I was rooting around in the photo library at Tangmere looking for photos of the FD2 when I found this evocative shot which I thought might be of interest to some of the regulars here.
The caption reads on the back, "Fairey Gannet AEW.3 XL497/041/R (849 Sqn B Flt)" and is stamped "Photo Section HMS Ark Royal 9 Jan 1975". Although it's marked as Crown Copyright, I hope no one will object to me posting it here in the cause of stirring a few memories.
I was in Hong Kong on HMS Blake at the time but we met up with the Ark Group in Rio some months later (May 75 I think). Nice shot and tks for posting it ;-)
I thought that initially, but the two behind him are still laid straight across the deck. The one where his main wheels are just doesn't appear to be there and is too far forward anyway.
Yeh.. it's an odd shot isn't it that. Studying it (with my glasses on ) it looks like she's just caught the wire which is taught (toward the pointed end though it looks like it's going the other way)
Don't ya just love the wing LE's on the Gannet. They look strong enough to fly through a mountain and out the other side
Seaking.. you weren't one of those drunken matelots wandering about Copacabana were you :think:
Which is what I said in my last post She's just caught the wire and as such, is still attached. The line of the wire corresponds exactly to the end of her tailhook :drinkers:
