A few photo’s came into my possession today. The aircraft appears to be an Oxford, PH179, and the personnel all appear to be FAA or RN. Question is:
What unit?
Where?
When?
I also received this. It’s an aircraft carrier but that’s as far as I can go without some kind of identifying marks. Are the aircraft Fireflies? The one at the bow appears to have drop tanks?
Any help with any of these would be appreciated.
Regards,
kev35
By: Paulbarry - 20th January 2008 at 08:13
The main reason that I think it is HMS Vengeance is a picture in a book on the Colossus Class by Neil McCart. That picture shows her leaving Malta on a cargo voyage to the Far East with aircraft and military transport on her flight deck. Everything looks exactly the same as the picture above (apart from the angle) including all of the aircraft and the cargo at the rear of the flight deck. Also remember that I am talking about 1947, she had two major refits after that date before being loaned to the Australian Navy in 1953, by which time the mast and antennae may well have changed.
BTW, I do agree with the earlier post re Fireflys and Sea Furies on the deck.
By: Bager1968 - 20th January 2008 at 05:22
Are you sure about Vengeance?
This is from the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia website:
The mast & antennae look a bit different, but this view looks pretty similar?
By: Seaking93 - 19th January 2008 at 20:45
PH178 was on 758 Squadron RN Hinstock from 1.46 to 5.49 ,i do not have PH179 in RN service.
PH179 was on 758NAS charge when it forced landed, Cat E 6/2/45
(Credit – Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945, Ray Sturtivant and Mick Burrow)
By: Paulbarry - 19th January 2008 at 18:00
Further to my earlier post I have come up with a better answer,
Royal Naval Aircraft Maintenance Yard Evanton(HMS Fieldfare)
Evanton
1947
As for the ship, HMS Vengeance?
In terms of the carrier, I have come to the same conclusion ie HMS Vengeance, a Colossus Class Carrier. The photo was probably taken in late 1947 when she voyaged to the Mediterranean and Far East.
By: T-21 - 19th January 2008 at 13:56
PH178 was on 758 Squadron RN Hinstock from 1.46 to 5.49 ,i do not have PH179 in RN service.
By: Seaking93 - 19th January 2008 at 12:20
Further to my earlier post I have come up with a better answer,
Royal Naval Aircraft Maintenance Yard Evanton(HMS Fieldfare)
Evanton
1947
As for the ship, HMS Vengeance?
By: Mark12 - 19th January 2008 at 10:32
‘Glory’ class, subsequent to ‘Colossus’ being loaned and then sold to the French and renamed ‘Arramanches’.
Mark
By: pagen01 - 19th January 2008 at 09:12
‘the aircraft would be avengers’
They look like Anti-Sub Fireflys and Sea Furys to me, and I would err on the side of the ship being Majestic class, perhaps even one of the Australian Navy carriers.
Also unlikely to be Warrior as she went to the Canadian Navy in 1946 and was returned to the RN in 1948 for mainly trials and trooping work, including the flexible deck trials with undercarriageless Vampires, and angled deck developement. she did participate in ‘Grapple’.
By: CSheppardholedi - 18th January 2008 at 22:38
Carrier looks to be a Majestic Class which would narrow it down a bit.
Here is a link with some nice pics of ship and A/C
By: Seaking93 - 18th January 2008 at 22:26
I would go for,
What unit – 758NAS(Blind Approach School, later Naval Advanced Instrument Flying School)
Where – Hinstock(HMS Godwit)
When – 42 to 46
As for the carrier, don’t know much about ships but no doubt someone will, as for the aircraft I would go for a Firefly with Sea Furies behind
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January 18, 2008 at 10:13 pm