RN Aircraft Carriers: Audacious / Eagle Class 1951

[Brian James]

HMS Ark Royal pictured at Malta and departing for the final time in 1978.

[Pelican]

HMS Ark Royal (R09) passes the decommissioned HMS Eagle (R05) at Devonport, 5 April 1978

[jbryce1437]

HMS Ark Royal (R09) passes the decommissioned HMS Eagle (R05) at Devonport, 5 April 1978

Eagle was being kept as a spare gear store for the Ark

Jim

[Pelican]

HMS Ark Royal during Arctic trials in the Davis Straight, February, 1961

[Brian James]

HMS Eagle pictured in 1956.

[Brian James]

HMS Ark Royal pictured from the Royal Yacht with HMS Eagle during the 1957 Fleet Review off Lossiemouth.

[Brian James]

Audacious Class Carrier HMS Ark Royal pictured at Liverpool on Merseyside in 1970.

[Pelican]

TIGHT SQUEEZE

HMS Eagle (R05) at HM Dockyard Devonport on October 21, 1970. The giant carrier is passing through the narrow entrance to No. 5 Basin.
Having just completed a routine yard maintenance period and workup, Eagle had run aground off Drake's Island while returning to Devonport. Here she's heading into drydock to replace a propeller and some hull plating.
HMS Centaur (R06) is laid up in the Tamar beyond.


HMS Eagle (R05) entering Boston Harbor.

Most probably in July 1969 which seems to be her only visit post-modernization.
To the right is the Abnaki class Fleet Ocean Tug USS Luiseno (ATF-156).
The Essex class carrier in the background is USS Randolph (CVA-15) recently decommissioned and in front of Randolph is the Brooke class Destroyer Escort USS Taylor.
Squadrons on board Eagle are 800 (Buccaneer), 826 (Wessex), 849D (Gannet AEW), and 899 (Sea Vixen).


Royal Navy aircraft carriers HMS Eagle (R05), HMS Bulwark (R08), and HMS Albion (R07) operating off Malta in October 1956.

The following month, these carriers along with HMS Theseus and HMS Ocean would take part in Operation Musketeer, otherwise known as the Suez Crisis

[Pelican]

Crowded flight deck on Ark Royal

[Brian James]

A crossdecking Douglas A4G Skyhawk from HMAS Melbourne pictured on HMS Eagle in 1971....History...Delivered to RAN 11/67.
Unloaded from HMAS Melbourne onto Navy barge in Jervis Bay 23/11/67 then by road to Nowra.
With VF805 01/06/68.
With VF805 02/12/68.
Landed on HMS Hermes November 4 1968 off the NSW coast.
With VF805 29/10/69.
With VF805 01/06/72.
With VF805 08/06/73.
With VF805 13/05/74.
With VF805 18/06/74.
On 23/05/79, Crashed over side of Melbourne after arrestor wire broke/parted during landing 90Km east of Jervis Bay, NSW.
LCDR K. Finan, USN, ejected and rescued unhurt by the SAR Wessex & returned onboard HMAS Melbourne.
RAN Ejection number 9.