Mystery FAA carrier photo

Thanks folks! The Maritime Quest site was brought to my attention on UKAR, albeit under a different collection – I’ve passed on the links to my friend.

Although I am not terribly familiar with the Martlet and Hellcat, I would agree with Aerotony – from the pictures that I have looked at, they do appear to be Hellcats. 

The O on the aircraft code confirms the ship as HMS Ocean, and 892 Sqd FAA embarked Ocean in December 1945 prior to HMS Ocean being deployed to the Mediterranean Fleet (the squadron having been at Drem whilst training up as a night fighter squadron on the Hellcat – Ocean had been specially fitted out for night fighter operations).  Ocean was newly built and had been based at Rosyth prior to the Med deployment, which ties in with the Scottish appearance of the coastline in the background. 

From what I can find, 892 are listed as being on Ocean from 22nd November to 29th November 1945;  again from 7th December 1945 to 4th January 1946; and again from 18th February to 16th April 1946 (892 disbanded at Gosport on 19th April 1946).  There is another photo of an 892 sqn Hellcat on the flight deck of HMS Ocean on the History of War website which was taken in the Med in 1946; as with the OPs photo, HMS Meynell is in attendance, so I wonder if the OP photo was taken off Scotland either as they were preparing to depart for the Med’ or perhaps as they actually left?

The Firefly squadron was apparently 1792.

dhfan

The FAA certainly did use Fin Flashes – plenty of pics around to confirm that,the fin flash style would vary with theatre markings etc.

I’m puzzled.

The aircraft appear to have fin flashes.

The Fleet Air Arm don’t use fin flashes…

True – I was thinking looking AT Orkney, not from!

Adrian, I was thinking more west-abeam Hoy, looking south across the Pentland Firth. Hills of Hoy… mere pimples. But Bute, yes. Running out of the Clyde or out of Loch Fyne would fit. 

I think there’s Fireflies at the end of both rows. I’m not familiar with Bute, but it’s almost certainly not Orkney – apart from the two big hills on Hoy, Orkney isn’t generally that rugged or high.

Stating the obvious I know, but they are clearly Hellcats not Martlets. There are also some Fireflies at the end of the right hand row.

edited

Referenced on

https://www.maritimequest.com/misc_pages/raymond_j_stenner_collection/raymond_j_stenner_collection_page_4.htm   as

October 1945: Grumman Martlets seen on the flight deck of HMS Ocean during flight training off the Isle of Bute, Scotland. HMS Maynell L-82 is seen in the background.

Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat (Hellcat N.F. Mk II) ? Coastline looks like North-East Scotland/Orkney?