peter watson fleet air arm

[staircase]

Can anyone tell me anything about a Peter Watson, Fleet Air Arm?

Full name was Leonard Peter Watson who died 11 October 1955. His rank was Lt. Cdr. and his ship at time of death was HMS Eagle.

Any further info would by appreciated

[Warmtoast]

The Belfast Telegraph had a cutting about him on Thursday October 13th, 1955. As below


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/273x216/lt_cdr_lonard_peter_watson_9b1ccea4f1961963b3eb5fca1c50ad7b4 14af3f9.jpg

[staircase]

thankyou!

[megan]

Any detail on the accident? Search revealed nothing.

[staircase]

Yes, another source came up with the information that 2 mins after after leaving Eagle's deck, the engine failed low over the sea.

Lt Cdr Watson was seen to eject and his parachute opened, but he was dead when the helicopter picked him up. The aircraft was WL880, 827 sqn., Fleet Air Arm, shore base Ford.

[megan]

One detail I found was accident occurred two miles north of Scotland, pilot ejected but died. Westland Wyvern S4 d/d 14/06/1954, w/o 11/10/1955, photo of the aircraft taken in the Mediterranean on Eagle July 31 1955.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x710/ab259_40d0e895154c71da8811fca133fb6e6690c49882.jpg

[Lordflasheart]

...
As a Lieutenant, he was flying Sea Furies with 736 at Culdrose in 1950-51 - 736 would have been the Naval Fighter School.

Judging by his two Sea Fury prangs - 10/7/1950 - taking No 2 Barrier on Illustrious (wing tip hit the island) and March 1951 - a ground loop at St Merryn, he was probably already an instructor of some kind.

Given his age and the above dates, he could have done flying training as early as the end of WWII (if not General List) and gone to Korea after 736, before his ill-fated Wyvern time. His accident in WL880 followed a catapult launch.

LFH

[staircase]

The family thought that he was at the time doing some kind of 'Test Flying' at the time of the accident.

Whilst that was reported after 2 generations and therefore perhaps incorrect, I did note that he seemed to be fairly senior just to be a squadron pilot. There was also the fact that Eagle was recently out from refit, where an angled deck and mirror had been fitted, so perhaps there may have been some truth in it.

[kenparry]

Each FAA Sqn had a Lt Cdr CO and another as Senior Pilot, so not that rare. Loss of the engine after take-off seems unlikely to be related to any work done to the ship during refit.

[sycamore]

Several flame-outs on Wyverns during cat launches due to insufficient fuel pump pressure from fuel tanks to the engine.Unable to get the reports /article from `FlightGlobal archives`.....

[Lordflasheart]

...
Several flame-outs on Wyverns during cat launches due to insufficient fuel pump pressure from fuel tanks to the engine.

Thanks for that reminder Sycamore - The AS Gannet had 'fuel recuperators' fitted at some early stage. This was a reserve of fuel which would supply the engines during the longitudinal acceleration of a cat shot. Likely the Wyvern had (or needed) similar.

The Wyvern also suffered greatly from 'Translation Gear' failure, due allegedly to inadequate lubrication. Translation gear changed propshaft revs into contra-rotating prop revs. Several cases where the props just froze without warning with disastrous consequences.

Might I suggest someone applies for his service record ? Well worth it for the detail supplied.

https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records

Total time from initial request to MoD six weeks, recently. The RN department's share of that was a mere two weeks.

LFH

[staircase]

With respect to test flying and Eagle's refit - it was not that I thought that the refit would have caused the engine failure, more that he may have been doing some assessment on the use of the angled deck and mirror.

I was asked if I could find out anything by the family as a result of finding some items following a death. They have now told me that they grateful for what has been discovered and are now happy to let the matter drop.

I, in turn, thankyou those of you who have taken the trouble to reply.

[Lynxman]

The Eagle had completed refit on 29 March 1955, over six months prior to the accident. Watson was 827 Sqn’s Senior Pilot.