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Supermarine Seafire F. 47
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Supermarine Seafire F. 47
Supermarine Seafire F.47 (PS948) taking off from HMS Illustrious, May 1947
The Royal Air Force Museum is Britain's only national museum dedicated wholly to aviation
Media ID 1275319
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In this evocative black-and-white photograph, the Supermarine Seafire F.47 (PS948) roars down the flight deck of HMS Illustrious, ready to take off and soar into the sky. The image, captured by renowned Royal Air Force (RAF) photographer Charles E. Brown in May 1947, offers a glimpse into the postwar era of the British Royal Navy's (RN) Fleet Air Arm. The Supermarine Seafire F.47 was a carrier-borne variant of the iconic Seafire fighter, which had first seen combat during World War II. With its powerful Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, the Seafire F.47 was capable of reaching impressive speeds and boasted improved performance over its predecessors. HMS Illustrious, a veteran of several major naval battles during World War II, was the flagship of the British Mediterranean Fleet in the late 1940s. The aircraft carrier's flight deck, with its distinctive angled deck and arrestor cables, provides a stark contrast to the calm waters of the Mediterranean Sea in the background. As the Seafire F.47 accelerates towards the end of the flight deck, the crew on the ground, clad in their distinctive blue overalls and helmets, stand at the ready to assist in the event of an emergency. The tension and excitement of the moment are palpable as the pilot, focused intently on the runway ahead, prepares to lift off and join the formation of RN aircraft overhead. This photograph is a testament to the courage and skill of the pilots and ground crew who served in the Fleet Air Arm during the postwar era. It also highlights the important role that aircraft carriers played in maintaining the RN's presence on the world stage and projecting British power during a time of transition and rebuilding.
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