RN fleet air arm ww2

[dinomartino1]

1944 In the link trainer room at Jacksonville, Florida.

1944 S Hitchko, of Passaic, NJ, who trains side by side with British Cadets at the Primary Training station at Bunker Hill, helping G S C Ballard, of Ealing, London, on with his parachute, before the morning's programme.

1944 Two Sikorsky helicopters at Floyd Bennett airfield, New York. The tarmac in front of the aircraft hangars is the take off and landing area.

1944 Second Lieut Sweet of the Marines gives instructions to a bunch of British cadets under training at Pensacola, Florida

Three Fleet Air Arm pilots wearing 'Mae West' life-jackets wait for the order of the day on board an aircraft carrier. A Supermarine Seafire can be seen in the background.

1941, YELVERTON.Fleet Air Arm photographer.

 

[dinomartino1]

1944 At Pensacola the British Naval Air Arm pilots receive instructions in gunnery with special recording machines, and with the use of reflector sights. From front back to back, with their American instructors are: Sub Lieut D J Wilson, of Martinsburgh, New Zealand, with Sp (G) 3c J B Dogett of Baltimore; Sub Lieut D Forest, of Dumbarton, Scotland, and Sp (G) 2c H A Campbell of Winston, Salem, N Car; Sub Lieut D R Copps, of Hitchin, Herts, England, and Amm 2c J C Todd, of Waycross, Ga; Sub Lieut R A H Sherwood, of Birmingham, and Sp (G) E McCarthy of Boston; Sub Lieut M W Millar, and Sp (G) 3c E T Duell; Sub Lieut P R Bruce, of Aberdeen, Scotland, and Sp (G) B Buono, of Waltham, Mass

1941, ON BOARD HMS ARK ROYAL.

1941 Four flying officers of the Fleet Air Arm discussing an operational patrol on the flight deck of HMS VICTORIOUS. Sub Lieut (A) D J Shephard, RNVR, (with flying helmet) and Sub Lieut D B Shaw, with cap, both are wearing their lifebelts, known in the Fleet Air Arm as "Mae Wests".

1942 A pilot of the Fleet Air Arm in the Fleet Air Arm mess at Malta. The decoration was done by a former London milk-bar decorator now in the NAS.

RNAS YEOVILTON, SEPTEMBER 1943
Sub Lieutenant H H Salisbury, RNVR, of the Fleet Air Arm, a former station inspector at Bow Street Station, adjusts his helmet before a flight. He is standing in front of Supermarine Seafire NX942, with others in the background.

Fleet Air Arm personnel fusing bombs for Fairey Barracudas on the flight deck of HMS VICTORIOUS, before Operation 'Tungsten', the attack on the German battleship TIRPITZ in Alten Fjord, Norway, April 1944.

An elephant pulling a Supermarine Walrus aircraft into position at a Fleet Air Arm station in India, June 194

 

[dinomartino1]

FLEET AIR ARM SKETCH ILLUSTRATING DECK LANDING SIGNALS.

The cockpit of the Supermarine Walrus.

GIBRALTAR. FEBRUARY 1944 Sub Lieut (A) R J Foxley, RNZNVR, 779 squadron.

The cockpit of the Fairey Swordfish.

The cockpit of the Seafire.

 

[dinomartino1]

Lifting and loading a 500 lb bomb into an aircraft 1941, ON BOARD HMS ARK ROYAL.

GIBRALTAR. FEBRUARY 1944 Lieut (A) R M Manssen, RNZNVR, 779 squadron.

Fairey Fulmar of 807 Squadron from HMS ARK ROYAL, in flight.

Radio Mechanics of the WRNS prepare to board a Fleet Air Arm aircraft to test the radio whilst the aircraft is in flight.

1942, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS AT SEA, OFF HVALFJORD, ICELAND.
Fleet Air Arm pilot and his air gunner on the wing of their Fairey Fulmar aircraft. On the engine cowling is the pilot's emblem, a "Maori", with the New Zealand greeting "Kia Ora". Left is the New Zealand pilot Sub Lieut H Morrison, and with him is Leading Airman Ford, DSM

FLEET AIR ARM ATTACK A U-BOAT, DURING A CONVOY TO RUSSIA, 3 APRIL 1944 picture taken from an Avenger aircraft during an attack on a U-Boat. Machine gun fire from the attacking aircraft is seen straddling the U-boat near the conning tower.

1944 Fleet Air Arm Chance-Vought Corsair fighters, with Fairey Barracuda torpedo bombers behind, ranged on the flight deck of HMS FORMIDABLE, off Norway.

