Centenary News - Issue three

The highlight of this year’s Centenary of Naval aviationwill be the visit to London of the UK’s Strike AircraftCarrier, HMS Illustrious together with her embarkedNaval Air Squadrons for the 100 birthday celebrationsand flypast over the ship on Thursday 7 May 2009.

HMS Illustrious will be moored at Greenwich and the flypastof Fleet Air Arm Merlin, Sea King and Lynx helicopters willfollow the River Thames from east to west passing directlyover the ship at midday.

The impressive Balbo formation of aircraft will give spectatorsthe rare opportunity to see a large number of Navalhelicopters operating from an Aircraft Carrier against thebackdrop of the home of the Royal Navy since Tudor times,the magnificent Old Royal Naval College. HRH PrinceAndrew, The Duke of York and Commander-in-Chief of theFleet Air Arm will take the salute onboard HMS Illustrious asthe aircraft pass overhead.

Operating with the Royal Navy, the Joint HelicopterCommand and Joint Force Harrier, the Squadrons of the FleetAir Arm have never been in greater demand.

“Over 80% of our Squadrons are currently deployed fulfillingdefence commitments worldwide” said Rear Admiral SimonCharlier, Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm. “Naval aircraft aremaking a direct and vital contribution to operations inAfghanistan, Iraq, the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, theFalklands, the North Atlantic, the Far East and theCaribbean.”

HMS Illustrious will be in London for six days as thecentrepiece of the Centenary celebrations, hosting a dinneronboard on Thursday 7 May and supporting the Service ofThanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday 8 May.

CENTENARY FLY PASTHMS ILLUSTRIOUS – 7 May 2009Greenwich, London 12 noon

Royal Navy CentenaryCelebrations

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1909 - 2009

Fleet Air Arm Memorial

Raising the Game

Their names will live for evermore . . .

Over 6,000 men and women have giventheir lives in the service of Naval aviationover the past 100 years and it isparticularly fitting during this Centenaryyear that their sacrifice should behonoured in the peaceful setting of theNational Arboretum. The new memorial, asculptured plinth of Portland stonesupporting a granite aircraft carrier, will beset amidst ‘hearts of oak’ in an avenue offine old English oak trees, close to theNational Armed Forces Memorial.

The Fleet Air Arm has a ‘battle honours’memorial on the Victoria Embankment inLondon. The new memorial, however, hasbeen especially designed to enablesquadrons, ships and associations to placeplaques or wreaths around the base of theaircraft carrier allowing the memorial tobecome the spiritual property of everyonewho has served in the Fleet Air Arm.

Speaking of the new memorial, Chief ofStaff Aviation and Carriers, Rear AdmiralSimon Charlier said, “We are very gratefulto the Fleet Air Arm Associations for theirconsiderable contribution in raising thefunds to commission this project. Thedesign of an aircraft carrier is not only

testament to the enduring importance ofcarrier aviation which in a relatively shortspace of history has had such a significantimpact but it holds memories of lovedones for so many people throughout thecountry.”

The dedication service will be open to alland will include an unveiling ceremony,flypast and a Royal Marines Beat Retreat.

In the meantime funds are still beingsought to finalise the project and ensurethat the dedication service is a fittinglymemorable occasion. Donations fromindividuals or organisations would be verywelcome and should be sent to Fleet AirArm Officers Association, 4 St JamesSquare, London, SWIY 4JU. Please makecheques payable to FAAOA and markedon the reverse ‘Memorial’.

A ceremony to dedicate a new memorial to remember and celebrate the service of the many men and women who haveserved in the Fleet Air Arm will be held at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield in Staffordshire on Friday 11September 2009.

Designed by architect and sculptor, Steve Field, thememorial is being built on a plinth of Portland stone, the

traditional material for Naval memorials

The deployment, the Navy’s largest Amphibiousdeployment in ten years, aims to strengthen theRoyal Navy’s fighting capability, proving theiramphibious landing skills by means of landingcraft and helicopters and enhancing their ability tocarry out combined operations with NATO alliesand other nations.

The Task Group comprises 12 ships includingcapital ships HMS Bulwark and HMS Ocean, twoRoyal Navy frigates, a US Navy destroyer and aFrench Navy frigate, two nuclear poweredsubmarines and an embarked force of RoyalMarines from 40 Commando and 539 AssaultSquadron Royal Marines. At its height, 3,300personnel will take part in the 20,400 mile round-

trip deployment, interacting, training andrelationship building with 17 nations.

Merlin helicopters onboard the air assault shipHMS Ocean took part in rigorous preparationsearning praise from Rear Admiral RichardIbbotson, Flag Officer Sea Training. He told theship’s company that without exception everyoneonboard had raised their game and embraced the challenge of being ready to embrace amphibiousoperations anywhere in the world. Taurus 09 willbe split into two phases, phase one will involveamphibious training exercise in the Mediterraneanand phase two will culminate in a multi-nationaltraining operation in the jungles of Brunei.

Deploying with a maritime force forprolonged periods, supportingamphibious operations and operating indifficult environments is what the FleetAir Arm does best. Taurus 09 is a textbook example of the projection of seapower over land by means of the air andI know the squadrons deployed will takeit in their stride.

“

“

Rear Admiral Simon Charlier

Fleet Air Arm

In 2008 MASU joined forces withNAML, the Naval Aircraft MaterialsLaboratory at Fleetlands, Gosport,to form a formidably capableforward support organisationcalled Fleet Forward Support (Air)providing the full range of rapidaviation support to helicopters ofall three Services anywhere in theworld.

