Fleet Air Arm (National Service)

[GriffMJ]

Some photos from the early 1950s, National Service. I shall try and find out the Squadron... I still have the log book somewhere. These photos were taken in Canada. The flight were in Grumman Avengers first and then the Fairey Gannet. I shall find the FAA Obs Badges that are in the photos and put them up.

[GriffMJ]

I have found the Log Book.... buried deep in the loft:-

Observers and Observers Mate's Flying Log Book
Royal Canadian Navy

K R M-J
Rank/Rating : Midshipman(A) RNVR
Date awarded flying badge : 12-11-1953
Log Book #1
Based : Observers School RCN Air Station DARTMOUTH, N.S. (HMCS SHEARWATER)

Starts 5th March 1953 : Avenger AS3 No.345 : Pilot S/Lt Paton : Duty 1st Famil : Studied local Flying Area : 1 hour

Based : Feb 1954 at RNAS Eglinton, N. Ireland (NAVAL A.R.A.S SCHOOL).
Squadron Feb 1954, No. 719 Squadron
719 Sqn Additional info :- Operated with 737 Squadron as a Naval Air Anti-Submarine School at Eglinton, Northern Ireland. On November 22, 1957, 719 absorbed 737 with a name change to Naval Anti-Submarine Operational Flying School. Gannet AS.1s and T.2s arrived in November 1955 and stayed in use until March 1959

Squadron : March 1954, No. 814 Squadron, HMS GANNET

Ends Sept 21 1956 : Gannet AS1 No. WN428 : Pilot Lt Seymour : Duty LJX7 Run3 : DCO : 1 hour

Total flying time : 325.15 Day and 39.05 Night (7.45 Daylight Hours from a Carrier)
Rank: S/Lt (A) RNVR

Also in : Sea prince, FireFly V VI VII, Avenger AS3 AS4 AS5; P2V5 Neptune; Gannet AS1

I have found the photo album with working pics ..... I will scan them and put them up (some colour ).

This photo was pasted in his log book in May 1954..... I think he is in the photo of the FireFly (VI) 262 WB399, his log states that on April 5th 1954 that he was in Firefly (VI) 262 being flown by Lt Locke and they were on a "Stage 2 Trainer" for 1 hour and 25 minutes.

[GriffMJ]

814 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON
MOTTO
‘In hoc signo vinces’ -‘In this sign you will conquer’
ROLE
Operational Anti-Submarine Warfare
BASE
RNAS Culdrose

SQUADRON HISTORY
814 Naval Air Squadron was first formed in December 1938 as a Torpedo Reconnaissance Squadron equipped with Swordfish aircraft. During the War years the Squadron saw active
service including the Search for the German Battleship Graf Spee. 1960 saw the Squadron equipped with its first helicopter, the Whirlwind, to be later replaced with the Wessex Mk 1. The Anti-Submarine Warfare Sea King was introduced in 1977 and the Squadron were involved during the Gulf, Bosnia and Kosovo conflicts. 814 NAS reformed in 2001 with the
Mk 1 Merlin. They have seen operational service across the world including Operation Telic in 2003 and in the wider Arabian Gulf. Since then the Squadron has been involved in Global Operations including the Orion 08 deployment in HMS Illustrious conducting Maritime Security Operations and currently have members of the Squadron and Aircraft on operations East of Suez.

PREVIOUS AIRCRAFT TYPES
Swordfish, Barracuda, Firefly, Avenger, Gannet, Whirlwind, Wessex, Sea King, Merlin

BATTLE HONOURS
Atlantic 1940

Additional : This unit received eight Gannet AS.4s and one T.2 at Culdrose on January 14, 1957. The squadron embarked in HMS Eagle in August 1957 and took part in Exercise Strike Back in Norwegian waters. HMS Eagle moved to the Mediterranean where the squadron spent time between the ship and Hal Far, Malta. Early in 1959 they took part in another exercise and after a visit to Brest flew ashore to Culdrose where the squadron disbanded on September 30, 1959.

[GriffMJ]

The start of some of the images...

* Folded wing = "Carrier" Avenger AS3

[GriffMJ]

Some more... Gannet(s)... and Avenger (Carrier)

* It took KRM-J a long time to get over "Air Sickness" even after 200 Hours of flying, there are at least three "endex due to air sickness" logs.

[GriffMJ]

On the 9th July 1953 KRM-J had 30 mins in a "Shooting Star T33" : RCAF 866 : Flown by F/O Williams : Duty "Study of jet performance" (probably a jolly!)

The shooting Star T33 (canopy) can be seen in the group photo below...