 

[dinomartino1]

1941, ON BOARD HMS ARK ROYAL.
Fitters and riggers waiting for the flight to return

1942 Prisoners from the U-boat, which was torpedoed by a Fairey Albacore of the Fleet Air Arm, on shore in North Africa.

HMS VICTORIOUS. SEPTEMBER 1942. Fleet Air Arm pilot, S/Lt Pearson RNVR.

Fleet Air Arm pilot, S/Lt R F Bryant RNVR. HMS VICTORIOUS. SEPTEMBER 1942.

FLEET AIR ARM CAMP, EAST AFRICA. 23-24 JUNE 1942. Fleet Air Arm officers cutting sticks, on arrival, as protection against snakes.

MEN OF THE FLEET AIR ARM IN NORTH AFRICA CAMPAIGN. 3 DECEMBER 1942.

FLEET AIR ARM STATION HMS JACKDAW, CRAIL, SCOTLAND. 8 DECEMBER 1941. Fleet Air Arm Instructor gives pupil pilots instruction on map reading.

A Fleet Air Arm Fairey Barracuda Mk II aircraft of 827 Squadron takes off from HMS COLOSSUS in July 1945. A Supermarine Seafire Mk IIC is evident in the foreground of the photograph

 

[dinomartino1]

Left to right: Sub Lieut (A) J D Landles, RNVR, pilot; Sub Lieut (A) H de Q Willot, RNVR, a pilot in the battledress of the Fleet Air Arm. 1941, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS AT SCAPA.

1941, ON BOARD HMS ARK ROYAL

1944
In the work shop. Notice Olive Oyl painted on the fuselage of the plane. British ratings place American plane TBF, into commission for use of the Fleet Air Arm. (Cochin, India).

WITH THE FLEET AIR ARM - MALTA Sub Lieut (A) R Kemp of Oxford, 21, was taking Modern Language at Queen's College Oxford, he has been with the Fleet Air Arm 2 1/2 years, 9 months of that in the Western Desert.

 

[ausreenactor]

Stellar work Dino!

 

[dinomartino1]

Major Newsome, Royal Marine, has been CO, Fleet Air Arm for 3 1/2 months in Malta. He was stationed in Western Desert for 9 months. Was with Ark Royal for eight months, his hometown is Rudgewich, Sussex.

The Blackburn Roc Mark I, seaplane, L3059, parked on trestles outside the hangars at the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment, Felixstowe, Suffolk.

(Picture issued 1943). An Albacore of the Fleet Air Arm on patrol off the French coast attacked four light enemy craft - E-boats and R-boats in the English channel about midnight on 25th March 1943. The bombs found their mark and one of the enemy boats was sunk. The Albacore was manned by Lieutenant S.MP. Walsh, RNVR., of Ferring, near Worthing, and his observer Sub.Leiutenant G.M. Patrick, RNVR., of Dundee. [See A.M. Bulletin No.9803 - April 1943]. Lieutenant Walsh (right) and Sub.Lieut.Patrick, standing by their Albacore in which the attack was made.

 

[dinomartino1]

FLEET AIR ARM ALBACORE ATTACKS E-BOATS AND R-BOATS IN THE CHANNEL.
Lieutenant Walsh (right] and Sub. Lieutenant Patrick, standing by their Albacore in which the attack was made.

Officer cadets undertake an aircraft recognition class at HMS ST VINCENT, the Royal Navy's training establishment for officer cadets of the air branch at Gosport, Hampshire.

NAVAL AIRMEN WHO SHATTERED ENEMY SHIPPING. 26 NOVEMBER 1944, ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMS IMPLACABLE. THE FLEET AIR ARM PILOTS AND CREW WHO TOOK PART IN THE SUCCESSFUL STRIKE ON ENEMY SHIPPING OFF THE COAST OF NORWAY.
Pleased with the result are (left to right) Commander Chas Evans, DSO, DSC, RN, Commander Flying; Captain P B R W William Powlett, DSO, Captain of the Fleet; Admiral Sir Henry Moore, KCB, CVO, DSO, C in C Home Fleet; Captain W F Kline, USN, US Naval Air Attache; and Captain C C Hughes-Hallett, CBE, Commanding Officer of the carrier.

944, ON BOARD HMS UNICORN, AT TRINCOMALEE. Left to right: Air Fitter W Prior, Leading Air Fitter T Heald, Leading Air Fitter H Ellor, Air Fitter E Chadwick.

NEW FLEET AIR ARM PLANES. 2 OCTOBER 1945, HESTON AERODROME
Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cunningham having the de Havilland Sea Vampire (F 20), jet propelled aircraft, shown to him by Captain G H Willoughby, RN.

