HMS Illustrious, Pacific 1945 Corsairs and Avengers

[dinomartino1]

Sub Lieut (A) John R Baker, RCNVR, of Toronto, Canada, pointing out the bullet hole from a Japanese machine gun which tore a hole in the rudder of his Chance-Vought Corsair fighter. Below is the large hole made by a heavy ack-ack shell.

A Chance-Vought Corsair is brought up from the hangar on the forward lif

The Chance-Vought Corsair fighter flown by Sub Lieut John R Baker, RCNVR, of Toronto, with its wings folded. On the elevator can be seen a large hole made by a Japanese anti aircraft shel

Back from the raid, Fleet Air Arm pilots and observers sleep on camp beds on the quarterdeck.

Mr Thomas Stanton, a civilian who joined the carrier in December 1943, as Technical Advisory Representative for Chance-Vought Corsairs, chatting to Chance-Vought Corsair fighter pilot Sub Lieut (A) A W Sutton, of Saskatoon, Canada, after his return from the attack on Surabaya.

Lieut P S Cole DSC, RN, back from a straffing airfields in Formosa makes a crash landing in his Chance-Vought Corsair and finishes up near the island. He climbed out and firefighters saw that the machine did not catch fire.

An Avenger lands

 

[dinomartino1]

A tight fit; Corsairs in the hangar of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS

Corsairs lined up on the flight deck of the ILLUSTRIOUS.

An Avenger parked on the flight deck shows her "war decorations", 4 bombing missions and 1 unusual credit of a flying bomb shot down

Lieut (A) J A Parli, of Waitara, NZ, RNZNVR, and Maintenance Crew. Left to right: AMA Charles Bonser, Bairley Hill, Staffs; LAME Thomas Chandler, New Cross, London.

Barracudas and Corsairs on the forward end of the flight deck of the ILLUSTRIOUS being stowed after the raid. A Fairey Barracuda is on the lift going down the hanga

The batsman brings in a Chance-Vought Corsair (No JT 358, engine no P12423). he picture illustrates how much the pilot must be guided by the batsman in making a landing.

 

[dinomartino1]

Sub Lieut (A) J L Roberts, RNVR, Holyhead, N Wales, and Maintenance Crew. Left to right: AMA Eric W Evans, Gravesend; AMO Fred Chegwidden, Sutton, Surrey; AME John Wadell, Falkirk.

Sub Lieut (A) J W Maybank, RNZNVR, of Blenhiem, and Maintenance Crew. Left to right: AME John Cassidy, Glasgow; AMA C G Tombs, Swindon.

A Chance-Vought Corsair (No JT208, engine no 24293/8694) buckles a wing on landing.

An Avenger ready to take off at daybreak for Surabaya.

Lieut (A) J R Baker, RCNVR, of Toronto, and Maintenance Crew. Left to right: AML V E Finlayson, Birmingham; AMA Stanley Parkinson, Birmingham; AME Cyril Barnard, Colchester; AMO Vincent Dixon, Blackpool.

Lieut (A) J H Clarke, RNZNVR, Otorohanga, NZ, and Maintenance Crew. Left to right: LAMA James McKenzie, Edinburgh; Petty Officer RM, Wilfred Price, Brecon, Wales; LAME A S Townsend, Hope, Derbyshire.

Sub Lieut (A) F B Heffer, RNZNVR, Wellington, NZ, and Maintenance Crew. Left to right: AMO G A Young, Harringay, London; Petty Officer RM Ken St Leger, Roath, Cardiff; AME T S Hull, Luton; AMA B H Felce, Birmingham.

830 Squadron, Chance-Vought Corsair pilots

Lieut (A) L H E Rettallick, RNVR, Abbey Wood, London, and Maintenance Crew. Left to right: AFA Wm Lee, Ancoats, Manchester; LAMA R Barlow, Daveyhulme, Manchester; AMO Wm Laing, Portobello, Scotland; AME Sidney Webb, Bath, Somerset.

 

[dinomartino1]

Sub Lieut (A) Matt Barbour, RNZNVR, Wellington, NZ and Maintenance Crew. Left to right: AME Dennis Wakefield, East Ham, London; AMA G A Ogden, Widnes, Lancs

Lieut (A) A Booth, RNVR, West Kirby, and Maintenance Crew. Left to right: AMO Basil Crawford, Mitcham, Surrey; AMA John McIntosh, Kirkaldy; AME John Buck, Kensington.

Sub Lieut (A) J H Rendle, RNVR, Taunton, and Sub Lieut (A) E S Rickman, RNVR, Raynes Park, London, and Maintenance Crew. Left to right: AME Frank Green, Waddington, Lincs; AMO Don Wallington, Neasden, London; LA D J Barfoot, Poole, Dorset; AMA E W Holmes, Hesale, Yorks.

Sub Lieut (A) J A O Shaw, RNVR, London, and Maintenance Crew. Left to right: AME Edward Gaffney, Bury; AMA Iveion L Pegler, Tetbury.

Bomb bay of a loaded Avenger aircraft.

Lieut (A) Gordon Aitken, RNVR, Paredeniya, Ceylon, and Maintenance Crew. 2nd from left to 2nd from right (outside men not known): Petty Officer R M Leece, Cardiff; AMO R A Josey, Paddington, London; AMA T W Ryder, Beaminster, Bristol.

Chance-Vought Corsair fighter pilots who formed bomber escort and umbrella for fleet.

Some of the bomber crews of 832 and 845 Squadron who took part in the raid. Front row are gunners, middle row, observers, and standing, pilots.

 

[dinomartino1]

A Grumman Avenger of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS bombing up for the raid on the Japanese Oil Refineries, Palembang, Sumatra. Included in the group are: Sub Lieut (A) H L Taylor, RNVR, York; AMOAB Hall, Cheltenham; AMOS W Keene, Leicester; AMO J Frone, Matlock; AM O J H Camdon, Donnington; A/A D Thompson, Manchester.

Sub Lieut (A) M Barbour, RNZNVR, of Wellington, NZ, fighter pilot with the ILLUSTRIOUS.

As the masts are raised the Observer is hoisted inboard clinging to the net. It can be seen that the pilot and air gunner have missed the after net, and are just perceptible as they swim back to the dinghy.

The Observer of the aircraft hanging to the life saving net after leaping from the dinghy. The pilot and air gunner are seen swimming from the dinghy toward the after net.

This signal indicates - "Cut your engines and land on".

This signal indicates - "Come in as you are". the figure in the foreground is the commentator who assists the Batsman.

Sub Lieut (A) G S Salmon of Harrow, fighter pilot of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS

 

[Skyhawk]

Wow quite a collection of shots there!

 

[MikeyB-17]

Another fantastic collection of pics. One of my favourite books ever is Norman Hansen’s ‘Carrier Pilot’, which tells of his time on the Illustrious flying Corsairs. He’s in a few of those shots.