Based in new premises inPortsmouth Naval Base, theorganisation is responsible for theassessment and repair of damagedhelicopters, designing and fittingmodifications, providing analysis on

all aspects of airworthiness andadvice on the care of aircraft toprevent and manage corrosion,Health Usage Monitoring andVibration, materials and compositeevaluation and chemical samplingof fuels, oils and lubricants. Theunit also assists with in depthinvestigations into failures andaccidents. As well as deployableteams able to support airoperations anywhere in the world,the unit currently has adetachment in Afghanistan. In thetrue spirit of joint operations, it isanother arena in which the FleetAir Arm is leading the way.

MASURapid Aviation Support Most people familiar with the Fleet Air Arm will have heard ofMASU, Mobile Aircraft Support Unit, or MARTSU, Mobile AircraftRepair Transport and Salvage Unit as it was previously known.Historically responsible for the recovery and repair of damagedaircraft the remit of the unit has grown exponentially in recentyears to meet the exacting demands being made on all UK militaryaircraft deployed on current operations.

CentenaryCelebrations in London

Merlin helicopters from 820 Naval Air Squadron and Sea King ASaC aircraft from 857 Naval AirSquadron, both based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose and Commando Helicopter Force SeaKing Mk 4s from 845 Squadron and Lynx Mk 7 aircraft from 847 Squadron, from Royal NavalAir Station Yeovilton have deployed as a powerful air group with the Royal Navy’s AmphibiousTask Group on Taurus 09 to the Far East.

TAURUS 09A century after the Admiralty orderedits first aircraft on 7 May 1909, it isastonishing to think that within arelatively few years, air power fromthe sea would transform navalwarfare as radically as had the gunand the steam engine.

The celebrations with HMS Illustrious inLondon could not be more fitting orbetter timed to commemorate aremarkable 100 years. Emerging fromadolescence in the First World War andcoming to maturity in the Cold War, Navalaviation has developed a core expertiseand depth of experience in operating atsea that sees us now, on the brink of asignificant step change in capability.Carrier aviation and the Fleet Air Arm areintrinsically intertwined and the combination of the Queen Elizabeth classcarriers and the F-35 Joint Combat Aircraft herald an exciting future - we aregetting back in the big carrier game.

It will be a proudmoment watching thefly past over HMSIllustrious, but it isimportant toremember that 80%of the Fleet Air Arm iscurrently deployed onoperations around theworld. The Harrier jetsof the Naval StrikeWing and Navalhelicopters assigned tothe CommandoHelicopter Force areheavily committed tojoint operations inAfghanistan, 829Naval Air Squadron isvery active, parentingsmall ships flightsembarked in Type 23frigates, Merlin

helicopters from 814 Naval Air Squadron are conducting ongoing surveillancemissions in the Persian Gulf and the Naval Air Squadrons embarked withTaurus 09 are conducting intensive amphibious exercises in the Far East.While our birthday will be a memorable day for the Service, there can be noclearer message of the versatility, adaptability and utility of Naval aviation.

A highlight of the celebrations will be a visit by HRH The Duke of York, ourCommander-in-Chief and the Secretary of State for Defence, The RightHonourable John Hutton MP.

In addition to our birthday fly past, there will be a fire works displayover HMS Illustrious on 7 May at 22.00 and flying displays overthe Thames in front of the Old Royal Naval College onSaturday 9 and Sunday 10 May at 14.00 each day.

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The Armourers AssociationAfter attending Nobby’s ‘going outside run’,Shiner’s 50th birthday party and Bungy’s‘promotion do’ and seeing the same peopletravel from miles around to attend, it was thegeneral feeling that the same lot wouldprobably support a Bombheads Reunion. So in

1989 with the aid of a few Christmas card lists and seventeenquidsworth of postage stamps, the Armourers Association wasborn.

The inaugural meeting wasin Coventry in 1990. Theycame from Penzance, theycame from Lossiemouth,and all stations in between.They were old, they werevery old, and they were‘Gordon Bennett! Who’dhave thought he’d still bealive.’ Amongst them werePolice, Prison and FireOfficers of all ranks, aForeign Legionnaire, aMayor, a town crier, a blokewho breeds racing tadpolesand a part time Lancashiresausage knotter but we allhad one thing in common –once a bomb’ead, always abomb’ead!

The aim of our Associationis to preserve the valuesand comradeship we allenjoyed in the Fleet AirArm. You may have nodesire to travel to a reunionbut wish to be in contactwith your old oppos. Weare currently in touch withover 900 ex armourers. Theannual membership is £5payable to the ArmourersAssociation by standingorder. Please contact MikeHoldsworth onbombheads@btinternet.comor tel 01227 832826 forour current newsletter, nominal roll and registration form.

Meet Your NavyJoining in the celebrationsof 100 years of NavalAviation, Navy Days 2009will include a stunning airdisplay, featuring a widerange of Naval aircraft.Visitors will also be able toclimb aboard the Navy’sships and submarines,witness a dramatic hostagerescue demonstration bythe Royal Marines, and geta glimpse of the future inthe ‘Future Navy’ marquee.This promises to be anincredible day out for thewhole family, so book earlyfor big discounts!

Musical Tribute‘Hands to Flying Stations’

An inspiring and moving musical tribute to the Fleet Arm Arm, composedespecially to celebrate 100 years of Naval aviation and incorporating themuch loved bugle call ‘Hands to Flying Stations’ was performed for thefirst time by The Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines at theMountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall, London inFebruary.