SAILOR SALLY, OF THE ESCORT CARRIER HMS KHEDIVE. APRIL 1944, ON BOARD THE KHEDIVE. SALLY, IS THE SLEEK SPANIEL MASCOT OF ONE OF THE FLEET AIR ARM SQUADRONS IN HMS KHEDIVE.

FLEET AIR ARM TRAINEES AT HMS ST VINCENT, GOSPORT, AUGUST 1943 collecting flying kit.

 

[dinomartino1]

1943 The Commanding Officer of the Royal Naval Air Station Hatston, Captain Fancourt, RN, talking to Sub Lieut (A) Mewton, RNVR, on the flight deck of HMS VICTORIOUS.

1941, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS Leading Airman Davies, an Air Gunner attached to 817 Squadron, getting ready to set out on an operational outing.

HMS VICTORIOUS. FEBRUARY 1942, ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER AT SEA IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND OFF THE NORWEGIAN COAST. ACTIVITIES DURING AN OFFENSIVE AGAINST ENEMY SHIPPING AND COVERING A CONVOY TO RUSSIA.
A bearded naval aircraft crew. Left to right: L/A B Labross, Air Gunner; Lieut F G Gordon, RAN, Observer; Lieut D H Burke, RN. On the right is Sub Lieut G F Birch.

A bearded naval aircraft crew. Left to right: L/A B Labross, Air Gunner; Lieut D H Burke, RN; Lieut F G Gordon, RAN, Observer, by the side of their machine

1942, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS. The Fighter Director where the ship keeps in touch with her fighters in the air, and enemy planes are spotted and plotted.

The Fighter Director where the ship keeps in touch with her fighters in the air.

NEW FLEET AIR ARM PLANES. 2 OCTOBER 1945, HESTON AERODROME.
The Vickers Armstrong Supermarine Seafang, or Hooked Spiteful. This Naval adaption of the Spiteful (fitted with arrester hook) has power folding wings, a feature which enables the pilot to conduct this operation himself as he is taxi-ing preparatory to going in the lift. Armed with four 20 mm cannon and powered by Rolls Royce Griffon 69 engine, it has a top speed of 450 mph.

Malta Lieut (A) R I W Goddard, RN, 23, of Toronto, Canada has been in the Royal Naval Air Service for 6 years. He was educated at Market Bosworth Grammar School, and then Upper Canada College, Toronto. Lieut Goddard was at Norway in HMS FURIOUS, on ARK ROYAL for 20 months, took part in the attack on the BISMARCK, has escorted Malta convoys, done fighter patrols over France (in Fairey Swordfish) during the Battle of Britain, and took part in the first aerial attack in history from FURIOUS, against enemy destroyers in Narvik.

 

[dinomartino1]

Malta, Lieut I D Fraser, 24 years old from Sailhall, Warwickshire, has been with the Fleet Air Arm for 3 years. Before that he was at Christchurch college, Oxford studying history. He has been in Malta 9 months and was shot down over the Western Desert in a Bristol Beaufighter at night. Note, the day after this picture was taken Fraser went out on patrol and did not return

 

[dinomartino1]

STRIKE AT ENEMY SHIPPING OFF NORWAY. 26 NOVEMBER 1944, ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMS IMPLACABLE. THE FLEET AIR ARM PILOTS AND CREW WHO TOOK PART IN THE SUCCESSFUL STRIKE ON ENEMY SHIPPING OFF THE COAST OF NORWAY.
Some of the men who took part in the strikes photographed with Capt W F Kline, USN, the US Naval Air Attache, who is holding a wooden ash tray made from IMPLACABLE wood and presented to him by the ship.

1941 HMS RENOWN from the air.

FLEET AIR ARM STATION HMS JACKDAW, CRAIL, SCOTLAND. 8 DECEMBER 1941.

MEN OF 832 SQUADRON (FLEET AIR ARM). 11 JANUARY 1942, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS

FLEET AIR ARM PILOTS AND OBSERVERS. 2 JANUARY 1941, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS AT SCAPA.
Left to right: Sub Lieut (A) A Mc D Garland, a fighter pilot attached to 809 Squadron; Sub Lieut (A) F Rabone, an Observer in a Fairey Albacore; Sub Lieut (A) W H G Browne, an Observer attached to 832 Squadron.

HMS VICTORIOUS. SEPTEMBER 1942. A Seafire in flight.

