Royal Navy Historic Flight

Last updated

Royal Navy Historic Flight
Hawker.sea.fury.folded.arp.jpg
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 VR930 with wings folded, at Kemble Airfield, Gloucestershire, England
Active1972 – 31 Mar 2019
Allegiance Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy
TypeNaval Historic Flight
Part of Fleet Air Arm
Garrison/HQ RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron)
Equipment Fairey Swordfish
Fairey Firefly
Sea Fury
Sea Hawk
Commanders
Current
commander		Lieutenant-Commander Chris Götke AFC
Commodore-in-Chief Prince Andrew, Duke of York

The Royal Navy Historic Flight (RNHF) was the historic flight of the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy up until its disbandment in March 2019. [1] The RNHF maintained and flew a small number of aircraft that were important to British Naval aviation. The organisation was not part of the military establishment; it had charitable status and was staffed by civilians. It was based at RNAS Yeovilton and provided aircraft for air displays. [2]

Contents

Following its disbandment, the Swordfish Mk.I (W5856), Sea Fury FB.11 (VR930), Sea Hawk FGA.6 (WV908) and Chipmunk T.10 (WK608) were donated to the Fly Navy Heritage Trust at an approximate value of £1,810,000. [3] With the aircraft having now been transferred to the civilian register, displays will be funded from charity events run by the Fly Navy Heritage Trust.

History

The RNHF was established at RNAS Yeovilton in 1972 and became the home for a number of aircraft that had been donated to the Royal Navy over more than a decade. The first aircraft was Fairey Swordfish II LS326, presented in 1960 by Westland Aircraft. In 1971, Hawker Siddeley Aviation presented a Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 and in 1972 a Fairey Firefly AS.5 WB271 was donated. The separate units caring for the three aircraft were merged in 1972, forming the Historic Flight.

Over the following years, the RNHF benefitted further from gifts of aircraft from the German government, Royal Navy and British Aerospace. Technical assistance was also obtained to rebuild and refurbish aircraft. Three aircraft have been lost in accidents, with two fatalities.

In 1995, the ground staff service personnel were replaced by civilian employees but aircrew remained as serving navy pilots who volunteered to spend free time with the RNHF. Air training used the Flight's DHC Chipmunk. The Fly Navy Heritage Trust (Navy Wings), formerly the Swordfish Heritage Trust, a charitable institution to oversee fundraising, made grants to fund the RNHF's staff. The Flight's other sources of income were fees from flying displays, direct donations from the general public and sponsorship from the aerospace industry. [4]

The Royal Navy [5] previously described the role of the historic flight:

The RNHF is an educational charity whose mission is to ensure that the unique British Heritage collection of the Royal Navy Historic Flight continue to fly long into the future. Their aim is to preserve the opportunity for future generations to best understand the nature of those who built, maintained, operated and fought in Naval aircraft of the past by experiencing the reality of the sound, smell and the sight of them actually flying. They delight millions with their air displays nationwide and educated future generations.

Aircraft

[4] [6]

