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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0574.PDF
574 FLIGHT A Coming-of-Age—with Gannets ON April 26th No. 824 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, based atH.M.S. Gannet—R.N. Air Station Eglinton, in NorthernIreland—celebrated its 21st birthday; and to mark the occasion the squadron demonstrated its new Gannet A.S.ls. No.824 is not the first operational squadron to receive these aircraft, there being another Gannet squadron, No. 820, at Eglinton andNo. 826 at Lee-on-Solent. The type is now in full service and proving popular with the crews. Within a wing span of 54ft anda length of 43ft a great quantity of electronic equipment, arma- ment, fuel and engine has been disposed to produce an anti-sub-marine weapon of extraordinary potency. And the emphasis is very much on equipment rather than flying. The crews call itan observer's aircraft, and say that it is completely straightforward and easy to fly. In welcoming the visitors to Eglinton, H.M.S. Gannet's com-mander, Capt. T. W. B. Shaw, D.S.C., R.N., said that the Gannet was part of an integrated force of air /sea weapons directed againstthe submarine, and that it marked a great advance in equipment. It had endurance, manoeuvrability and a hitting power so far un-equalled in such aircraft. When later we had an opportunity to see the aircraft and watch them flying it became clear what animmense task the development and preparation for squadron service must have been. They are extraordinarily well-packedweapons systems. The squadron, which is commanded by Lt-Cdr. J. D. Honywill,R.N., celebrated its 21st birthday with a big party at which a 25-lb cake, surmounted by an excellent model of the Gannet,was cut by the youngest rating in the unit. No. 824 was formed before he was born. As is the case with many F.A.A. squadrons,the unit has been disbanded and reformed many times during its life; it first took shape in the amalgamation of two flights ofFairey III F spotter/reconnaissance aircraft in H.M.S. Eagle on the China Station in 1934. A year later it was re-equipped withFairey Seals and straightway won a trophy for proficiency in high-level bombing; the award, a fine model of a Fairey Seal, isstill in the squadron's possession. While detached to North Africa from Eagle during World War 2, all the pilots of a flight of threeSwordfish were decorated for their action in destroying a sub- marine, a depot ship and a destroyer with two torpedoes, and asecond submarine a few days later. The squadron also took part in the attack on Taranto. At the end of the war it was equippedwith Barracudas and Fireflies. Since the war the squadron has had Fireflies and Avengers andhas taken pan in many of the major exercises in both Home and Mediterranean waters. The first Gannetarrived on February 5th this year and was shortly followed by the remaining seven.All but two of the ten pilots made their first flight in the Gannet without first con-verting on the Gannet T.2, of which there are four at Eglinton. On the morning of the birthday celebra-tion the eight Gannets were lined up for inspection, with wings folded, and crestedand numbered wheel-chocks in place. Soon the pilots climbed in and started up for ashort workout on the ground. Getting in- to the Gannet is a most impressive pro-cedure. Entry is from the starboard side, first up a short retractable ladder whichfolds out from the under-fuselage, thence up a series of recessed footholds to thefront two cockpits, and over the wing and along further steps to the rear (tele-graphist's) cockpit. The pilot's canopy can be opened from the ground by working ahydraulic hand-pump in the ladder-bay. The starting procedure is complicated;it requires the firing of two Venom-type cartridges at the correct interval and themanipulation of engine controls in proper sequence, after which the second engineis started by windmilling from the first. There is a slight danger that the un-initiated might see a Gannet with one Gannets in formation caught by the camera as they overtook a Naval Anson I close on the port side. Starboard engines' airscrews are feathered. One of the aircraft in the lower Section is a Gannet T.2.
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