Indian Navy Sea Hawks

The reason for the underwater ejection trials in 1962 were at least in no small part due to the circumstances of Cdr Russells death. I understand that underwater ejections have also been done from at least a Wyvern and F8 Crusauder.

Note with Cdr Russells incident the canopy was open when the SAR arrived. Russell took his helment off and throw it away. The SAR prepared to winch someone down but before this could happen the aircraft pitched forward, which closed the canopy and the arcraft went down nose first. No divers were present on the SAR so they could not follow the sinking A/C. Both A/C and Russell were recovered some time later. The final report bamed a failure of some of the seat straps to release. There should be some film of the whole thing around somewhere.

Cdr JD Russell of 803NAS, 25/9/1958, in XD240.
It could have been that the Scimitar was not then equiped with a zero/zero seat; I don’t know and haven’t searched to find out, but there are several pictures out there of ejections from Scimitars after the wires have been missed or after sluggish catapult launches…just a little later than 1958, though! But considering that third prototype WW134 conducted underwater ejection trials for Martin Baker in the Mediterranean off the south of France in June 1962 then maybe it was not possible for Cdr Russell to get out in this manner two years previously.
As an aside, I used to work with someone who claimed to have been, whilst under training at Yeovilton, the last person to speak (or maybe shout) face to face with Russell, prior to sliding and locking the canopy closed and checking that all the personal luggage was safely stowed. He got extensively questioned for a while just to confirm that everything had been fine with the aircraft, that the canopy hadn’t given any cause for concern, and that there was nothing loose that might have prevented the canopy from opening: the impression being given to him that the SAR crewman hadn’t been able to get the canopy open.

Flood

There’s a pic of the Squadron Commander splashing a failed bolter on the first embarkation of Scimitar – ?1958. IIRC he was seen looking up thro the canopy, unable to bang out because the SAR chopper was overhead. Skill and training were there in the Indian case…and plumb luck.

Try www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk for more info on the Sea Hawk and other users. There’s a great story about an Indian Sea Hawk pilot who crashed into the sea shortly after take off, and calmly waited for the aircraft carrier to pass over his head before ejecting. Some nerve!

XN923 , then you will probably like this – a more detailed first person account of someone who saw the incident.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/History/1970s/Pasricha.html
Aircraft Underwater by Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha

Try www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk for more info on the Sea Hawk and other users. There’s a great story about an Indian Sea Hawk pilot who crashed into the sea shortly after take off, and calmly waited for the aircraft carrier to pass over his head before ejecting. Some nerve!

On display at Nordholz, Germany is this example. This one has also seen service in India as IN238.

Kind regards,
Hendrik

Per the Putnam Hawker p324 “……a small number of ex-Fleet Air Arm Sea Hawks passed to the Royal Australian Navy….”. No details given of how they were used.

??? Never heard that one before!
I believe one was evaluated by them, but they really wanted the P1040 so no sale.

Flood

one at Goa a couple of years ago….

Neil.

Thanks for that Chris. Nice to add to my store of knowledge.

Evening all

Per the Putnam Hawker p324 “……a small number of ex-Fleet Air Arm Sea Hawks passed to the Royal Australian Navy….”. No details given of how they were used.

Other users were the West Germans, India and 32 Mark 50s, similar to FGA Mk6, supplied new to the Dutch.

Regards

Chris

Don’t think so, at least not to my knowledge, maybe South Africa. Did the French navy not take a few on as well? Come on folks, where are all the guys who know these things when you need them?

Oztralians?

That’s interesting information. I did not know that India flew Sea Hawks. Who else used them apart from the Fleet Air Arm and German Navy?

Was IN240 the last Sea Hawk to fly in India before being put on a pole at Vizag, or has another one flown since then ?

Ah yes IN-189, salvaged by the US and Indian Navies in a joint exercise. However I dont think it will survive long. Its just the center section and wings.

Didn’t one come up in a fishing net recently ?

The Indian Navy had acquired 74 Sea Hawks. 46 from UK, 28 ex Germany. There are 12 known survivors in India. One more gifted to Germany. Atleast 20 have been written off in accidents – perhaps many more. Remaining have entered the Twilight Zone (no idea where they are)

List of survivors (from www.warbirdsofindia.com 😉 )

-NA- National Defence Academy. Parade Ground Pune
-NA- Derelict at INAS Garuda Cochin
-NA- Prserved Dabolim NAS Goa
IN-172 Cochin Flying Position Cochin
IN-174 Front of RBI Building Kowdiar. Trivandrum
IN-188 Vikrant Maritime Museum Bombay
IN-234 Naval Air Museum, Dabolim Goa
IN-235 IIT Chennai, Adyar. Chennai
IN-240 Victory at Sea Memorial Vizag
IN-244 Gate Gaurdian, Marmagoa Goa
IN-246 Vikrant Maritime Museum Bombay
IN-252 Madras Institute of Technology, Chromepet Chennai