The new piece of music, composed byformer Warrant Officer Royal MarinesMichael McDermott, is called‘Daedalus’, a name long associatedwith the Fleet Air Arm, after the greatAthenian inventor, Daedalus, who builtartificial wings for himself and his sonIcarus and HMS Daedalus, the RoyalNaval Air Station at Lee on Solent, thespiritual home of the Fleet Air Arm.

The idea to compose a special musicaltribute to celebrate this year’sCentenary was proposed by the FlyNavy Heritage Trust who sponsored a

national competition. 97 applicationswere made to enter the competitionand 16 full scores were submitted. Thewinning composition which was playedto accompany a film on 100 years ofNaval flying, received a standing ovationat the Royal Albert Hall.

“It is a truly magnificent tribute” saidAdmiral Terry Loughran, Chairman ofthe Fly Navy Heritage Trust. “There wasnot a dry eye in the house and we hope‘Daedalus’ will be played on manyoccasions throughout the Centenaryyear and for many years to come.”

Fleet Air Arm Roll of HonourThe Fleet Air Arm Roll ofHonour containing thenames of the 6,749Royal Naval Air Serviceand Fleet Air Armpersonnel who havegiven their lives in theservice of Naval aviationis kept at the Fleet AirArm Memorial Church,St Bartholomew’s atRoyal Naval Air StationYeovilton in Somerset. Aservice to celebrate theCentenary of Navalaviation and dedicate aplaque in honour of thefour Naval aviatorsawarded the VictoriaCross will be held atSt Bart’s on 9 October2009 at 10.30.

A mix of GR7 and GR9 Harrier jets together with12 pilots and 80 support staff and engineersclocked up an impressive 84 sorties in a fortnightincluding a round the clock rigorous deck work-up passage which saw 4 new Harrier pilots gaintheir initial deck landing qualifications and twofurther pilots re-qualifying.

Further air combat training was conducted withRAF Hawk aircraft of 100 Squadron, RAF Leemingand the new Typhoon from X1 Squadron RAFConingsby. The Commanding Officer of HMSIllustrious, Captain Ben Key stated “It was

fantastic welcoming the jets back on board. Theship comes alive when the flight deck is busy andwe are delivering our primary capability of airpower from the sea.”

Lieutenant Simon Rawlings, one of the pilotsfrom the Naval Strike Wing embarked in HMSIllustrious, stated “It was great being backonboard. The Squadron has spent a lot of time inAfghanistan but embarking in a carrier again issecond nature to us. The whole team works likeclockwork.”

Back OnboardNaval Strike Wing

After intensive operations in Afghanistan the Naval Strike Wing returned to HMS Illustriouslast month for a period of reintegration training to get back up to speed in their corebusiness of carrier aviation.

Their work has been described as some of the most demanding flying anywherein the world, outside war zones. Last month members of the Royal Navy Searchand Rescue unit HMS Gannet were recognised for their outstanding bravery, witha remarkable 8 of the 20 aircrew at the helicopter station in Prestwick beinghonoured in the Operational Honours list.

Fleet Air Arm Heroes

Honoured

The honours were awarded forexceptional courage in dangerousrescue situations and ranged fromQueen’s Commendations for Gallantryin the Air and Commander-in-ChiefFleet’s Commendations to the AirForce Cross the highest award inrecognition of exemplary gallantry inthe air on non-active operations.

The Search and Rescue Flight was alsoawarded the prestigious Firmin Swordof Peace in recognition of theoutstanding service provided by HMSGannet to the local community andthe Boyd Trophy awarded annually forexcellence in aviation.

HMS Gannet’s work in Scotland covers an area of 98,000 square miles, more than 12 times the size of Wales.The Commanding Officer of HMS Gannet, Lieutenant Commander Bryan Nicholas said “I am incredibly proud ofthese men and the courage and determination which they have shown in the face of adversity. They saved livesand risked their own.”

Speaking after the awards ceremony Rear Admiral Simon Charlier said “Whilst there is an ongoing debate aboutthe future of Search and Rescue, I have nothing but the greatest admiration for Gannet SAR Flight. It is a vibrantand busy part of the Royal Navy doing an absolutely magnificent job. Last year’s record number of call outsamounted to more than the number of days in the year! I am immensely proud of the Flight’s outstandingachievements.”

Left to right: Lt Cdr Martin Lanni decorated with the Air ForceCross, Lt Tony Sherwin, Commander-in-Chief’s Commendation,Leading Aircrewman Kev Regan, Queen’s Commendation forBravery in the Air, Rear Admiral Simon Charlier, Chief of StaffAviation, Lt Cdr Martin ‘Florry Ford, Queen’s Commendationfor Bravery in the Air, Petty Officer Daz Craig, Queen’sCommendation for Bravery in the Air.

Lt Mike Paulett (not pictured) formerly Gannet SAR Flight andnow 854 Squadron was also decorated with the Air Force Crossand Olivia Millies also not pictured received a Commander-in-Chief Fleet’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air.

1909 - 2009

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A significant part of the 100 year history of Naval aviationwas occupied by the dark days of the Cold War, which lastedfrom the late 40s to the late 80s. It was a very importanttime for the Fleet Air Arm, for in addition to maintaining aconstant front line readiness to engage the massive forces ofthe Warsaw Pact in what could be full scale nuclear war, itwas a period of huge and demanding transition in Navalaviation capability.

