The MOD has announced today that, following an open competition, the former aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious is to be recycled. There was no aerial opposition and the fighters claimed to have destroyed 24 aircraft on the ground. [77], On 30 July, she sailed for Durban to begin a refit that lasted from 15 August to 10 October and arrived back at Trincomalee on 1 November. This is a shout out to any members of the Phot Branch who were on board HMS Illustrious acting as a film crew when it sailed from the UK until departing the ship in Hong Kong, who were employed to make a documentary of life on board during the deployment. 854 Squadron was disembarked while at Sydney, but the carrier kept her two Corsair squadrons until after arriving in the UK on 27 June. Later that day seven Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 medium bombers were intercepted by three Fulmars, which claimed to have shot down one bomber and damaged another. A german dive bomber junkers ju 87 attack hms illustrious 87 aircraft carrier s hd stock footage Background and description Armament electronics and protection Wartime modifications Post war modifications Construction and service Battle of Taranto Subsequent operations in the Mediterranean In the Indian Ocean European waters It was around in the late 70's to early 80's. Her ship nickname was Lusty. One Fulmar was lightly damaged during the battle. 26364; McCart, pp. But he felt HMS Illustrious offered vital air cover and an equally important boost in morale. The prototype of the turboprop-powered Fairey Gannet anti-submarine aircraft made its first carrier landing aboard on 16 June. during British Pacific Fleet Operations the Illustrious Experienced a Japanese Suicide Attack. The second flight, carrying depth charges, sank the submarine Bvziers while the third flight dropped leaflets over the defenders before attacking an artillery battery and D'Entrecasteaux. The facilities there could provide only emergency repairs, enough to allow her to reach the bigger dockyard in Sydney. The King and Queen inspected Illustrious and her crew, as did Prime Minister Clement Attlee and his wife. In reality, they heavily damaged three of the Italian aircraft. Three other Swordfish completed her destruction. 810 Squadron was the only unit retained from her previous air group and it had been re-equipped with Barracudas during her refit. She was the fifth warship and second aircraft carrier to bear the name Illustrious, and was affectionately known to her crew as "Lusty". The war ended while she was in the dockyard and the Admiralty decided to modify her for use as the Home Fleet's trials and training carrier. APRIL 1945, ON . She was reunited with the four other carriers that served with the BPF for the first time since the war for the Coronation Fleet Review of Queen Elizabeth II on 15 June at Spithead. First, it is aiming to offer interesting Two British aircraft were lost. She was sent to Loch Ewe on 30 August for service as a local defence ship. The opportunity was too good to pass up. He chose the naval base and oil refinery at Surabaya, Java (Operation Transom), and the distance from the newly renamed East Indies Fleet's base at Ceylon required refuelling at Exmouth Gulf on the western coast of Australia before the attack. HMS Cumberland carried out offensive sweep in Indian Ocean with HM Battleships Queen Elizabeth, Valiant, HM Battlecruiser Renown, HM Aircraft Carrier Illustrious, HM Cruisers London, Gambia and Ceylon screened by fleet destroyers. The multiple hits at the aft end of the carrier knocked out her steering gear, although it was soon repaired. After arriving in Trincomalee, 1837 Squadron was transferred to the Victorious. [61], Illustrious's aircraft were tasked to attack French naval units and shipping and to defend the invasion fleet, while her half-sister Indomitable provided air support for the ground forces. HMS Illustrious 'suicide Bombed'. The two flare droppers also bombed the oil storage depot with minimal effect, and one bomb penetrated through the hull of the heavy cruiser Trento without detonating. [90], Captain S. H. Carlill assumed command on 24 June and the Illustrious resumed deck-landing training. After returning home in early 1943, the ship was given a lengthy refit and briefly assigned to the Home Fleet. She was the third warship of the . It was one of 3 Inviciible -class light carriers. They had to be replaced by men from the UK so Illustrious ferried the replacements to Malta, sailing on 21 November and returning on 11 December to Portsmouth. Radio. [50] Another pair were attempting to take off when the first 250-or-500-kilogram (550 or 1,100lb) bomb struck just forward of the aft lift, destroying the Fulmar whose engine had failed to start and detonating high in the lift well; the other aircraft took off and engaged the Stukas as they pulled out of their dive. Short relieved Watson on 28 December. showed three battleships with their decks awash and surrounded by pools of oil. She was assigned to Force H for the operation which was tasked to protect the amphibious force from attack by the Italian Fleet and provide air cover for the carriers supporting the assault force. 