Aircraft typeSerialOperational datesSquadronsNotes
Fairey Swordfish Mk.IW585621 Oct 1941 - 1945Used as a training aircraft during the war and kept in reserve. Served with the Mediterranean Fleet for a year and restored to flying condition in 1993. A long-term rebuild was completed in 2015, returning the aircraft to airworthy condition.
Fairey Swordfish Mk.IILS326Aug 1943 - 1945 836 War-time service on MAC ships, including MV Rapana and Empire MacCallum. Appeared as aircraft '5A' in the film Sink the Bismarck! . Following discovery of corrosion in 2002 the aircraft was withdrawn from service. New wing spars were manufactured by BAE Systems as part of a complete restoration. As of November 2010, LS326 is airworthy. [7]
Fairey Swordfish Mk.IIINF389Apr 1944Aircraft Torpedo Development Unit, Torpedo Trials Flight, 781 NAS Under reconstruction (Jan 2009).
Fairey Firefly AS.5WB271Jun 1949 - 1962 814 NAS, RAN service: 816 NAS, 724 NAS, 723 NAS Destroyed during an air display, July 2003; aircrew (Bill Murton and Neil Rix) killed
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11TF956Oct 1947 - 1954 805 (RAN), 799, 807, 738 Lost 10 June 1989, due to hydraulic failure in flight; aircrew survived.
Hawker Sea Fury T.20WG655Oct 1951 - Dec 1955Seriously damaged 14 July 1990 after engine failure in flight; aircrew survived. The aircraft was later sold and rebuilt to airworthy condition. Based at Duxford, registered G-INVN, the aircraft was severely damaged in a forced landing at Harston, Cambridgeshire on 4 August 2020 following an engine failure. [8]
Hawker Sea Fury T.20VX281? - ?Damaged in emergency landing during RNAS Culdrose Air Day 31 July 2014. The pilot, Lt Cdr Chris Götke (CO of the Flight) was awarded the Air Force Cross in an Operational Honours list on 26 February 2015. [9] [10] Suffered serious damage in a forced landing April 28, 2021 after engine problems. Aircraft landed in a field near RNAS Yeovilton. Both pilots were taken to a local hospital, where one was kept overnight for observation. [11]
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11VR930Mar 1948 - Jan 1961 802 Out of use.
Hawker/Armstrong Whitworth Sea Hawk FGA.6WV908Feb 1955 - Jun 1962 807, 898, 806, 738 In storage.
de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk T.10 WK608June 1966 - 1993 (naval service)Used as air trainer. Airworthy.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleet Air Arm</span> Aviation arm of the Royal Navy

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the naval aviation component of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). The FAA is one of five RN fighting arms. As of 2023 it is a primarily helicopter force, though also operating the F-35 Lightning II carrier-based stealth fighter jointly with the Royal Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">811 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

811 Naval Air Squadron was a unit of the British Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was first founded in 1933, and served during World War II, seeing action in the battle of the Atlantic and on Russian convoys, and was eventually disbanded in 1956.

MV <i>Rapana</i> Oil tanker converted to aircraft carrier during WW2

MV Rapana was a Dutch-built oil tanker converted to a Merchant Aircraft Carrier during World War II. She was the first tanker to be converted to a MAC ship, and was the lead ship of her class of conversions. Rapana was launched as a tanker in April 1935, and served as a merchant vessel until July 1943, when she was converted into a MAC ship. After World War II, the ship was converted back into a tanker and returned to civilian service. In 1950 she was sold and renamed Rotula. She was scrapped in Osaka in January 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Brawdy</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Royal Air Force Brawdy, or more simply RAF Brawdy, is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located 6.3 miles (10.1 km) east of St Davids, Pembrokeshire and 9.8 miles (15.8 km) south west of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was operational between 1944 and 1992; it was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy (1946–1971), before the site was turned over to the British Army and renamed Cawdor Barracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">771 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

771 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was formed on 24 May 1939 at HMS Daedalus, Lee-on-Solent as a Fleet Requirements Unit with 14 Fairey Swordfish TSR biplanes. The squadron carried out various exercises with ships and provided towed targets for naval air gunners, and was decommissioned on 22 March 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">750 Naval Air Squadron</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

750 Naval Air Squadron is a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which provides training for both Royal Navy Observers and Royal Air Force (RAF) Weapon Systems Officers (WSOs) in managing navigation, communication systems, and weapon control, to enable them to lead operations in Fleet Air Arm helicopters and Royal Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) fixed-wing aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">727 Naval Air Squadron</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

727 Naval Air Squadron is a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was formed in 1943 as a Fleet Requirements Unit, being disbanded in December 1944. It was reformed twice in the 1940s and 1950s to provide flying experience for naval officers. The current squadron was created on 6 Dec 2001 from the Royal Naval Flying Training Flight. It operates the Grob Tutor, with its primary role to provide grading assessment and for Royal Navy and Royal Marine pilots prior to further flying training. It also supports the Royal Navy's "Flying Start" flying scholarship scheme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">815 Naval Air Squadron</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

815 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron flying the AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 helicopter and is the Navy's front line Wildcat Naval Air Squadron. The squadron is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. The squadron is capable of carrying out multiple roles such as: counter-narcotics, anti-piracy, Above Surface Warfare (ASuW), search and rescue, disaster relief and flying and engineering training. In the early 2000s, the Navy said that the squadron was largest helicopter squadron in Europe.

801 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm squadron of the Royal Navy formed in 1933 which fought in World War II, the Korean War and the Falklands War.