Those four decades took Naval aviation from the operation of theobsolete propeller driven aircraft, in service during the Korean War,through to what was the peak of operational carrier flying whenthe Fleet Air Arm eventually acquired the large, purpose builtFighter and Strike jet aircraft and fixed wing Anti submarine andAirborne Early Warning aircraft – and operated them day and night– from relatively small carrier decks. It was undoubtedly one of themost demanding and at the same time professionally rewardingperiods in the history of the Fleet Air Arm. Carrier operations havealways carried risks, and along the way, in the continuous challengeto fulfil a crucial role in helping to keep the Cold War just that, theFleet Air Arm sadly lost many fine aviators.

The first jet to enter service with the Royal Navy was the Attacker,followed quickly by the Sea Hawk and Sea Venom. Both the SeaHawk and Sea Venom were involved in Operation Musketeer, theSuez Campaign in 1956 where they more than proved theeffectiveness of carrier aviation being able to remain on station forconsiderably longer than land based aircraft operating out ofCyprus.

The Scimitar and Sea Vixen followed andalthough never involved in full scale conflict,both aircraft took part in many operationsincluding campaigns in Indonesia and Aden.The world’s only flying De Havilland Sea Vixenwill be taking part in this year’s Centenarycelebrations flying in 899 Naval Air Squadroncolours as she was in HMS Eagle in 1971.

Driven by Cold War tensions and the need topenetrate soviet naval groups and if necessarydeliver a nuclear payload, it was the Navy jetsof the 60s and 70s however that transformedcarrier aviation capability. The long rangestrike aircraft the Buccaneer built to fly fastand low to avoid detection by enemy radarand the impressively versatile fighter, thePhantom were much loved by the men whooperated them.

The Royal Navy operated Phantoms between1969 and 1978 and in 1969, on the fiftiethanniversary of the first aircraft crossing theAtlantic by Alcock and Brown, a Royal NavyPhantom won the Trans Atlantic Air Racesetting a new world air speed record betweenNew York and London of 4 hours 46 minutes.The Phantom had formidable range andperformance and was capable of carryingheavy loads, including air to air missiles andnuclear bombs.

Speaking of the Royal Navy’s fast jet era,Captain Michael Rawlinson OBE said, “Theadrenalin really flowed! They were remarkableyears. It was an era that also led to manypioneering innovations including the mirrorlanding sight, the steam catapult, the angledflight deck and the induction loopcommunication system – all legacies thatmade an enormous contribution to the safetyand effectiveness of carrier aviation and havebeen standardised by navies around theworld.”

The Induction Loop With the quickening pace of jet aviation flight deck personnel were subjectedto deafeningly high noise levels and communicating with personnel in helmetsand protective headgear became increasingly difficult. Radios were notpermitted on deck under radio silence conditions so in 1961 the AdmiraltyEngineering Laboratory at West Drayton in Middlesex was asked to look intothe problem of flight deck communications particularly between flight controland deck crews on aircraft carriers.

Similar difficulties had been encounteredwith personnel wearing earmuffs in highnoise level compartments in surface shipsand submarines. To give mobility topersonnel working in noisy compartmentsand allow them to hear orders the Admiraltyengineers designed transistor amplifiers ableto detect audio frequency signals set upwithin compartments by inductive fields. Acable loop surrounding the area wasconnected to a standard ship’s amplifier toprovide the inductive field and the personnelheard orders via the small detector amplifiersfitted in their headsets.

“Because audio frequency signals from upperdeck loops cannot be detected at more thana few hundred metres from the ship it wasdecided to use similar techniques for flight

deck communications” said John Le Warne the senior engineer on the developmentteam. “However, the steel decking and the large area to be covered reduced signallevels towards the centre of the deck entailing the use of specially designed powerfulamplifiers to drive current through the cable around the deck perimeter.”

To cope with the weaker signals over the flight deck, the inductive receivers weredesigned with more advanced characteristics than those for internal shipboard use.These pocket sized receivers, carried by flight deck personnel and connected by cable totheir helmets enabled direct audio control to be maintained between handlers andpilots. Such was the success of the system, that it still forms an essential part of flightdeck communications to this day.

The Angled Flight Deck

Cambell’s solution -‘out of the blue’- to quotehim was to shift the landing axis ten degrees to

port. This would at once give the pilot a clearapproach and overshoot path such that if he missed the

wires he would only have to apply power and go roundagain. Furthermore it would do away with the need for

barriers, reduce the number of arrester wires required, open up alarger deck park and speed up deck operations.

The Americans saw the benefits faster than the British, and whilst theAdmiralty were still ‘considering’ the issue, the Americans a little while later sailed

one of their carriers, the USS Antietam across the Channel with the wires angled off anda slanted centre line at ten degrees to port! This was not only to show us the whole idea

worked but also a tacit acknowledgement that the Brits had thought of it first.

Commander Graeme Rowan-Thomson flying a Sea Hawk was one of the first Royal Navy pilots told to try it out.It worked magnificently, the Admiralty were convinced and HMS Centaur was the first carrier to be modified.Throughout the whole development and research period, Cambell was partnered by Lewis Boddington, the civiliantechnical officer in charge of the Naval Air Division at RAE Farnborough whose contribution to the project wasconsiderable. All carriers operating high performance conventional aircraft have since had angled flight decks and itwas only phased out in the Royal Navy after 20 years with the introduction of the VSTOL era.

