Pics from HMS Eagle
 

These pictures were given to me by my late stepfather whilst he was serving aboard HMS Eagle during the Rhodesian embargo in the 70s I believe they are of a buccaneer crashing into the sea whilst landing. I was not sure whether to post in the RN section or here but thought members may be interested.
arty

Absolutely fantastic photographs. You should get them properly scanned for posterity.

There's a Buccaneer website where every crash has been listed. I bet the actual date and aircrew involved can be identified.

Cheers,
Dan.

Thanks for that Dan will do that.Would you know the website?
Arty

Found 2 sites that may help , first one is a "historical/archive" page showing "ejection history" of Blackburn Buccaneers. , scroll down to 26th March 1966.

http://web.archive.org/web/201707212.../Buccaneer.htm


Second is Aviation Safety Network.

Narrative:
Port engine lost power on approach. Aircraft crashed on port beam of HMS Eagle then into the sea off Beira, Mozambique, during a blockade patrol sortie.

Flt. Lt. G. A. Smart (pilot) ejected through canopy at 150ft, and Lt. N. F. Rawbone (navigator) ejected through canopy at 100ft.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/137471

HMS Eagle - Beira Patrol

On 28 Feb 1966 HMS Eagle had sailed from Singapore on passage to Beira and remained on station until 10 May 1966 (being relieved by HMS Ark Royal), returning to Singapore on 10 May 1966.

In 71 days Eagle flew 1,070 sorties, flying 600,000 miles, surveying 200,000 square miles daily, steaming a total of 30,000 miles (details as per HMS Eagle Beira Patrol diary from the Line Book 1964-66).

Thanks Mike that's great info I seem to remember my stepfather telling me about being at sea for a long time during that deployment, of course me being a pongo was not impressed ha ha. Thanks again for the help on that subject.Am in the process of scanning said pics.if anyone would like any copies let me know having said that my scanning ability is not great.
Arty