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Supermarine Seafire F. 15
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Supermarine Seafire F. 15
Supermarine Seafire F.15 (SR572) of 1832 Squadron, piloted by Lt Cdr Js Bailey making his 2000th deck landing, HMS Illustrious 24 May 1950
The Royal Air Force Museum is Britain's only national museum dedicated wholly to aviation
Media ID 1881461
© Charles Brown Collection, Royal Air Force Museum
Aircraft Carriers Fleet Air Arm Postwar Royal Navy
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In this evocative black-and-white photograph, we witness a pivotal moment in the history of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm as Lt Cdr Js Bailey accomplishes his 2000th arrested landing aboard HMS Illustrious on the 24th of May, 1950. The Supermarine Seafire F.15 (SR572), with its distinctive curved wing design and powerful propeller, sits proudly on the carrier's deck, a testament to the skill and expertise of both the pilot and the ground crew. The post-war era of the Royal Navy's aviation branch saw a significant expansion and modernization of their fleet, with the introduction of new aircraft carriers and advanced aircraft such as the Seafire. The Seafire F.15 was a development of the legendary Seafang, specifically designed for carrier-based operations and equipped with improved armament and avionics. Lt Cdr Bailey, a seasoned pilot with the 1832 Squadron, had earned his place in the annals of the Fleet Air Arm's history with this remarkable achievement. Arrested landings, or "trapping," as they are commonly known, require a high degree of precision and skill from both the pilot and the deck crew. The pilot must approach the carrier at just the right angle and speed, while the crew on the deck must time the application of the arrestor hook perfectly to prevent the aircraft from overshooting or bouncing back into the sea. This photograph, taken by the renowned Royal Air Force Museum photographer Charles E Brown, captures the essence of this complex and vital aspect of naval aviation. The determination and focus of Lt Cdr Bailey, the precision of the ground crew, and the power and grace of the Seafire F.15 combine to create a moment of triumph and accomplishment that would have been repeated countless times in the following decades as the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm continued to protect and defend the United Kingdom's interests at sea.
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