Fleet Air Arm Helicopters since 1943

[Lee Howard]

Due for publication this year, "Fleet Air Arm Helicopters since 1943" by myself, Mick Burrow and the late Eric Myall, will conclude the long-running Air-Britain series begun by our late colleague Ray Sturtivant detailing the individual airframe histories for every aircraft owned and operated by the Royal Navy. This final chapter will form a companion volume to our previous work "Fleet Air Arm Fixed-Wing Aircraft since 1946" published in 2004.

In an effort to illustrate the book with as many new and interesting images (ie ones possibly never published before) of Fleet Air Arm helicopter operations over the past 65 years I would be very interested to hear from any former (or, of course, current) aircrew with photographs that they would be willing to loan for possible inclusion.

If anyone is able to help then please drop me a line.

Many thanks.

Lee Howard
Yeovilton, Somerset

[sycamore]

Suggest you copy on `Rotorheads` as well,Lee..

[Oggin Aviator]

I've got one of an airborne Mk2 AEW SK circa 2001 with the bag deflated, if that would be any use.

[spheroid]

I have a very rare pic of a Merlin airborne.....will that suffice?

[sunshine band]

Is this the sort of thing you want? I've got quite a few...

























Always happy to help- let me know...

SB

[Warmtoast]

Queen Mother made her first helicopter flight in a FAA helicopter in April 1955.

As recorded by Flight magazine at the time.

As their Honorary Air Commodore, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, visited Nos. 600 and 2600 (City of London) Squadrons at Biggin Hill on Saturday 23rd April 1955. She flew from Smith’s Lawn, Windsor Great Park, to Biggin Hill in a Westland WS-55 "Whirlwind" helicopter of the Fleet Air Arm, making her first helicopter flight.

queen mother | biggin hill | flight | 1955 | 0540 | Flight Archive

Based at Biggin Hill I had my camera at the ready. QM arriving and her departure back to Windsor.

[airborne_artist]

Lee - I have a few of Wasps with ice/penguins/the Red Plum in the background dating from 78-80 when my father was driving her. PM me for further info.

[kluge]

"Fleet Air Arm Helicopters since 1943"

So exactly what helicopters were the FAA flying in 1943 then ?

[Lee Howard]

Kluge - Sikorsky R-4s

Thanks for the replies chaps. I'll send out PMs later to those that have offered help.

Lee

[philrigger]

Were the Kluge - Sikorsky R-4s operated/flown by RAF or FAA personnel, or was it a mixture of both ?

[Lee Howard]

I don't know about the Kluge-Sikorsky variants ()

[kluge]

R-4s - you learn something new everyday.

Perhaps the definition of Kluge gave inspiration to Dr Igor in his R-4 design.

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

Somewhat off Thread centreline but this may be of interest;

Ministry of Defence | Defence News | People In Defence | Navy helicopter pilot celebrates 6,000 flying hours

A helicopter pilot from the Royal Navy's Scottish search and rescue unit has reached the impressive milestone of having undertaken more than 6,000 flying hours, becoming the unit's most experienced pilot.

Lieutenant Commander Andrew 'Tank' Murray has served with the Royal Navy for 23 years, having joined up in September 1986.

[Lee Howard]

Thanks to all those who have taken the time to reply to me so far, be it on here or via PM. If I haven't already responded to you then I will certainly try to get around to that shortly. All suggestions/contributions most welcome!

Rgds

Lee

[airborne_artist]

[Lee Howard]

T'is a great pic of Endurance and one of her Wasps. FAAM used it as one of their Xmas cards a few years ago.

Anyone out there with any more interesting/rare shots that they feel ought to see the light of day?

[Tourist]

Tank's lost weight.

[Lee Howard]

Does anyone know the current whereabouts of Lts Boswell and Last - formerly 232/Manchester Flt during Op GRANBY?

Lee

[AvroLincoln]

HMS Nubian Wasp

I have 2 (black and white) high resolution scanned photos of HMS Nubian's Wasp landing on, that I took in 1969 if you are interested. . .

[Lee Howard]

PM sent!