A Westland-built Seafire F.XV, coded 169, catches fire following a landing on HMS Illustrious. The pilot escaped.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Seafire - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

A Seafire F.XVII pictured following a minor mishap on HMS Illustrious. The aircraft is coded CN and is probably from Eglinton (HMS Gannet) which was used by first-line squadrons for working-up. The Seafire XVII first entered FAA service in September 1945 and was produced in fighter (F) and fighter-reconnaissance (FR) versions. A total of 232 was delivered and the mark remained in service until the mid-Fifties.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Seafire - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

A dramatic shot of Hawker Fury FB.11 VR941 taken after it overturned while landing on HMS Illustrious and caught fire. Miraculously, the pilot escaped. The Sea Fury entered FAA service in August 1947, with 807 Squadron. A total of 615 FB.11s was built and the mark first entered service with the FAA in May 1948, again with 807 Sqn. Powered by the 2,480 h.p. Bristol Centaurus 18, the Sea Fury was phased out of service from 1953.
Hawker Sea Fury VR941 ablaze on HMS Illustrious in 1949. One firesuitman is already in the flames under the inverted aircraft, helping the pilot. His colleague is about to assist. Amazingly the pilot was rescued, albeit with some burns but otherwise all right. Both firesuitmen were subsequently awarded a King’s Commendation for their part in the rescue.

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

This Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 broke in half behind the pilot’s cockpit, leaving the pilot unharmed.

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

Supermarine Sea Otter I JN199 landing on HMS Illustrious. Superseding the Walrus, the tractor-engined Otter entered FAA service first with 1700 Sqn. Powered by an 855 h.p. Bristol Mercury XXX radial engine, the Otter was used for air-sea rescue and communications work, both shore-based and operating from carriers until the early Fifties, when helicopters took over the air-sea rescue role.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Sea Otter - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1938

Another view of Sea Otter I JN199.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Sea Otter - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1938

A Fairey Barracuda,probably a Mark III, flies alongside HMS Illustrious, identified by the code letter D at both ends of the vessel.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Barracuda - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1940