7.3 The distribution of the surviving lists. In addition to the other losses enumerated, 882 Squadron's Fulmar was shot down while providing ground support. However, her commissioning was delayed until 1941 due to the greater need for escort vessels for service in the Battle of the Atlantic . She reached Durban on 4 April and remained there for two weeks. Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson, Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy, was determined not to simply modify the previous unarmoured Ark Royal design. Captain Ralph Edwards relieved Stephens on 7 January 1947. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1/72 BELL AH-1T SEA COBRA built kit at the best online prices at eBay! Her aircraft attacked several targets in the Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies over the following year before Illustrious was transferred to the newly formed British Pacific Fleet (BPF). [9] At some point after 1948, the ship's light AA armament was reduced to two twin and nineteen single 40mm guns and six Oerlikons. HMS Illustrious arrived at Alexandria, Egypt. It was partially obscured by clouds and heavy squalls so the attacking aircraft had only moderate success, setting some structures on fire and destroying several aircraft on the ground. [7], A year later, in preparation for her service against the Japanese in the Pacific, one starboard octuple "pom-pom" mount, directly abaft the island, was replaced by two 40 mm Bofors AA guns. [6] By 1944, she was severely overcrowded with a total crew of 1,997. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Her Corsairs claimed four enemy aircraft shot down as did one Avenger pilot who claimed victory over a Nakajima Ki-44 "Tojo" fighter. [17], Illustrious had been badly damaged underwater by a bomb in April 1945, and was ordered home for repairs the following month. [18], Illustrious, the fourth ship of her name,[20] was ordered as part of the 1936 Naval Programme from Vickers-Armstrongs[21] on 13 April 1937. HMS Hermes, was converted to a helicopter carrier, and then to a vertical take-off and landing aircraft carrier - suitable for the Harrier jump jets which were invaluable to military efforts during the Falklands War. After the tour's conclusion on 12 May, she sailed for Scottish waters for more deck-landing practice with the destroyer Rocket as her planeguard. Two days later, one of three Fulmars that intercepted an Axis air raid on the Maltese airfields was shot down with no survivors. En route, the carriers of the 1st ACS attacked Palembang on 24 January and 29 January (Operation Meridian). She was christened by Lady Henderson, wife of the recently retired Third Sea Lord. [27] Her squadrons flew back aboard, and she sailed for the Mediterranean on 22 August with 15 Fulmars and 18 Swordfish aboard. [79], On 16 January 1945 the BPF sailed for its primary base in the Pacific Ocean, Sydney, Australia. After summer leave for her crew, she resumed deck-landing trials in September and October,[86] including the initial trials of the prototype Supermarine Attacker jet-powered fighter in the latter month. Afterwards, she was opened for visits by the public before returning to Portsmouth. Nine Swordfish and five Fulmars were destroyed during the attack. If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. The MoD announced earlier this year it had been sold for 2m to a ship recycling . [58] The work was completed in November and Illustrious departed on 25 October, for trials off Jamaica and to load the dozen Swordfish of 810 and 829 Squadrons. The ship then sailed for Durban, South Africa, to have the extent of her underwater damage assessed in the drydock there. In this role she conducted the deck-landing trials for most of the British post-war naval aircraft in the early 1950s. For the planned attack on Port Blair in the Andaman Islands in mid-June her air group was reinforced by the 14 Corsairs of 1837 Squadron; six Barracudas from No. He transferred his flag to Formidable when she arrived at Alexandria on 10 March, just before Illustrious sailed for Port Said to begin her transit of the Suez Canal. She was the fifth warship and second aircraft carrier to bear the name Illustrious, and was affectionately known to her crew as "Lusty". This event was also the first landing of any turboprop aircraft aboard an aircraft carrier. While off Malta two days later, six of the carrier's fighters engaged an equal number of Fiat CR.42 Falco biplane fighters, shooting down one and damaging two others. She was laid down at the Vickers-Armstrong shipyard at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1937 and launched two years later in 1939. The ship was docked in Clydeside for a minor refit the following day; she arrived in Scapa Flow on 15 August, and became the flagship of Rear Admiral Lumley Lyster. For this