• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Aircraft Carrier Pictures

chocks2

chocks2

master brummie
I have been given the task of presenting a history of the British Aircraft Carrier at an upcoming ex-navy reunion. I was wondering if any of you ex matalots have any pictures I could use of carriers. I already have about 3000 carrier pic's but I am restricted by Copyright Law from displaying many of them at this function due to the fact that an entrance charge is to be made. Any unique pictures will be greatfully recieved.
Oh, Just to mention, I won't be making any money out of this, only the organisers will.
 
Hello there, I was reading the other day about when Prince Andrew joined his carrier just before the the Falklands do, he walked in the wardroom and there was a
man in shirt sleeves there, he said Hello I am the Duke of York but you can call me Andrew, who are you? The man said "Im the Captain and you can call me Sir
Bernard
,
 
Last edited:
Some years ago, in 1990 my wife Enid and I went on a Fly/Drive holiday in America, after a week in Florida
we went to visit some of Enids Dad old friends in Birmingham Ala, we drove over the Tampa interchange, it
has nineteen lanes, then round the Gulf of Mexico. We stayed overnight at Pensacola, this has been a USN
air base for many years, most of the towns have Visiters centre which give details of the town and surrounding area.The centre told us that in 1921 the US navy had welded hugh steel plates on ships, and
the aircraft carrier was born, I am not sure when our RN first had them, perhaps "chocks can tell us.
Bernard
 
Hi Bernard.
A lot of this would of course depend on the definition of an Aircraft Carrier. In 1913 several merchant ships were converted to "Seaplane Carriers" but these could only carry the seaplanes to where they were needed, lower them into the sea where they would take of and land.
The first Launch from a British ship was on 10th January 1912 from a platform fitted over the front gun turret of HMS Africa moored in Chatham Harbour and the first launch from a ship under way was in May 1912 from a similar platform rigged on HMS Hibernia. Then in 1917 the front guns were removed from HMS Furious and a flat deck was fitted. After several launches Sqd Cdr Dunning RN managed to land on deck. This was particularly difficult as he had to fly around the ships superstucture and on his second attempt he lost his life. Soon after that "Furious went back in for refit and had a flat after deck fitted.
In May 1917 the "Conte Rosso" was launched in Scotland. Although built for the Italians the RN were quick to see the potential and commandeered the ship to convert as a "Carrier". Completed in October 1918 they had fitted a flat deck, renamed her HMS Argus and thus the worlds first "Flush Deck" carrier was born (Due to her appearance she was known as "The Ironing Board").
Then in 1918 plans were laid down for what has become the norm in carrier design. Completed in 1924 HMS Hermes became the worlds first conventional carrier, with Flush deck, Starboard (right) Island superstructure, lifts and a through deck hangar.
By comparison the US Ship you mentioned was the USS Langley (CV1) which was launched as a similar design to "Argus" in 1919, nearly two years later. Their first conventional carrier was USS Lexington (CV2) completed in 1927, three years after "Hermes".
Sorry to be so long winded with the answer but it is the only way to explain the answer. .
Incedently, I was station at NAS Pensacola for a short while whilst serving in the USA along with NAS Jacksonville and NAS Cecil Field. What a great time I had over there. CHOCKS;)
 
Last edited:
The first British full flightdeck aircraft carrier ( as opposed to a seaplane carrier ) was a converted liner which was named HMS Argus, which was complete by September 1918. The Americans, copying British ideas, drew the first sketches for a flight carrier in in June 1918. Surprisingly I don't think they ever claimed that John Wayne was wholly responsible for building and captaining it.
mike
 
Chocks as you might know :), have collected a few pics over the years, you may borrow my CD`s and DVD`s as arranged sometime :) Dave
 
Dave, I'd be very greatful for that cheers mate.