 

[dinomartino1]

OPERATIONS. 24 APRIL TO 10 MAY 1942, ON BOARD HMS FORMIDABLE, OPERATING WITH THE NAVAL COVERING FORCE FOR THE OPERATION AT MADAGASCAR. THE FORCE LEFT COLOMBO ON 24 APRIL, PUT INTO THE SEYCHELLES ON 1 MAY. THE FLEET AIR ARM CARRIED OUT EXTENSIVE SEARCHES AND PATROLS OVER A WIDE AREA DURING THE OPERATION. THE COVERING FORCE THEN PUT INTO MOMBASA ON 10 MAY AFTER THE OPERATION WAS CONCLUDED A Fairey Fulmar, with wings folded being wheeled to the lift on the deck of HMS FORMIDABLE.

WITH THE FLEET AIR ARM ON BOARD THE CRUISER CUMBERLAND, 4 DECEMBER 1942.
A Supermarine Walrus aircraft returning from an anti-U-boat patrol, taxi-ing alongside the cruiser to be hoisted aboard.

THE BRITISH NAVY AND FLEET AIR ARM COMBINE WITH US LANDING FORCES IN NORTH AFRICAN LANDINGS. 6-9 NOVEMBER 1942
Loading 250lb bombs onto a Fairey Albacore for the raid on Algiers.

a Fairey Albacore with full bomb-racks being wheeled into position on the flight deck of HMS FORMIDABLE.

FLEET AIR ARM. 7 JANUARY 1942, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS Lieut M Newman, RN, in the cockpit of his Fairey Fulmar.

1941, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS. Fairey Fulmars of 809 Squadron ranged on the flight deck

1942, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS, AT HVALFJORD, ICELAND Naval fighter pilots on the flight deck of HMS VICTORIOUS. Left to right: Lieut M J S Newman, RN; Lieut Robertson, RNVR; Sub Lieut A M Garland; Sub Lieut P R J Gilbert, RN; Sub Lieut H Morrison, RNVR (from NZ); Sub Lieut D G Carlisle, RNVR.

HMS VICTORIOUS Sub Lieut Rabone, RNVR, who has written his name, in the language of the Signal Flags on the back of his life-saving jacket (Mae West).

 

[dinomartino1]

HMS VICTORIOUS. 23-25 SEPTEMBER 1942. A Seafire about to land on the flight deck.

1941, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS. Pilots in flying kit waiting to go on duty. Sub Lieut (A) D J Shephard, is facing the camera.

1943 A Supermarine Walrus taking off on patrol passing a hospital ship anchored off Mers-el-Kebir.

 

[dinomartino1]

FLEET AIR ARM SUPERMARINE WALRUS AND ALBACORE COMBINE TO "KILL" A U-BOAT. The crew of a Supermarine Walrus which attacked with machine-gun fire the U-boat that was subsequently torpedoed by a Fairey Albacore. Left to right: Ldg Airman P H McCall, Sub Lt T E Bedford, Sub Lt W R Blatchley.

HMS VICTORIOUS. SEPTEMBER 1942 The Commander (Flying) giving the signal for aircraft to take off.

Commander (F) H C Ranald testing the running up of fighter planes with stop watch in hand on the flight deck of HMS VICTORIOUS.

HMS VICTORIOUS. SEPTEMBER 1942 Loading and adjusting the guns of a naval fighter aircraft.

HMS VICTORIOUS. SEPTEMBER 1942. a Fairey Albacore going up in the lift to the flight deck.

 

[dinomartino1]

Left to right: Sub Lieut (A) A G Newton, RNVR, and Sub Lieut (A) Matthias, RNVR, both pilots of Fairey Albacores.

Whenever circumstances allow, Paymaster Commander W R Tucker, RN, flies to any business related to his rank. He is seen here wearing glasses and flying helmet in the after cockpit of a Fairey Fulmar with Observer Sub Lieut (A) G F Rogers, prior to setting off on a flight to shore
HMS VICTORIOUS

 

[dinomartino1]

1941, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS.
Lieut D W George, Royal Australian Naval Reserve, an observer serving with No 832 Squadron, taking his observation instruments to his plane prior to a flight.

1941, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS.
Sub Lieut (A) Lacayo, RN, pilot of a Fairey Albacore, with an emblem of his family's crest, a black cat.

malta

FLEET AIR ARM STATION, MALTA

Scenes in and around the drome with Malta in the background

1942, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS.After end of the flight deck of HMS VICTORIOUS in the foreground with the carriers HMS BITER and AVENGER following.