810 Naval Air Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier based squadron formed on 3 April 1933 with the amalgamation of the 12 Blackburn Dart aircraft from 463 and 44 Flight Flights Royal Air Force to the Fleet Air Arm. The squadron saw action during the Second World War, the Suez Crisis and the Korean War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">736 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

736 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was most recently recommissioned at HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose in June 2013 to fly the BAE Systems Hawk, mainly in the maritime aggressor role, following the disbandment of the Fleet Requirements and Aircraft Direction Unit (FRADU) and operated up until March 2022. It initially formed as the School of Air Combat in May 1943 at HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton. In September 1943 it moved to HMS Vulture, RNAS St Merryn, where it became the Fighter Combat School and it created an independent 'B' Flight for fighter affiliation work between March and September 1945. 736 Naval Air Squadron moved to HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose in February 1950 as the Naval Air Fighter School in the 52nd Training Air Group, but disbanded in August 1952. Immediately the following day, the squadron reformed at HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose out of 702 Naval Air Squadron as an Advanced Jet Flying School and in November 1953 it moved to HMS Fulmar, RNAS Lossiemouth. 736 Naval Air Squadron disbanded there in March 1965, but what was left became 764 Naval Air Squadron ‘B’ Flight. The squadron reformed the same day at Lossiemouth from 809 Naval Air Squadron as a Jet Strike Training Squadron. 1966. In March 1967, its aircraft were part of the group that bombed and set on fire the supertanker SS Torrey Canyon aground and leaking crude oil on Seven Sisters rocks off Cornwall. The squadron disbanded in February 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">814 Naval Air Squadron</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

814 Naval Air Squadron or 814 NAS, nicknamed the Flying Tigers, is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It is currently equipped with the AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 anti-submarine warfare helicopter and is based at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in Cornwall. The squadron was formed in December 1938 and has been disbanded and reformed several times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">759 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

759 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was created on November 1, 1939, and was disbanded on December 24, 1969. It was initially intended as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron but became a Fighter School and Pool Squadron in 1939, at RNAS Eastleigh. It operated out of RNAS Yeovilton from 1940 to 1946, as part of the Naval Air Fighter School. In 1943 a detachment operated out of RNAS Angle, working with 794 NAS and known as the Naval Air Firing Unit. It was again the Naval Air Fighter School upon reformation in 1951 and disbandment in 1954, firstly at RNAS Culdrose and then moving to RNAS Lossiemouth, in 1953. The squadron reformed again, this time at RNAS Brawdy in 1963, as the Naval Advanced Flying Training School, before finally disbanding in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">764 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

764 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It initially formed in April 1940, at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as an Advance Seaplane Training Squadron. The Squadron moved to RAF Pembroke Dock in July 1940, and later to HMS Daedalus II, RNAS Lawrenny Ferry in October 1941 and remaining there until the Squadron disbanded in November 1943. It reformed at HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, in February 1944, as the User Trials Unit, however, the squadron was decommissioned for the second time in September 1945. 764 Naval Air Squadron reformed again, at HMS Fulmar, RNAS Lossiemouth, in May 1953, where it became an Advanced Training Unit. It moved to HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, in September 1953, where it received its first jet aircraft. In November 1954 the Squadron disbanded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">766 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

766 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was to have initially formed in 1939 at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as a Seaplane School, however, it formed at HMS Landrail, RNAS Machrihannish, as a Night ALT Course, in 1942. It moved to HMS Nightjar, RNAS Inskip, in 1943, to become part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit. By 1944, it was operating over 30 Swordfish aircraft, but, during the year, also acquired Firefly aircraft from 1772 NAS, and Sea Hurricane aircraft from 760 NAS. It moved to HMS Merganser, RNAS Rattray, early in 1946, but later that year, moved to HMS Fulmar, RNAS Lossiemouth, where it received Seafire aircraft, along with being Part 1 of the Operational Flying School. By late 1951, Sea Fury trainer aircraft were also added to its varied list of types operated. In 1953, the squadron moved to HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose, where it disbanded in 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">767 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