Frothy. Cheers! that looks pretty much like the last one I was on:D:D
 
Its interesting to hear about the early carriers, no word yet about the nation who copied everything, and
then improved on it, cars, motor cycles etc, were their ships any good? They got them to Pearl Harbor
Bernard
 
The Pearl harbour raid was a copy of our raid on Taranto in Italy, where our Swordfish (stringbags) clobbered the Italian navy!
As you say - copy & improve.
Like America, their carriers were bigger and had more aircraft than ours, but had wooden decks. Ours were solid metal.
They were all vulnerable to bombs and kamikazes , when they kamikazed Illustrious, we just sraped it off the deck and pushed it over the side!
 
Hi Bernard. Japanese Carriers at the time of Pearl Harbour were without doubt the most improved and advanced carriers in the world. Where they failed was in command and leadership. Due to the lack of long range communication the admirals were only able to follow the orders they were issued before they left their home port and no matter what happened that's what they did. It's interesting to note that tactically the raid on Pearl Harbour was almost a carbon copy of the British raid on Taranto.
 
As I said before, they copy anything and then improved it, why not copy our air raid tatics, after the war they wiped
the floor with our car and motor cycle industries. Bernard
 
Hi Chocks we met at the Stag do via DAVEM - is this ex RN do exclusive, would like to be there being ex ILLUSTRIOUS
 
blackham90 said:
Hi Chocks we met at the Stag do via DAVEM - is this ex RN do exclusive, would like to be there being ex ILLUSTRIOUS
Click to expand...

Hi Blackham. You have to be a member of the AHA to be eligable but if it's a success I may take my Collection and Displays to Tamworth RNA at a latter date and that will be open to all ex-matelots.
 
Thanks Chocks , Let me know if & when you do another one, CHEERS.
 
Just to confirm my memory is'nt failing me. On Illustrious during late '49 to early '50's we had a flight of jets doing landing & take-offs , very hairy it was that I saw, I think they were Venoms specially addapted for the trials. We were told at the time that was a first go at landing jet aircraft, am I right??
 
Blackham.
The first jet aircraft to land on a carrier was on 4th December 1945. A Vampire flown by the famous Eric " Winkle" Brown landed on HMS Ocean. The Sea Venom became operational in 1954 so they may have done the trials in the early 50's but I have been unable to find any data to support this. The RN's first operational jet squadron was formed in 1949 and that was a squadron of Supermarine Attackers these also became the first carrier based jet squadron in 1950 aboard HMS Glory and later in the same year they became operational on other carriers.
1951 saw trials of the Sea Vixen prototype, another twin boomed aircraft like the Venom so again that may have been on HMS Illustrious and also in 1950 trials of the Gloster Meteor T7 took place but again, I am not sure which ship that took place on.
Sorry I can't be of more help (My memory is starting to fade). I will try and find out exactly which aircraft it was but I would strongly suggest that it was the Vixen Prototype you remember.
 
Hi again Blackham. Further to my last I have been able to find out a little more info for you. The Venoms deck landing trials took place on Centaur. and the Vixens trials took place on Victorious but I can now confirm that the Supermarine 510 (the Attacker) carried out deck landing trials aboard Illustrious on 8th November 1950. 12 landings and take offs took place throughout the day and apart from the wingtip of one aircraft clipping the Island the trials were a great success. This event was the first landing of a Swept Wing Jet Aircraft on a British carrier and as previously stated the Attacker became the first Operational Jet Squadron of the FAA.
Hope that solves the problem for you and proves that you are not going mad just yet.
 
Chocks the Victorious part, Monday 23rd June 1958, and over the next three days a lot of action, including De Havilland110, the Sea Vixen, Sea Venoms, Sea Hawks, Gannets and Scimitars of No 700 Carrier Trial Unit, busy up top :)
 
Dave. Allways was up top. Thats why I look old and grey now. The Flight Deck of a carrier is recorded as one of the most dangerous work environments in the world. :stressed:
 
chocks2 said:
Dave. Allways was up top. Thats why I look old and grey now. The Flight Deck of a carrier is recorded as one of the most dangerous work environments in the world. :stressed:
Click to expand...
Chocks fully agree with that, was good to see :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top