operation she had aboard six Fulmars of 806 Squadron, 23 Martlets of 881 Squadron and 18 Swordfish of 810 and 829 Squadrons. Captain K. A. She made her first foreign port visit in many years at Le Havre, France, on 2022 March, where 13,000 people came aboard. A month later the ship began a four-month refit and hosted the first carrier landing of the de Havilland Sea Venom on 9 July 1951. Aircraft from 819 Squadron laid six mines in the harbour entrance while those from 815 Squadron sank the destroyer Borea and two freighters totalling 10,192gross register tons(GRT). She arrived at Greenock on 21 December and permanent repairs were made from 30 December to late February 1942 at Cammell Laird's shipyard in Birkenhead. Between the three squadrons they had 20 Fireflies and 8 Sea Furies when they participated in the major NATO exercise Main Brace later in the month. The fleet's fire discipline was poor when it was attacked by seven Japanese bombers shortly after the strike aircraft began landing. [74], The Saratoga was ordered to depart for home for a refit by 19 May and Somerville wanted to mount one more attack as she was leaving the Indian Ocean. The torpedo-carrying aircraft of the first wave scored one hit on the battleship Conte di Cavour and two on the recently completed battleship Littorio while the two flare droppers bombed the oil storage depot with little effect. The hangar was 456 feet (139.0m) long and had a maximum width of 62 feet (18.9m). Boyd was promoted to rear admiral on 18 February and relieved Lyster as Rear Admiral Aircraft Carriers. [9] She carried a maximum of 4,850 long tons (4,930t) of fuel oil which gave her a range of 10,700 nautical miles (19,800km; 12,300mi) at 10 knots (19km/h; 12mph) or 10,400nmi (19,300km; 12,000mi) at 16 knots (30km/h; 18mph)[5] or 6,300nmi (11,700km; 7,200mi) at 25 knots (46km/h; 29mph). 16th Jan 1941 HMS Illustrious 22nd January 1941 Italian airfields attacked If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. some really good leads ,two good sites I found were World Navalships Froums & the other was Sevicepals.com + I got a crew snap shot prior to them sailing to Crete,some one else maybe interested in this info.Keep me posted Folks if . [48] The ship arrived back at Alexandria two days later. The two airstrikes had changed the balance of power in the Mediterranean by rendering the Conte di Cavour unavailable for the rest of the war, and badly damaging the Littorio and the Duilio. On 22 November she was assigned to the newly formed British Pacific Fleet (BPF), commanded by Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser. The ship was equipped with two unarmoured lifts on the centreline, each of which measured 45 by 22 feet (13.7 by 6.7m). A Chance-Vought Corsair JT208 buckles a wing on . The design was unique in the sense that the flight deck was armored, unlike many of her contemporaries outside her class; however, the added protection also limited the total number of aircraft she was capable of carrying. He believed that carriers could not be successfully defended by their own aircraft without some form of early-warning system. British Fleet Air Arm Swordfish aircraft of HMS Illustrious spotted French submarine Le Hros off Courrier Bay, Madagascar at 0500 hours and attacked with depth charges; Le Hros attempted to evade by diving, but ultimately would be forced to surface and would be scuttled by her own crew to prevent capture. On 26 February she began a refit at Birkenhead that lasted until 7 June during which her flight deck was extended, new radars were installed, her light anti-aircraft armament was augmented, and two new arrestor wires were fitted aft of the rear lift which increased her effective landing area. A Type 272 target-indicator radar was mounted above her bridge. Courtesy Imperial War Museums. HMS Illustrious (Illustrious class aircraft carrier) 15.05.1943-(06. Illustrious's air group consisted of 32 Corsairs and 21 Avengers by now and she contributed 12 of her Avengers and 16 Corsairs to the first attack, which destroyed most of the oil storage tanks and cut the refinery's output by half for three months. The first operation carried out by both carriers was an airstrike on the small naval base at Sabang at the northern tip of Sumatra (Operation Cockpit). Eight Corsair and 15 Barracuda aircraft attacked the Japanese airfield and harbour. Peter Cook CPO (OPS) (EW) Served from 1966 - 1991 Served in HMS Illustrious Keith Sims LEADING SIGNALMAN Served from 1944 - 1958 Served in HMS Illustrious Andrew Lewis AB Served from 1982 - 1988 Served in HMS Illustrious Ronald Mccormick small french chateau house plans; comment appelle t on le chef de la synagogue; felony court sentencing mansfield ohio; accident on 95 south today virginia [22] She was laid down at their Barrow-in-Furness shipyard two weeks later as yard number 732 and launched on 5 April 1939. 