Calling all 849 Sqn FAA Skyraider AEW & Gannet AEW crews
 

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 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

Contact the Fleet Air Arm Officers Association via the website and take it from there.

I've tried that already, no response from them though!

Hi my father flew Gannets at odd times at Brawdy when he was CO of 759 one of the Hunter training units as guys who failed on the Hunter often went to Gannets, but he is not in contact with anyone now who was on a Gannet squadron, he had a few rides in the Skyraiders but can't remember actualy flying one,


regards Gordon

Next try the FAA Museum at Yeovilton.

Gannets in Flight
 

Have a few photo's I took myself from back of Gannet of 849 C Flt in 1965 on our way to Singapore having catapulted of HMS Ark Royal