conversion carried out by Flight Refueling Ltd from 74 to 84. Happy to share some of those experiences if also of interest - is an often forgotten swansong in the life of the Sea Vixen. Have some piccies too of the planes when in the care of FR at Bournemouth Airport in the late 70s / early 80s

[Steve Bond]

Thanks very much Bonkey, I look forward to hearing the stories and seeing the photos. PM sent.

[langleybaston]

All power to your elbow [I have every "Boys" book ................] but don't forget the Scimitar please.

[tarantonight]

Or the Phantom.

[Steve Bond]

Scimitar will be in Vol.2 along with the Buccaneer, Gannet and Skyraider. Phantom and Sea Harrier probably in Vol 1.

[son of brommers]

Sadly my old man is no longer around to contribute towards anything Bucc related but I do have his log book, slides and a handful of (now 2nd hand) stories if that helps as and when you get to the Bucc. PM me as and when.

[Steve Bond]

Thanks, private message sent.

[Senior Pilot]

Thanks, private message sent.

Steve, more power to your elbow for producing these tomes but please note that the quid pro quo for garnishing tales here is that they are shared to all in these threads, and not kept via PMs just for your publication :ok:

[Wander00]

You ought to consider including a small bit on the Canberra guys on 360 RN/RAF Sqn, 25% of air and ground crew and last CO was Cdr Phil Shaw RN

[Steve Bond]

Senior Pilot. Yes of course, I always want to see the stories on here, not least because it might encourage others to join in! The purpose of the PMs is simply to give people an alternative route should they wish to go that way, as some do, such as for posing questions about the books' aims, procedures, etc. Ensuing stories will, with the permission of the originator, be shared here,

[Sleeve Wing]

Hands up if you were thinking that this was the big "Your country needs you - come back to the RN", all is forgiven, we have great opportunities awaiting you with long term benefits. Ohhhh, perhaps not. :E

IG

Yes, it would be good for the youngsters to have another definitive collection of Air Branch recollections and aircraft details.
However, as quoted by ImageGear, a number of us had foreshortened careers in the postwar FAA owing to political interference, total lack of insight into the role of the Branch and inter-Service rivalries, particularly from, if I may suggest, the jealousy of the RAF.
Now, as I see it, due to economic pressures, there is good reason to combine most of the frontline tasks. The UK now just cannot afford to have isolated Forces, duplicating a number of the jobs that are needed to provide national security and strong boundaries. The fusing of Army and RAF helicopter forces along with the amalgamation of Naval and Air Force aircraft assets is a no-brainer. Whether the RAF would accept the operation from Naval carriers as a norm is another matter !
Slight thread creep but the upshot is that forces roles will intermingle and the stories of the Royal Navy Air Branch will be a distant memory.
The latest books need to be written.

[Steve Bond]

And written they will be Sleeve Wing, with the help of PPruners and others.

Wander00 - agreed about including the Canberras of 360 Sqn (and the short-lived 361 Sqn). Hopefully someone might step forward with stories, but it seems to have only slightly more chance than me finding anyone concerned with the dreaded Short Sturgeon's six years service with 728 Sqn in Hal Far. But you never know.

[Steve Bond]

Also looking for Wyvern and Seafire 46/47 people; another very long shot I know!

[Wander00]

Steve - I was a founder member of 360 (and 361), and the only first tourist pilot officer white card rated pilot on the squadron(s). AOC in C Signals Command was so surprised to have a first tourist in the Command he asked to see my 5000 series as he had never seen one for a first tourist before. I might be able to come up with a story or two.

[Steve Bond]

Many thanks Wander00, please let's hear your stories.

[Steve Bond]

Sorry, forget to include Firefly in the list.

[Steve Bond]

That's forgot, not forget! I am looking for Firefly people too!

[Steve Bond]

Come on Wander00 and Son of brommers, let's hear your stories please.

Thanks!

[Steve Bond]

Found some Seafire and Sea Hornet people now, and even a Firebrand pilot! Waiting for stories to come so I can share them. Still looking for more - anyone who flew or maintained any Fleet Air Arm fixed-wing carrier borne aircraft up to the end of Sea Harrier. Surprisingly, Phantom and Sea Harrier drivers seem to be reluctant to poke their heads above the parapet - come on chaps!

[Steve Bond]

Yesterday, I spoke to a chap who flew an extraordinary wide variety of types, including the Firebrand, which he described as a dangerous aeroplane, and the Sturgeon, for which he did the carrier qualification trials from Ford. He rather liked that one, but of all the types he flew (starting with the Corsair and finishing on the Sea Venom), the Sea Hornet was his favourite.

[langleybaston]

Also looking for Wyvern and Seafire 46/47 people; another very long shot I know!

As a teenager I stood at the front of the crowd line at Farnborough and watched the Wyvern taxy, halt, and run up its props.
To me it was a gorgeous big beast, handsome, brutally powerful and [to my untutored eyes] far more impressive than jets. I learned better, but I did love it and still do.
Is it my failing memory, or did it have an ejector seat?

[Compass Call]

Steve,
For Sea Vixen pilots, try Brian Grant & Jonathon Whaley. They have an hour or two between them and might have some good stories. I believe Jonathon lost a canopy on a cat shot. Should make a good anecdote.
Sorry , but I can't help with contacting them.
I have some constructors photos which include some of the weapons carried. If they might be of some use, drop me a PM.

Richard

[BEagle]

Apart from some of the early prototypes, yes, the Wyvern was fitted with a bang seat.

Some of my earliest childhood memories were of the racket the aircraft under test at RAF Merryfield made! Westlands had a small site there, which also housed a Welkin and Hamilcar X, I was told a little while ago. RA490, the deflected jet Nene powered Meteor, flew from there too. Later, Westlands had some contract to overhaul Sabres, which were very much noisier than the Wyverns had been.

Westlands site is now an official gypsy site.

[Ormeside28]

A dear friend of mine, since deceased, was an Observer in the Fleet Air Armfrom 1939 onwards and later in the Reserve. He flew the last Swordfish ( his pilot did!) out of Crete under fire and escorted some Greek generals to North Africa in their Aircraft. Much later , back in U.K. he commanded a Squadron of Wellingtons ( 3 Aircraft)). Used for gunnery practice. They were quite old and well used. Coming home to North Wales on leave in the train, he passed Harwarden and saw new Wellingtons on the hard standings. Borrowing his fathers car he went to Harwarden to see the OC Maintenance Unit and managed to swop his old ones for new. Later, in 1943 after I was commissioned he took me to RNASStretton, where he did his reserve training on Fireflies, and arranged for me to have a trip in their Sea Fury, two seater! Later he came to Topcliffe and came in my Neptune on a navex’s. Happy days, couldn’t do that now!!

[Mogwi]

Found some Seafire and Sea Hornet people now, and even a Firebrand pilot! Waiting for stories to come so I can share them. Still looking for more - anyone who flew or maintained any Fleet Air Arm fixed-wing carrier borne aircraft up to the end of Sea Harrier. Surprisingly, Phantom and Sea Harrier drivers seem to be reluctant to poke their heads above the parapet - come on chaps!

Most of my experiences already published, I am afraid.

Mog

[Steve Bond]

Most, but not all Mog?

[Steve Bond]

Compass Call, PM sent as requested.