Recieved an album from the Colonies down under today. It’s reputed to be of the aircraft carrier HMS Theseus and the aircraft there on, which include Walrus, Seafire (Griffon Engined) possibly Mk XV and Fireflies.
There are several photographs of wrecked Seafires, with the date 23rd July 1947, Gloomy Sunday !!! However the 23rd was a Wednesday, in any case does anyone have any knowledge of what happened on Theseus over this particular weekend.
It appears that the aircraft carrier lost at least three aircraft in seperate incidents, two Fireflies and a Seafire with crashed on landing, killing a Naval Rating.
I’ve done a bit of Googling and came up with this. The one visible serial on the wing of a Seafire in the photos has PP6 maybe 1 in it !!!
I have a copy of the relevant page from Theseus /804 Sqd’s Day book ie not the ships Log
July 20th The ship slipped at 1100 and proceeded with officers guests on board, into the bay for a demonstation flight, the guests to be returned to Melbourne by destoryer afterwards. Four Seafires landed on safely from Point Cook, after which eight aircraft of each Squadron took off for a group formation.
On joining up the Fireflies of Lt Cdr Hearle (Lt Sellars in the back seat)and Lt Walker (CPO Lovatt) COLLIDED, BOTH AIRCRAFT FALLING INTO THE SEA LOCKED TOGETHER – no survivors.
This shook everyone, but the formation carried on and was quite good. On receiving aircraft the ship steamed into a low sun with no wind and Lt Morton (Seafire XV ) pranged on the deck, unfortunately killing a seaman.
http://www.wgrice.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/timmons.htm
The remaining aircraft were sent to Point Cook, where Lt Knight wrote off his Firefly by ground looping! HMS Glory had two accidents, one ratig being killed and two seriously injured. Altogether a very gloomy Sunday. Six Squadron pilots were stranded overnight at Point Cook in a diversity of dress! ”
Thinking about it, it maybe that the photographs were taken on the 23rd, of the aftermath of the 20th
By: Flood - 11th November 2005 at 17:19
I wonder if this date is a typo in the Fleet Air Arm Fixed-Wing Aircraft Since 1946?? As the date should clearly be 20/7/1947 from both sources: The album and the Ships Log….
methinks I should post a link on AB-IX
Update:
Flood, I think you have a typo re: 30/7/1947 the FAA book says 20/7/1947
Paul
Certainly my typo – you should have seen my original spelling of Firefly… I blame fat fingers.
Flood
By: EN830 - 11th November 2005 at 16:26
Thanks,
The photos certainly have the date 23 July 1947 and “Gloomy Sunday” written on the back of them, come to think of it the PP6 serial number could be from a Firefly rather than a Seafire.
I am passing the album onto a third party to take scanned copies for their records, they have a better knowledge and data base than I have and will hopefully be able to shed some light on the incident.
If I can get our scanner to work I’ll post at least one shot here before I send the album off.
By: paulmcmillan - 11th November 2005 at 15:06
SW851, Seafire FXV: 804NAS 137/T HMS Theseus, drifted into barrier, aircraft handler killed, tail over port side, 30/7/1947 (Lt JGP Morton unhurt).
I wonder if this date is a typo in the Fleet Air Arm Fixed-Wing Aircraft Since 1946?? As the date should clearly be 20/7/1947 from both sources: The album and the Ships Log….
methinks I should post a link on AB-IX
Update:
Flood, I think you have a typo re: 30/7/1947 the FAA book says 20/7/1947
Paul
By: Robert Whitton - 11th November 2005 at 10:21
Some poor quality copies in case of interest.
By: Flood - 11th November 2005 at 09:59
From Air Britains Fleet Air Arm Fixed-Wing Aircraft Since 1946.
PP589 and TW677, Firefly FR1: 812NAS HMS Theseus, collided at 800ft whilst forming up, crashed into sea together off Mebourne Australia 20/7/1947. Both crews killed.
SW851, Seafire FXV: 804NAS 137/T HMS Theseus, drifted into barrier, aircraft handler killed, tail over port side, 20/7/1947 (Lt JGP Morton unhurt).
PP485 Firefly, FR1: 812NAS HMS Theseus, brakes failed on landing, swung to port and ground looped, Point Cook, 20/7/1947 (Lt GCJ Knight). To 827NAS by 1/1949.
Flood
Sign In
November 11, 2005 at 7:49 am