My research so far
Sea Fury’s of 805 Squadron, in formation with three Fireflies,of 816 Sq.Although carrying “Royal Navy” legends on the rear fuselage, these Fireflies were part of No. 20 Carrier Air Group, Royal Australian Navy. These aircraft were later deployed in Korea., circa 1952.
805 Squadron re-formed as the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) first fighter squadron on 28 August 1948 at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Eglinton in Northern Ireland. Flying Hawker Sea Fury F.B. II’s and commanded by Lieutenant Commander P.E.I. Bailey, RN, the Squadron formed part of the 20th Carrier Air Group (CAG) along with 816 Squadron.
Aircrew worked up on a variety of aircraft loaned form the RN, the final phase of which was deck landing qualification aboard HMS Illustrious. HMAS Sydney, the RAN’s first aircraft carrier, was commissioned on 16 December 1948 at Devonport in the south of England. 20th CAG performed a flypast to celebrate the event. The CAG embarked in Sydney on 15 February 1949 and spent the next few weeks working up at Moray Firth, north east of Inverness in Scotland. All of the pilots and observers in the CAG had extensive wartime operational experience but many had little or no deck landing experience.
LINK — http://www.navy.gov.au/history/squadron-histories/805-squadron-history
But does anyone know where this colour shot was taken
Was it UK or Down Under,or Korea?
By: snafu - 27th August 2015 at 23:43
Taken over Northern Ireland. I have seen another picture which has the same three Sea Furies in formation over Lower Loch Erne and St Angelo airfield, 3rd December 1948.
Interesting fact: none of these aircraft served in the Australian Fleet Air Arm, hence the Royal Navy marks, and the only one to get to Australia was TF925 which was Cat Ac after raising the undercarriage instead of flaps on take off from Ballykelly, 12/2/49, being loaded aboard HMAS Sydney for Ground Instruction use and subsequently reduced to parts as spares. Also VR950 should be an FB11…
By: Duggy - 27th August 2015 at 13:55
Thanks everyone, so the date of December third, would indicate it is taken over the UK.
By: vampiredave - 27th August 2015 at 10:03
It is Charles Brown photograph: “Fairey Fireflies FR.4 (VH133 227/JR, TW726 228/JR & TW730 231/JR of 816 Squadron and Hawker Sea Fury FB.10s (TF952 106/JR, VR950 107/JR & TF925 110/JR) of 805 Squadron, RAN” No mention of the location but the date is quoted as 3 December 1948
By: baj - 27th August 2015 at 09:56
The main flying base for the RAN was HMAS Albatross on the NSW south coast some ~160km south of Sydney. Country looks similar with lots of ocean inlet lakes in the region.
Possible local candidates in this area include Lake Conjola and Narooma….
By: Mothminor - 27th August 2015 at 08:27
Hi Duggy,
Doesn’t answer the question exactly and I could be proved (embarrassingly!) wrong but I don’t think it’s Scotland. Geographically it doesn’t look quite right to me though I certainly haven’t visited every corner!
Beautiful photo too.
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August 27, 2015 at 12:59 am