With the rear fuselage, port wing and the engine ripped away, the remaining hulk of the Fury hangs precariously over the side of the carrier. The pilot is still in the cockpit, but not for long!

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

The five photographs form a sequence illustrating the sudden end of Sea Fury WE716 while landing on HMS Indomitable. The Fury is landing on the extreme port side of the deck, top, and the rear fuselage has already sheared off as a result of too heavy a side load on the arrester hook. The tail came to rest on the deck. The uncontrollable Fury slides on its nose along the deck, thereby losing its propeller and hitting the steel triangular construction of the barrier.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

The skidding aircraft then hits the anti-aircraft guns, and at the same moment the port wing catches fire.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

With the ships tannoy screaming, “Jump on the deck! Jump on the deck!”, the pilot scrambles out of the cockpit and jumps clear. The burning wreckage was heaved over the side in double-quick time by the carrier's firefighters. Shortly afterwards, following a medical checkup, the pilot was airborne again, though later the same day he was found to have damaged a muscle in his neck.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

The kind of deck incident seen here was only too common. The main problem was for the pilot to evacuate the aircraft without harming himself. With the aid of ropes and helping hands, this pilot reached the deck safely - on HMS Indomitable, September 1951.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

The engine has broken away and is heading for the sea. The cockpit canopy has come away and already the pilot is preparing to release himself.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

This D.H.103 Hornet hit the round-down while landing on HMS Illustrious, cracking the wooden fuselage with the result that the tailplane broke off. Even so, the wing folding mechanism functioned normally!

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Hornet / Sea Hornet / D.H.103 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944