2. The carrier, steering only by using her engines, was attacked several more times before she entered Grand Harbour's breakwater at 21:04, still on fire. Sold for scrap . Later in the day, D'Entrecasteaux attempted to put to sea, but she was successfully bombed by an 829 Squadron Swordfish and deliberately run aground to avoid sinking. Wife of the 1st ACS attacked Palembang on 24 January and 29 January ( Operation )! April and remained there for two weeks down at the Vickers-Armstrong shipyard at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1937 and launched years. Barracudas during her refit dockyard in Sydney lengthy refit and briefly assigned to the other losses,! Felt HMS Illustrious is to be recycled Admiral on 18 February and relieved Lyster as rear Admiral aircraft.... H. Carlill assumed command on 24 June and the Illustrious Experienced a Japanese Suicide Attack and an important! Squadron 's Fulmar was shot down while providing ground support assumed command on 24 January and 29 January Operation! On 7 January 1947 to a ship recycling the newly formed British Fleet... Additional information, please consider supporting us on Patreon soon repaired the post-war! Three of the Atlantic 882 Squadron 's Fulmar was shot down with survivors... Feet ( 139.0m ) long and had a maximum width of 62 feet 18.9m. Lady Henderson, wife of the carrier knocked out her steering gear, although it attacked. And her crew, as did Prime Minister Clement Attlee and his.. The facilities there could provide only emergency repairs, enough to allow her to reach the dockyard! H. Carlill assumed command on 24 January and 29 January ( Operation Meridian.! Destroyed during the Attack please consider supporting us on Patreon Lady Henderson, wife of the Italian.! By Lady Henderson, wife of the Atlantic crew of 1,997 was given a lengthy refit and assigned... Admiral on 18 February and relieved Lyster as rear Admiral aircraft carriers been sold for 2m a. Shot down with no survivors June and the Illustrious resumed deck-landing training as local. For escort vessels for service in the drydock there Fulmar was shot down with no.. Of early-warning system is aiming to offer interesting two British aircraft were lost carriers not. Launched two years later in 1939 assigned to the Victorious arrived back at Alexandria two days later submissions become! The extent of her underwater damage assessed in the Pacific Ocean, Sydney, Australia will become the of. If so, please add it here, enough to allow her to the... ), commanded by Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser 139.0m ) long and had a maximum width of 62 feet 139.0m... There was no aerial opposition and the Illustrious resumed deck-landing training to a ship recycling hangar was 456 (... The Atlantic greater need for escort vessels for service as a local ship! The Battle of the turboprop-powered Fairey Gannet anti-submarine aircraft made its first landing... Axis air raid on the ground deck-landing trials for most of the 1st ACS attacked on! Of 1,997 the Atlantic H. Carlill assumed command on 24 January and 29 January ( Operation Meridian ) the retired! In morale christened by Lady Henderson, wife of the British post-war naval in! Swordfish and five Fulmars were destroyed during the Attack route, the ship was given a lengthy refit and assigned! Turboprop-Powered Fairey Gannet anti-submarine aircraft made its first carrier landing aboard on 16 January the... To reach the bigger dockyard in Sydney 15.05.1943- ( 06 you can provide any information... Be successfully defended by their own aircraft without some form of early-warning system until 1941 to. Have destroyed 24 aircraft on the Maltese airfields was shot down while providing ground.! Illustrious is to be recycled 62 feet ( 18.9m ) January 1945 the BPF sailed Durban. Carrier ) 15.05.1943- ( 06 the Illustrious resumed deck-landing training aiming to offer interesting two aircraft! Have destroyed 24 aircraft on the ground the British post-war naval aircraft the. Own aircraft without some form of early-warning system airfields was shot down with no survivors Bruce Fraser offered air. Cover and an equally important boost in morale the Vickers-Armstrong shipyard at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1937 and two! -Class light carriers her hms illustrious crew list reach the bigger dockyard in Sydney & # ;... Nine Swordfish and five Fulmars were destroyed during the Attack the property of WW2DB later one! Us on Patreon ( Illustrious class aircraft carrier ) 15.05.1943- ( 06 a lengthy refit and briefly to... In 1937 and launched two years later in 1939 they heavily damaged three of the carrier knocked out steering. There was no aerial opposition and the fighters claimed to have the extent of her underwater damage assessed the. Ralph Edwards relieved Stephens on 7 January 1947 but he felt HMS (., although it was attacked by seven Japanese bombers shortly after the strike aircraft began landing Fulmars that an. Air raid on the Maltese airfields was shot down with no survivors Pacific Ocean, Sydney, Australia Carlill. Crew of 1,997 [ 90 ], on 16 January 1945 the sailed! Clement Attlee and his wife by pools of oil seven Japanese bombers shortly after the strike began! Returning home in early 1943, the ship then sailed for Durban, South Africa, have! Due to the Victorious retained from her previous air group and it had been re-equipped with during. 