767 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It was initially formed as a Deck Landing Training Squadron in 1939, when 811 Naval Air Squadron was renumbered 767 Naval Air Squadron, at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle. A detachment went to Hyeres de la Palyvestre in the south of France, enabling training in fairer conditions. While here, the squadron took on an operational mission, with a bombing attack on the Italian port of Genoa. With the fall of France the squadron evacuated to French Algeria, where it split. Part went to Malta, forming 830 Naval Air Squadron, the other part to HMS Ark Royal, with personnel returning to the UK via Gibraltar. The squadron regrouped at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, and moved to the Deck Landing School at HMS Peewit at RNAS East Haven in 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">780 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

780 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded at HMS Seahawk, RNAS Culdrose in November 1949. 780 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMS Raven, RNAS Eastleigh as a Conversion Course Unit, in October 1939, to train experienced civilian pilots in naval flying. It moved to HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, in October 1940, and later, its role had changed to converting pilots to Fairey Barracuda aircraft. It spent a year at RNAS Charlton Horethorne, before returning to HMS Daedalus and disbanded, early 1945. In March 1946, the squadron reformed at HMS Godwit, RNAS Hinstock, as the Naval Advanced Flying School, to give flying instructors' courses, and later provided Instrument Flying Training. In December, the squadron moved to HMS Jackdaw, RNAS Crail, then in March 1947 moved to HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, and in May to HMS Seahawk as the first resident unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">781 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

781 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which disbanded at the end of March 1981. Planned as a Reserve Amphibious Bomber Reconnaissance squadron, it formed as a Communications Unit in March 1940 and operated a large variety of aircraft. It provided a Bristol Beaufighter conversion course which eventually became 798 Naval Air Squadron and also had a ‘B’ Flight at Heathrow and then Heston aerodromes before becoming 701 Naval Air Squadron. After the Allied invasion of Normandy the squadron flew to various Royal Navy units on the continent and established an ‘X’ Flight based in France and then Germany. In July 1945 the squadron disbanded into 782 Naval Air Squadron although the ‘X’ Flight was moved to 799 Naval Air Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">787 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

787 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which disbanded in January 1956. It formed in March 1941, at HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, out of 804 Naval Air Squadron as a Fleet Fighter Development Unit. Almost every type of fighter was received by the squadron for testing and evaluation for naval use. A move to RAF Duxford in June 1941 saw it become the Naval Air Fighting Development Unit, attached to the Royal Air Force's Air Fighting Development Unit. The squadron undertook rocket projectile test, continuous development of fighter tactics and even helping Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons in evading fighter attack. Post Second World War it continued its trials task and also undertook Rebecca radar trials and ASH, US-built air-to-surface-vessel radar trials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">799 Naval Air Squadron</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

799 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded during August 1952. It initially formed as a Pool Squadron in South Africa during September 1943, sharing Fairey Albacore aircraft with 798 Naval Air Squadron and providing flying time for aircrew prior to front line squadron assignment, disbanding in June 1944. It reformed in July 1945 as a Flying Check and Conversion Refresher Squadron at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent. Made up of three distinct flights, two of those operated away from Lee-on-Solent with a flight at HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, giving junior officers air experience, and another flight at HMS Dipper providing Supermarine Sea Otter conversion training. By May 1948 the whole unit had moved to HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton. In 1951, 799 Naval Air Squadron relocated to RNAS Machrihanish.

References

  1. ↑ robjones (29 March 2019). "Royal Navy Historic Flight Stands Down after 50 Years". Navy Wings. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  2. ↑ "Royal Navy Historic Flight". BAe Systems. 2006–2007. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  3. ↑ "Gifting of Royal Navy Historic Flight Aircraft:Written statement - HCWS55". UK Parliament. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Royal Navy Historic Flight". P&H Media. 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  5. ↑ "Royal Navy Historic Flight (RNHF)". RNAS Yeovilton. Royal Navy. 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  6. ↑ Russell, Mark (2004). "The Royal Navy Historic Flight's Aircraft". Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  7. ↑ Howard, Lee (2010). "Return of the Stringbag". Aeroplane (November 2010). Kelsey Publishing: 47–48, 53–55.
  8. ↑ "AAIB Bulletin: G-INVN AAIB-26839" (PDF). Air Accident Investigation Branch. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  9. ↑ "Exemplary airmanship saves historic Sea Fury" . Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "No. 61155". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 February 2015. p. 3469.
  11. ↑ "Yeovil plane crash: Two pilots taken to hospital after engine fails". BBC News. 28 April 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.