The angled deck started as a ‘doodle’ byCaptain, later Rear Admiral Denis Cambell in1951. Aircraft were getting heavier and fasterbut they were still being landed on a straightdeck along the fore and aft axis of the shipwhere, to miss the wires, meant certain entryinto the barrier or landing in the deck partkin the bows – a crash in either case.

Naval Aviation Comes of Age

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The Royal Navy’s struggle with Zeppelins for air supremacy in the First World War

In 1908, HG Wells wrote his science fiction thriller ‘The War in the Air’ in which a fleet of Zeppelin airshipscrossed the Atlantic and devastated New York. When war broke out with Germany in 1914, many people inBritain believed that HG Wells’ story would come true and that London would be laid waste by Germanairships. Zeppelins also meant that the Royal Navy could do nothing in the North Sea without being spotted.It was this ‘menace’ – no aircraft could match it – which spurred the British Government to form the RoyalFlying Corps, and which led Winston Churchill and the Royal Navy to set about bombing these airships on theground in 1914. Thus it was that the Royal Naval Air Service with IKEA style flatpack aeroplanes, pioneeredstrategic bombing which eventually led to the Blitz, and the massive air raids on Germany during the secondWorld War. The Flatpack Bombers tells the story of the first bombing raids in history, the Dusseldorf,Friedrichshafen and Cuxhaven Raids, Royal Navy achievements that have been in the long grass of history fortoo long. These ripping yarns of early Naval aviation deserve to be more widely known.

Fly Navy, the view from a Jungly Cockpit 1958-2008, covers fifty years of Jungly exploits fromcombat to cock-ups, bravery to bravado and piss-ups to pianos. Compiled by John Beattie and editedby Rick Jolly, it is a side splitting ‘Kick the Tyres,Light the Fires’ read, both moving and hilariouslyfunny with stories of the ordinary every day,crashes, machinery breaking, outstanding gallantryand tea and medals. Available by post from theRoyal Navy Historic Flight, RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester,Somerset BA22 8HT. Price £10.99 plus £2.00 postand packaging. Please make cheques payable to‘RN Historic Flight.’

65th Anniversary of

Operation Tungsten

The Fleet Air Arm Officers Association AviationScholarship Trust aims to encourage young peoplebetween 16 and 19 to consider a career inaviation. The Association has awarded glidingtraining courses to more than 1000 students overthe last 20 years and many of them have gone onto become pilots and observers in the Royal Navy.

Students are accommodated in the wardroom of aRoyal Naval Air Station as potential officer cadetsand attend an intensive 8 day gliding instructioncourse leading to a solo flight. Students also getexperience in an aircraft of the Fleet Air ArmSquadron and many get the opportunity to attendfurther advanced training. If you are interested ina gliding scholarship, details can be found atwww.fleetairarmoa.org under the link toscholarships and grants. The Trust is a charity andreceives sponsorship and donations from industryand individuals. If you would like to help sponsoryoung men and women or simply make adonation, please contact: The FAAOA AviationScholarship Trust, 8 Oaklands Close, Adel, Leeds LS16 8NST. 0113 261 2853 E. bvigrass@aol.com

Aviation Scholarships

Sixty five years ago, on 3 April 1944 the Fleet Air Arm launched one of the largest and mostconcerted air strikes ever undertaken against the German battleship Tirpitz in Kaafjord inNorthern Norway rendering her incapable and critically removing the significant threat she posedto the crucial D-Day landings.

Codenamed Operation Tungsten, the attack wasorganised in two waves of 60 aircraft, each of 20Barracuda dive bombers and 40 escort fighters,Corsairs, Wildcats and Hellcats launched an hourapart from the carriers HMS Victorious and HMSFurious. The Tirpitz was subjected to two closelycoordinated and fearlessly executed dive-bombingand strafing attacks with 200 Naval aircrew from 12Naval Air Squadrons giving their all in a highly wellorchestrated and synchronised plan. For many ofthem it was their first experience of enemy action.

As a result of the attack the Tirpitz suffered heavylosses and was rendered incapable of putting to seafor several months. While the attack has never reallybeen credited with the recognition it deserves,effectively it was the success of the Fleet Air Armtactics that kept the convoy routes open and gavethe green light to the D-Day landings. 4 aircraftwere lost in the attacks, 2 as a result of enemy firewith the loss of 8 lives including the strike leader, LtCdr Roy Baker Falkner DSO DSC MID RN.

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The Royal Navy Historic Flight based at Royal Naval Air StationYeovilton in Somerset is a living memorial to all those who serveor have served in the Fleet Air Arm. It is a thin slice of Navalaviation history, representing not only the aircraft but also thepeople who flew, maintained and supported the 200 differentaircraft types that have shaped our Naval aviation heritage overthe past 100 years.

Making Sure the Past has a

Significantly every time a historic Naval aircraft flies itis also a salute to the memory of those who valiantlygave their lives in the defence of their country. Todaythe Fleet Air Arm is very much in the front line,particularly in Afghanistan, getting the job donedespite the privations and severe conditions. Makingthe machinery work and achieving good operationalresults, whatever the problems, has never been moreimportant. The men and women of the Fleet Air Armtoday continue to employ ingenuity, invention andinnovation tempered with common sense and goodpractice just as their predecessors did.

The folk lore of the past, such as stripping andrebuilding the broken Pegasus engine of a Swordfishon a beach in 1940 prior to flying it across theMediterranean to North Africa, lives on withnumerous present day parallels in motivation anddedication.

