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!

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.

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?

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

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.

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!!

Most, but not all Mog?

Compass Call, PM sent as requested.