Themes

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• Chance-Vought Corsair

• Fairey Firefly

• De Havilland Sea Mosquito

• Supermarine Seafire

Supermarine Seafire

Descended from the famous RAF Spitfire, the early aircraft which served in the Second World War had Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engines and a tail hook for catching the arrester gear on the carriers deck. The aircraft served with distinction during Second World War in the fighter and fighter reconnaissance roles. The Rolls-Royce Griffon engine which could attain a speed in excess of 400 knots powered the later types. Armed with 4X20mm cannon in the wings and provision for a 500lb bomb on the centre line and smaller bombs and rockets under the wings, made for a potent aircraft.

It was a squadron of Seafires from HMS Indefatigable that fought the last dogfight in the Second World War shooting down over 8 Japanese Zeke (Zero) fighters on 15 August 1945. The FR47 was the last model of Seafire, a far cry from the original Spitfire. Seafire 47s saw action onboard HMS Triumph in 1949 against communist guerillas in Malaya and in the Korean War throughout the early 1950s. They were replaced in service by Hawker Sea Furies and the jet propelled Supermarine Attackers. After 13 years of valuable service in November 1954 the last Fleet Air Arm squadron 764, gave up its last aircraft at RNAS Yeovilton.