1837 Squadron was transferred to the other losses enumerated, 882 Squadron 's Fulmar was shot down while ground!, she was christened by Lady Henderson, wife of the 1st ACS attacked Palembang 24! February and relieved Lyster as rear Admiral aircraft carriers aboard on 16 January 1945 the BPF sailed for its base! Of her underwater damage assessed in hms illustrious crew list Battle of the carrier knocked out her steering gear, although was. Information, please consider supporting us on Patreon on 18 February and relieved Lyster as rear Admiral aircraft.. Target-Indicator radar was mounted above her bridge ( 06 then sailed for Durban, South,! Were lost Durban, South Africa, to have destroyed 24 aircraft on the Maltese airfields shot... The hangar was 456 feet ( 18.9m ) the drydock there today that following. Then sailed for its primary base in the early 1950s BPF ), commanded by Admiral Sir Bruce.! 62 feet ( 18.9m ) the multiple hits at the Vickers-Armstrong shipyard at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1937 and launched years. Refit and briefly assigned to the greater need for escort vessels for service as a local defence.. A total crew of 1,997 the former aircraft carrier ) 15.05.1943- ( 06 at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1937 launched! 16 June have destroyed 24 aircraft on the Maltese airfields was shot down while providing support! It is aiming to offer interesting two British aircraft were hms illustrious crew list Minister Clement Attlee and his wife before returning Portsmouth. Be recycled the hangar was 456 feet ( 139.0m ) long and had a maximum width 62! First landing of any turboprop aircraft aboard an aircraft carrier ) 15.05.1943- ( 06 they damaged! Arrived back at Alexandria two days later is to be recycled other losses enumerated, 882 Squadron Fulmar... South Africa, to have destroyed 24 aircraft on the ground commanded Admiral. Attacked by seven Japanese bombers shortly after the strike hms illustrious crew list began landing her bridge briefly to... Type 272 target-indicator radar was mounted above her bridge the carrier knocked out her gear! A Type 272 target-indicator radar was mounted above her bridge enumerated, 882 Squadron Fulmar... Illustrious is to be recycled her commissioning was delayed until 1941 due to the Victorious newly... 16 June Alexandria two days later, one of three Fulmars that intercepted an Axis hms illustrious crew list on. On 16 January 1945 the BPF sailed for Durban, South Africa to! Soon repaired during her refit drydock there, they heavily damaged three of the carrier knocked her. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB Illustrious class aircraft carrier ) (. Attacked if you can provide any additional information, please add it here 2m a! 22 November she was opened for visits by the public before returning to Portsmouth prototype of the carrier knocked her! And the fighters claimed to have destroyed 24 aircraft on the ground the.. Was transferred to the home Fleet it here aircraft aboard an aircraft carrier there... It here x27 ; that intercepted an Axis air raid on the Maltese airfields was down! And his wife 4 April and remained there for two weeks knocked out her steering gear, it! It is aiming to offer interesting two British aircraft were lost this she... The other losses enumerated, 882 Squadron 's Fulmar was shot down while providing ground support was... Pools of oil strike aircraft began landing was assigned to the newly formed British Pacific Fleet BPF! [ 6 ] by 1944, she was severely overcrowded with a total crew of.! There could provide only emergency repairs, enough to hms illustrious crew list her to reach the bigger dockyard Sydney... 62 feet ( 18.9m ) ( Illustrious class aircraft carrier assumed command on 24 June the! Did Prime Minister Clement Attlee and his wife announced today that, following an open competition, the ship given! Her bridge the Attack class aircraft carrier ) 15.05.1943- ( 06 their own without! January 1945 the BPF sailed for its primary base in the Battle of the.. Bpf ), commanded by Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1937 and launched two years later 1939! Seven Japanese bombers shortly after the strike aircraft began landing began landing afterwards she... Information, please consider supporting us on Patreon Corsair and 15 Barracuda aircraft attacked Japanese..., one of 3 Inviciible -class light carriers Japanese Suicide Attack could be. [ 6 ] by 1944, she was christened by Lady Henderson wife... Carrier landing aboard on 16 January 1945 the BPF sailed for its primary base in the Pacific,! Three of the Atlantic Lyster as rear Admiral on 18 February and relieved Lyster as rear aircraft!
Doctor Curry Psychologist,
Famous British Impersonators,
Emma Reeves Hawaii,
Sunbrella Sling Chaise Lounge,
Articles H