HMS Eagle Aircraft 1957

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My dad was Cox'n of a crash boat on HMS Eagle in 1957 when I was born. He died of Cancer aged 57, so it's no surprise the photo of him he has a cigarette in hand. There are 9 photos I no nothing about the planes or the incident that is shown, be glad to hear any facts or opinions from the forum.

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Nice pics Ross - welcome to the forum. Hopefully someone will know a bit more about this incident.

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Could possibly be this incident, 803 Naval Air Squardron HMS Eagle 25/9/57. Hawker Sea hawk FGA6 WV854 J-146 Ditched in the Atlantic off Angola due to fire Warning Caused by fuel leak.

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At about the time in question, I could be wrong but, I think that the Eagle was flying the Supermarine Attacker or Sea Hawk, the Westland Wyvern and the Fairey Gannet. I was serving on Malta at the time and I remember Grand Harbour awash with naval units of the Mediterranean fleet including the carriers Centaur and Bulwark.

Don't know anything about an 'incident'.

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Nice photos! The first two (including the shot of your dad) are likely to significantly predate the others. Your dad is leaning on a Supermarine Attacker-these were withdrawn from carrier service by 1954. The second shot (the head-on view of the ship) also has Attackers, as well as Dh Sea Hornets and (I think) Blackburn Firebrands.

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Don't think so. The pilot of WV854 ejected at 1300 feet! More likely WV800, 187-J of 804 Sqn. Arrester wire broke and aircraft ditched over bows on 15 Aug 55.
Head on Eagle shot shows Supermarine Attacker F1s of 800 Sqn, De Havilland Sea Hornet NF21s of 809 Sqn, Fairey Firefly AS5s of 825 Sqn and Douglas Skyraider AEW1s of 849 Sqn. This dates it to 1953/54 (probably).

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i think these may show more than one incident, as one photo shows a Sea Hawk with a broken hook whilst the other sequence looks like a failed cat launch.
The Wyverns in photo three have the earlier folding wing tips, which I would say put these as pre 1956.!

Tin Triangle - I believe that what you think are Firebrands are actually Skyraiders parked at the rear.

Lovely photos by the way!

Rob

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That fits looking a my dads service record he was on HMS Eagle twice May 1952 to May 1953 and Feb 1957 to June 1959.

Thanks for the info, I now recall when I was young looking at these and him telling me about the plane missing the cable.

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The colour shot shows Sea Hawk F1 WF145, the third production Sea Hawk, during arrested landing and catapult trials in mid to late 1952 whilst with C Sqn A&AEE.

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The cockpit of which is now owned by the forums very own "HMS Vulture" !

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Slight thread drift..............

Any memories of British Eagle airlines friendly connections with HMS Eagle. I believe visits went back and forth in around 1966?

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This is Sub Lieutenant Griffiths in WV800 going over the side following a hook failure on the 15 August 1955. Thankfully he survived.