The Royal Navy Historic Flight is manned by ex servicepersonnel who no longer have to do battle in far offlands, but they do have to do battle with ageingmachinery, lack of spares and the need to complywith modern regulations and testing procedures thatwere not extant when the aircraft were in service. Inthese days of stringent budget constraints and theneed to ensure that defence expenditure providesour front line forces with the best possibleequipment we can afford, there is no public fundingleft for heritage projects. Only the core manpower ofthe Royal Navy Historic Flight is paid for by the RoyalNavy. All repairs and running costs are financed byindustry and private donations and in the presenteconomic downturn this is becoming increasinglydifficult to sustain.

“We all have a part to play in making sure that thepast has a future” said Sue Eagles, Communications

Director Fly Navy 100. “During this Centenary yearour historic aircraft will be very much in the publiceye, but for this year to have made a difference, weall need to recognise the importance of maintainingour Naval aviation heritage for future generations. Byjoining the Fly Navy Heritage Trust support group youcan make that difference and help keep thisevocative Historic Flight alive. It is the Royal Navy’scontribution to our National heritage and issomething of which we can all be justifiably proud.”

Future

A standing order of just £20 a year means asignificant amount to the Flight and togetherwill help assure the future of YOUR HistoricFlight and the Flying Memorial that it represents.For further information and a supporters joiningform please contact the Fly Navy Heritage Truston 01935 842005 or email office@FNHT.co.uk

Cobham Aviation Services is pleased to be amajor sponsor of Fly Navy 100, helping toraise the profile of Naval aviation in thisimportant Centenary year.

Cobham has a close working relationship withthe Royal Navy and the company’s Falcon jets,flown by ex Royal Navy pilots, will beparticipating in the Fly Navy 100 displays atEastchurch, the Royal International Air Tattooand RNAS Yeovilton and RNAS Culdrose AirDays.

Cobham plc was founded by aviation pioneer SirAlan Cobham who, in 1926, flew from England

to Australia and back in a DH50 aircraft. Landing on the River Thames infront of the Houses of Parliament before an audience of one million, he wasknighted for his pioneering efforts. Today Cobham provides aircraft forwarfare training for the Royal Navy, with regular ‘Thursday war’ exercisescarried out against both UK and foreign fleets.

The Royal Navy’s Operational Training Partner

Pleased to support the Centenary of Naval Aviationwww.cobham.com

1909 - 2009

Corrections and Clarifications• three

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Fly Past Over East Church

Royal Naval Air Station

Culdrose

Air DayWednesday 29

th July

Open 9.00 am

For more information

contact your local

Tourist Information Centre

This year’s Centenary will get off to a flying start on 1 May 2009 with aceremony at the Pioneer Memorial at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppeyfollowed by an spectacular flypast of Harrier GR7 and GR9 jets, Falcons andJetstream aircraft, paying tribute to the first home of British and Navalaviation.

The memorial at Eastchurchcommemorates the historic eventswhich took place on the Isle ofSheppey during the formative yearsof aviation in Great Britain between1908 and 1911. The Shorts Brothersestablished the first factory in the

world for the production of aircraft at Shellbeach in 1909, moving production toEastchurch in 1910. The first four Royal Navy pilots learned to fly at Eastchurch andin 1911 Eastchurch became the first Royal Naval Air Service Station.

“The historical importance of Eastchurch in the early development of Naval aviationis immense,” said Commander Sue Eagles, Communications Director Fly Navy 100.“Sheppey was the cradle of aviation in this country and the budding Naval aviatorsfound themselves immersed in the wealth of pioneering aeronautical technologyand endeavour being built up there. The memorial was dedicated in recognition ofthe spirit of innovation and adventure of the early pioneer airmen and that spiritlives on in the Fleet Air Arm today.”

The names of the first four Naval aviators who trained at Eastchurch are inscribedon the memorial together with twelve Royal Naval Air Service technical ratings. Thefirst Naval aircraft were also built at Eastchurch on a site called Westland Farm,which became the origins of Westland Aircraft Works.

Guest of Honour at the event will be Admiral Sir Raymond Lygo KCB who will takethe salute with Rear Admiral Simon Charlier, Chief of Staff Aviation and RearAdmiral Fleet Air Arm as the fly past passes overhead. The service will be attendedby current and former serving members of the Fleet Air Arm, veterans, guests andlocal residents.

www.culdroseairday.co.uk

Europe’s largest helicopter base, RNAS C

uldrose

delivers highly capable Naval Air Squad

rons

specialising in Anti Submarine Warfare,

Anti Surface

Warfare and Airborne Surveillance and C

ontrol.

Frontline Squadrons from Culdrose depl

oy aircraft in

support of operations all round the wo

rld. RNAS

Culdrose also provides intensive training

for Aircrew,

Engineers, Air Traffic Controllers, Fire Fi

ghters and

Flight Deck Crews. The air base is also th

e home of

771 Search and Rescue Squadron, on c

onstant alert

365 days a year to respond to emergen

cies

throughout the South West region.

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Editor’s Note

Ski-JumpIn the 1970s Lt Cdr Doug Taylor invented the ‘Ski-Jump’. This upwardscurving ramp at the forward end of the flight deck ensures that the aircraftis launched on an upward trajectory giving considerable performance gains,including much greater payload and range, than a corresponding flatdeck, short take-off. The early trials proved so successful that theSki-Jump was incorporated into the design of HMS Hermesand the Invincible Class carriers.

