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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 0390.PDF
A Sea Venom is launched from "Eagle's" port catapult during the operation. Operation "Musketeer" A Carrier Force in Action: the Fleet Air Arm's Part in the Suez Operations VIEWED as a "local war" exercise in the operation ofcarrier-based aircraft against ground targets, the Suezcampaign gave an effective demonstration of a carrier group's mobility and strength. Over 1,600 sorties were flownby the Sea Hawks, Sea Venoms, Skyraiders and Wyverns of Eagle, Albion and Bulwark, in addition to the helicopter troop-carrying and casualty-evacuation operations from Ocean and Theseus. For the Franco-British Carrier Group, commanded by Vice-Admiral Power, there was a three-fold task: to neutralize the Egyptian Air Force; to destroy other important ground targets;and to support the troop assault on Port Said and Port Fouad. These three phases occupied six days' flying. Airfields attacked included Cairo West, Cairo Almaza, Inchas,Dekheila, Bilbeis and Gamil. On the second and third days the major effort was switched to other targets, which included Gamilbridge—a "tough nut" finally destroyed in dive bombing by Sea Hawks—and tank concentrations. During this period a Wyvernpilot from Eagle was forced to ditch his aircraft in the sea only two miles from Port Said (and 70 miles from the ship), but wasrescued by the ship's helicopter. Following the parachute drop of troops on the fifth day andthe seaborne invasion on the sixth, close air-support for the ground troops was the carrier aircraft's task. This was mainlyeffected by "Cabrank" patrols over Port Said and Port Fouad, from which aircraft were called down to attack specific targetson the R/T instructions of Army air-control teams who had landed with the first parachute drop. In addition, regular com-bat air patrols were flown as a defensive precaution. Another example of rescue by helicopter occurred when a Sea Hawk wasshot down by anti-aircraft fire during an attack on El Quantara. The pilot ejected, landed on the east side of the Canal and wasguarded by C.A.P. aircraft (which dissuaded two vehicles from approaching) until Eagle's helicopter arrived with fighter escort. Following the parachute operations and that day's air activity,Admiral Power received from the Army commander ashore the following message: "To all supporting aircraft. Many thanksfor your magnificent support to us this day which thrilled all ranks. Its timely effectiveness and accuracy were beyond praiseand doubtless saved many casualties. . ." The effectiveness of the carrier-borne attack (Flight learns frominterviews with those who directed and who took part in the operation) was due essentially to a combination of three factors.These were the short range from ship to target (giving a long time over target), the quick aircraft turn-rounds, and the fact that,with three carriers flying a staggered operating cycle, it was possible to apply a continuous pressure—as opposed to theperiodic peak efforts of the long-range R.A.F. aircraft. Conditions were eased, clearly, with the absence of enemy air and submarineattack. (An extra, incidental ability displayed by aircraft from Eagle was to supply water, medical supplies and a thousand cansof beer to the parachute troops at Gamil airfield.) Meanwhile, Ocean and Theseus, under the command of Rear-Admiral G. B. Sayer (normally Flag Officer Training Squadron, acting on this occasion as Flag Officer Helicopter Group),were operating as helicopter assault carriers. They carried the eight Whirlwind HAS 22s and two Whirlwind HAR 3s of 845squadron, R.N.; and six Whirlwind HAR 2s and six Sycamore 14s of the Joint Helicopter Unit from R.A.F. Middle Wallop. As is well known, these machines were used to land troops ofNo. 45 R.M. Commando, together with stores, at Port Said on November 6. Other work carried out by the helicopters includedcasualty evacuation and many other tasks. Gamil bridge under attack: a miss which damaged the nearby radar station. The bridge was subsequently destroyed.
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