 

[dinomartino1]

NEW FLEET AIR ARM PLANES. 2 OCTOBER 1945, HESTON AERODROME
The de Havilland Sea Vampire (F 20), jet propelled aircraft, capable of flying at speeds of over 500 mph and can achieve an operational height of over 45,000 feet. It was the first pure jet aircraft to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier (3 December 1945, HMS OCEAN).

1941, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS. Sub Lieut R C Jones, RNVR, of 817 Sqn, photographed near the emblem of his plane "Smokey Joe", so called because his machine always emits a large quantity of smoke when started.

 

[dinomartino1]

942, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS Striking down an aircraft. The Parking Officer in the flight deck of HMS VICTORIOUS flagging a Fairey Fulmar to the lift before being struck down.

1941, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS
Sub Lieut (A) R J Brown, RNVR, of 832 Squn, the pilot of a Fairey Albacore. The three bombs emblem on his machine represents three direct hits on enemy targets by his machine during operational raids.

1941, ON BOARD HMS VICTORIOUS. The officers controlling the flying operations from the bridge of HMS VICTORIOUS. With the flag is Commander H C Ranald, RN (F), also seen are Captain H St J Fancourt, RN, on visit to the ship, and Commander A St J Edwards, RN.

1942, ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER AT SEA IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND OFF THE NORWEGIAN COAST. ACTIVITIES DURING AN OFFENSIVE AGAINST ENEMY SHIPPING AND COVERING A CONVOY TO RUSSIA.
Pilots and observers on the flight deck of HMS VICTORIOUS waiting for their machines to get ready.

THE BRITISH NAVY AND FLEET AIR ARM COMBINE WITH US LANDING FORCES IN NORTH AFRICAN LANDINGS. 6-9 NOVEMBER 1942.
a Fairey Albacore with full bomb-racks being wheeled into position on the flight deck of HMS FORMIDABLE.

6 MAY 1944, ON BOARD HMS FURIOUS. IN THE EARLY HOURS OF 6 MAY 1944, CARRIER-BORNE FAIREY BARRACUDA AIRCRAFT OF THE FLEET AIR ARM MADE SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS ON TWO ENEMY SOUTHBOUND CONVOYS OFF KRISTIANSUND, NORWAY.
Sub Lieut C M Lock of Bournemouth is all smiles prior to take off in his plane "Stormy Petrel"

FLEET AIR ARM STATION, MALTA

 

[dinomartino1]

Plenty of USN jackets in these photos.
HMS emperor was a lend lease escort carrier.
The RN crews would train in the US on the ship and US aircraft.

HELLCATS OF THE FLEET AIR ARM ATTACK ENEMY SHIPPING. 14 MAY 1944, ON BOARD THE ESCORT CARRIER HMS EMPEROR, OFF NORWAY. HELLCAT FIGHTER BOMBERS FROM THE ESCORT CARRIER HAVE TAKEN PART IN ATTACKS ON ENEMY SHIPPING OFF THE COAST OF NORWAY.
Hellcats are queued up with engines roaring, waiting their turn to be catapulted off to attack shipping off Norway.

THE TIRPITZ ATTACK. 3 APRIL 1944, ON BOARD THE ESCORT CARRIER HMS EMPEROR WHEN SHE WAS PART OF THE FORCE OF SHIPS OF THE BRITISH HOME FLEET WHICH STRUCK AT THE GERMAN BATTLESHIP TIRPITZ IN ALTEN FJORD AND LEFT HER BLAZING.
Five New Zealanders who took part in the attack. Left to right: Sub Lieutenants, Scanes, of Christchurch; Cranwell, of Auckland; McLennan, of Thames; Jellie, of Auckland; and Lieut Hill (bats) of Wellington.

HMS EMPEROR. MARCH 1944 of the Hellcats of the EMPEROR has its mainplanes unfolded ready for action.

Lined up on each side of the white line on the flight deck waiting for the word "Go". Hellcat fighter bombers with wings stored a short while before they took off to attack shipping of the Norwegian coast.

HMS EMPEROR THE TIRPITZ ATTACK. 3 APRIL 1944 Captain T J N Hilkin, RN, discussing the result of the operation with Hellcat pilots.

"FLYING FLOSSIE"; THE FLEET AIR ARM'S STRANGEST AIRCRAFT. APRIL 1944, AT SEA. 'FLYING FLOSSIE' IS A STEEL WATER TANK ON WHEELS USED TO TEST THE AIRCRAFT CATAPULTS IN HM WARSHIPS BEFORE THEY LAUNCH "LIVE" AIRCRAFT.

ARBROATH FLEET AIR ARM STATION
View of the Torpedo Attack Trainer, directly in front of the plane is seen the ship which is projected onto the screen.