1909 - 2009

Leading the way in

InnovationFirsts

Naval Aviation

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Fly Navy 100, RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset BA22 8HTTel: +44 (0)1935 456150 or 456530Email: flynavy100@btconnect.com

royalnavy.mod.uk/flynavy100

Programme of Events2009

Telegraphist Air Gunners Association Memorial Service and Lunch, HMS CollingwoodSunday 17 May 2009

Opening of ‘One Hundred Years of Naval Flying’ ExhibitionFleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS YeoviltonThursday 2 July 2009

Royal Garden Party Buckingham PalaceThursday 9 July 2009

RNAS Yeovilton Air Day Saturday 11 July 2009

RNAS Culdrose Air DayWednesday 29 July 2009

Dedication of Channel Dash Memorial, ManstonSaturday 29 August 2009Channel Dash Association dedication of a Swordfish Memorial in memory of the unsurpassed bravery of the Channel Dash Heroes.

Navy Days 2009 – Devonport Naval BaseSaturday 5 September – Sunday 6 September 2009

Dedication of Fleet Air Arm Memorial, National Aboretum, StaffordshireFriday 11 September 2009

The Britannia Centenary of Naval Aviation DinnerFriday 16 October 2009Fly Navy Heritage Trust dinner onboard the former HMY Britannia in Leith.

Fly Past and Reception HMS Illustrious in LiverpoolFriday 23 October 2009

Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, Royal Albert Hall Saturday 7 November 2009

Royal Centenary Gala Dinner, Old Royal Naval College GreenwichThursday 10 December 2009

JunglyCocktail Party

Saturday 4th July 2009from 1900

Hazelgrove HouseSparkford, Somerset

£50 per double ticket

For tickets and information847up01@yeovilton.mod.uk

01935 456342 or 456256

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HMS Illustrious

Fly Navy 100 is a fantasticopportunity for the Royal Navy tocelebrate and promote thecontribution that Naval aviation hasmade and will continue to make toour nation’s security. It is an honourfor HMS Illustrious to be in ouraffiliated city of London to supportthe occasion.

Captain Ben Key

Commanding Officer HMS Illustrious

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6 - 11 May 2009

in London

HMS Illustrious, the Nation’s currentStrike Carrier will be paying a highprofile visit to the city of Londonfrom 6 – 11 May 2009 as thecentrepiece of the Royal Navy’scelebrations to mark the Centenary ofNaval aviation.

The ship, which will be moored atGreenwich, will be taking part in a busyprogramme of events, the highlight ofwhich will be a Centenary Fly Past overthe carrier at midday on 7 May 2009.

The Admiralty ordered its first aircraft, HisMajesty’s Airship 1, on 7 May 1909 andthe Centenary celebrations mark theintroduction of Naval aviation, a radicalnew capability that was to transformNaval warfare and have a far reachinginfluence on strategy and operations tothis day.

HMS Illustrious, which operates Harrierjets and helicopters, will have aircraftfrom a number of different squadronsembarked. The Duke of York,Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet AirArm, will take the Royal Salute on theflight deck as the Fly Past passesoverhead. He will also meet members ofthe ship’s company and current andformer serving Fleet Air Arm personnel.

The Centenary celebrations will includea spectacular firework display to musicover HMS Illustrious on 7 May at 22.00

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A service of Thanksgiving will take place at St Paul’sCathedral on Friday 8 May 2009 to celebrate the Centenaryof Naval aviation and pay tribute to the courage,commitment and professionalism of everyone who hasserved with the Royal Naval Air Service or Fleet Air Armover the past 100 years.

Their Royal Highnesses ThePrince of Wales, the Duchessof Cornwall and theCommodore-in-Chief of theFleet Air Arm, The Duke ofYork will be in attendance,alongside dignitaries from theCity of London, theCommander-in-Chief FleetAdmiral Sir Mark Stanhopeand 2,000 current serving members of the Fleet Air Arm, togetherwith veterans and families.

The service will also remember the 6,749 Royal Naval Air Serviceand Fleet Air Arm personnel who have given their lives in 100years of Naval aviation. The perils of flying at sea are much greaterthan flying over land resulting historically in many more Naval aircasualties from accidents than from combat. During the service thetraditional Royal Navy bosun’s call will pipe the ‘still’ as the Booksof Remembrance are laid on the altar in a poignant replica of aburial at sea.

One of the readings during the service will be read by theinternationally acclaimed actress, Kristin Scott Thomas whosefather, a Fleet Air Arm pilot died in a Sea Vixen in 1967. Hermother remarried but tragically was widowed a second time.Kristin’s step father, another Fleet Air Arm pilot died in a Phantomin 1971.

After the service HRH The Prince of Wales will take the Royalsalute as the Guard from HMS Illustrious and veterans march pastthe Cathedral. HMS Illustrious is affiliated to the City ofLondon and members of the ship’s company will be supporting the service, lining the steps of St Paul’s as guests arrive and leave.Receptions will be held after theservice in The Guildhall,Merchant Taylor’s Hall andSkinner’s Hall.

The Royal Navy at

Fly Past in LondonCentenary

The Royal Navy has been closely associated withGreenwich since Tudor times. The Old Royal NavalCollege, on the south bank of the river Thames atGreenwich is the centrepiece of MaritimeGreenwich, now a World Heritage Site managedby the Greenwich Foundation.

It was from the windows of Greenwich Palace thatQueen Elizabeth watched the famous explorer andAdmiral, Martin Frobisher, with two small ships, startdown the river for his voyage to discover the NorthWest passage. It was also from Greenwich Palace thatthe Queen watched Drake’s famous ship the ‘Golden

Hind’ passing up river to Deptford, after his three yearvoyage of circumnavigation.

