Aviation Historian 30
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P.Lavender - Reflections on a Tragedy
The Supermarine Attacker FB.2 was similar to the FB.1 but fitted with a more powerful Rolls-Royce Nene 102 engine and a modified cockpit canopy. This example, No 1831 Sqn’s WZ283, wearing the fin code “ST” for RNAS Stretton, is seen here at the RNAS Anthorn At Home Day on July 19, 1956 - despite a ban on photography!
Built at South Marston in the same batch of 30 Attacker FB.2s as WP281, the aircraft in which the author’s father was killed, WP289 taxies in with outer wing sections folded. The unit with which WP281 was on strength at the time of the accident, Stretton-based No 1831 Sqn, was the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve’s first jet squadron.
The identity of the Sea Prince involved in the accident on November 10, 1955, is not known, but this example, WF132, photographed at RAF Odiham the previous month, has RNAS Stretton’s “ST” code letters applied to the fin.