The Greenwich Hospital was founded in 1694 as theRoyal Naval Hospital for sailors. The pensioned sailorswore blue uniforms similar to the red ones of theChelsea Pensioners. On 5 January 1806 Lord Nelson’sbody was laid in state in the Painted Hall of theGreenwich Hospital before being taken up the riverThames to St Paul’s Cathedral for a State funeral.

From 1873 to 1998 Wren’s magnificent buildingsbecame the home of the Royal Navy. The Royal Naval

College provided advanced strategic, scientific andtechnical training for thousands of Naval officers.

The custom for all ships of war to fire a salute whenpassing Greenwich was instituted in Henry VIII’s reign.In 1588 the order to resist the Armada was made atGreenwich. Sir Walter Raleigh was often at Greenwichand it was at Greenwich that this famous explorer andsailor of Queen Elizabeth’s reign made his dramaticgesture of spreading his cloak over a ‘splashy place’ forthe Queen to step on.

Greenwich

www.oldroyalnavalcollege.orgGreenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College

1909 - 2009

Centenary Servicein St Paul’s

A static park of Royal Navy aircraft, including aSea Harrier, a Sea King, a Lynx and a Gazelle,together with a Merlin Flight Simulator and aRoyal Navy hot air balloon will be on display inthe grounds of the Old Royal Naval College.Flying demonstrations will also take place onSaturday 9 and Sunday 10 May, over The Thamesin front of the Old Royal Naval College at 14.00to 14.30.

The best place to view the Fly Past is from theOld Royal Naval College. The grounds are opendaily from 0800 to 18.00 and can be enteredfrom Cutty Sark Gardens, College Approach,Royal Gate and Park Row. Car parking is verylimited. To plan your journey visit the Transportfor London Journey Planner website stating youare travelling to the Old Royal Naval College SE10 9LW.

The Royal Navy will celebrate the Centenary of Naval aviation with a Fly Pastover HMS Illustrious at Greenwich on 7 May. The Balbo formation will belead by four Merlin helicopters, the Royal Navy’s newest state-of-the-artaircraft followed by a line-up of current Fleet Air Arm aircraft including thefast, agile Lynx Maritime Attack helicopter as well as many variants of thevenerable Sea King helicopter, and Jetsream training aircraft, both of whichcelebrate 40 years service this year. The aircraft will fly East to West overLondon, passing over the ship at exactly midday.

Commander Mark Deller, Commander (Air) HMS Illustrious, said ‘We always get afantastic welcome in London and we are particularly looking forward to visiting ouraffiliated City and to supporting such a significant anniversary in Naval aviation.”

Carrier aviation is an important part of that heritageand as the UK’s High Readiness Strike Carrier, HMSIllustrious is a crucial element of national security.“With 80% of Naval Air Squadrons currentlydeployed on operations worldwide, the Fly Past isonly a small representation of our capability” said

Commander Deller. “We recently welcomed our Harrier jets back onboard after beingon operations in Afghanistan. They have been deployed almost continuously over thepast five years. There can be no greater demonstration of the versatility andexpeditionary nature of Naval aviation.”

Royal Navy Static Display Park

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ROYAL NAVY PILOT:JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE OFFICE

The ‘office’ just happens to be the cockpit of the Sea King Mk 4. Like any office it’s got a view, except this is more like a penthouse suite.

Whatever you fly in the Royal Navy, from fast jets to troop transport helicopters, it’s a responsible, challenging career that will take you further than you’ve ever been before.

If you want more than just a job, join the Royal Navy and live a life without limits.

6 WEEKS’ PAID HOLIDAYFREE MEDICAL & DENTAL CARE

SPECIAL SKILLS PAYHIGHLY COMPETITIVE PENSION

CLEAR CAREER PATHS

LIFEWITHOUTLIMITS

Join the Royal Navyroyalnavy.mod.uk/careers

or call 08456 07 55 55

1909 - 2009

Successful Trials for New Joint Strike FighterThe new Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) F35 JointStrike Fighter is another step closer following extremelysuccessful trials of the aircraft’s advanced flight controlsoftware which will enable pilots to land onboard ship in allweathers, day and night with ‘centimetric accuracy’.

The trials, carried out onboard HMS Illustrious using a veteran twoseat Harrier airframe, the Vectored-thrust Aircraft Advanced FlightControl (VAAC) Harrier, put the new system to the test. The Harrierwas heavily modified with a conventional control arrangement in thefront cockpit and a modern glass cockpit display in the rear seat tosimulate the way the new Joint Strike Fighter will fly and respond todifferent inputs. 66 running landings and recoveries were achieved invarying sea states up to and including sea state six with outstandingresults.

The test aircraft, XW175 is the oldest flying two seat Harrier in theworld. Commander Kieron O’Brien, the Air Engineering Officer, HMSIllustrious said “The VAAC harrier provided a fantastic facility to trialthe Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL) techniques that will beutilised by the Joint Combat Aircraft in the new carriers. It workedbrilliantly. XW175 represents an incredible link between the past andthe future of the Fleet Air Arm.”

The UK has historically been in the forefrontof innovation in carrier technology. Thedevelopment of slow running recoverytechniques could well be next, enabling JCAto recover with a significantly greater fractionof weapons and fuel than achievable using avertical recovery.

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Rear Admiral Simon Charlier

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XW175 Harrier 7GA (VAAC)

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