Aircraft Carriers in the Mersey

[viscount]

HMS ARK ROYAL, JUNE 1970

A couple of rather nice b&ws from George Jones to illustrate the June 1970 visit by HMS Ark Royal to Liverpool and the Mersey. Note the neat arrangement of a considerable number of aircraft on deck, with Buccaneers up front, Phantom FG.1s centre, then Sea Kings, with the Gannet AEW.3s across the stern.

My thanks to George Jones, who has permitted me to post these on his behalf.













These photographs are copyright George Jones, not for reproduction elsewhere.

[viscount]

HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, OCTOBER 2009

The HMS Illustrious visit in October 2009 for Fly Navy 100 had embarked a sample of the helicopters and aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm embarked specially for the visit. As outlined on the first sheet of this thread, the helicopters on board changed several times on the Friday, however for the public days, Sunday and Monday there were six aircraft and helicopters all out on the flight deck.







HMS Illustrious at the Cruise Liner Terminal, Pier Head.





ZD406/- Harrier GR.9 of the Naval Strike Wing, with Fly Navy special tail markings.



ZD627/WO Sea King Commando HC.4, 848 Sqdn.

ZH850/16 Merlin HM.1, 820 Sqdn



XZ246/434:EE Lynx HAS.3ICE, HMS Endurance Flt.



XZ692/642 Lynx HMA.8, 702 Sqdn.



Finally XZ612/-Lynx AH.7 of 847 Sqdn, Royal Marines.

On the Friday, the day of the 'Fly Navy 100' flypast, there were a number of helicopters visiting, or returning to HMS Illustrious. These are seen from the Pier Head.

[ronturner]

HMS EAGLE, FEBRUARY 1970

A photo of HMS Eagle, 27/2/1970

Save0001 (2) by Ron Turner, on Flickr

[ronturner]

HMS BULWARK, JULY 1971

Save0066 by Ron Turner, on Flickr

The name on the gang-plank gives this away as being the 1971 visit of HMS Bulwark.

[viscount]

HMS ARK ROYAL, 1970

A number of photographs taken on and of H.M.S. Ark Royal in the Mersey 1970. Probably the work of 'Photogenix', but are not named.

Look carefully, or you may think I've posted the same photograph twice!





Despite the lack of Phantoms on deck, the pennant number 'R09' confirms that this is HMS Ark Royal (compare with another image earlier on the thread). The text of visit description on page 1 of this thread clearly describes the Phantoms as being on deck for the arrival, so these shots must be as the carrier departs.

[viscount]

HMS ALBION, MAY 1970

Pennant number 'RO7' is just visible on the original, so makes this H.M.S. Albion at the Pier Head in May 1970, during which visit there were only two Wessex on deck.



Close-up of the badge of 845 Sqdn Fleet Air Arm as applied to a Wessex HU.5 on H.M.S. Albion, May 1970. At this time the Wessex HU.5 were overall dark green.

likely . HMS ALBION 1967



Close up of the badge of 848 Sqdn Fleet Air Arm, applied to a Wessex HU.5, probably noted during the visit of H.M.S.Albion in 1967 as the helicopter appears to be in two-tone sand and green camouflage. By the time 848 Sqdn next came to the Mersey on HMS Bulwark in 1971 the badge likely had a colour banner on either side.

[viscount]

George Jones PM's me with a reminder that it is not only aircraft carriers and assult ships that can carry multiple helicopters. Larger ships such as the RFA (Royal fleet Auxiliaries) also have helicopter platforms, as evidenced from this picture of 3 such vessels in Cammel Lairds, May 2012 as strategic reserve or under refit. Rarely thought, even when operational, that they appeared in British ports with aviation elements embarked, so lie outside the remit of this Nostalgia thread.

[viscount]

While digging through image files, found a few not previously used and also thought of including a couple of photographs discovered in old magazines.

HMS CENTAUR, FEBRUARY 1963

Shots taken from the Mersey ferry of HMS Centaur berthed at the original cruise liner and customs sheds in March 1963. Taken with a Brownie 127 with no focus, exposure or shutter controls, effectively a pin-hole camera with a lens. Results are not great, but are a 12 year old's record of the visit.

The source is a page of MAS 'Flypast' magazine and has been cropped out from 8 photos on the A5 page. Not great reproduction, but it is an image of a a Gannet XL498 and Sea Vixen XN650 as seen on the deck of HMC Centaur from the Wallasey ferry on 2nd February 1963. No photo credit provided.

HMS CENTAUR, AUGUST 1965

Supermarine Scimitar S.1 XD267/617 in the unit marks of 736 Sqdn in the pose of being ready for a catapult launch from the fore-deck of HMS Centaur with in the background a very black Royal Liver Buildings, as seen through the lens of Phil Butler's camera and the image copied from a MAS 'Flypast' photo-page.

BUMP UP

This long-running thread has been brought up to date and images, which had all been mutilated by the Photobucket watermark have been replaced (where possible) and a few extra added in. Some posts have been deleted, mostly those asking questions and subsequent answers to those questions, which have now been incorporated into the appropriate text.

First posted in October 2009 and in recent years became a 'zombie thread' with spoilt images and no updating, it how now been revitalised. The thread has been visited a little over 15,600 times (as at October 2021), making it one of the more popular Liverpool Nostalgia threads, so is well deserving a make-over.

Sit back and scroll through the information and images - material brought together from a number of sources and individuals, a record of Aircraft Carriers visiting the Port of Liverpool and the River Mersey that you will find nowhere else.

One final update is to include images of the visit by HMS Prince of Wales, which has also been added to the list of carrier visits on page 1 of this thread.

OTHER THREADS INVOLVING AVIATION AND THE RIVER MERSEY

See also threads on related subjects:

RAF & RN 'Town Shows' including Pier Head Recruiting Displays: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/8518

Mersey Waterfront Air Displays: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/11595

Visits by Aircraft Carriers: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/1790

Mersey Hot Air Balloon Events: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/8247

and there are also threads for the on-airfield Air Displays at Liverpool Airport 1933-1984: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/130

and the Southport Waterfront Air Shows (images still watermarked).

[gerrymanning]

With ref to the May 1967 visit of HMS Albion people may be interested to know that her commanding office was Captain Godfrey Place VC, the only serving VC in the Royal Navy at that time. He had won it in September 1943 commanding midget submarine X7 that placed a charge under the German battleship Tirpitz in a harbour in Norway putting it out of action for many months. He transfered to the Fleet Air Arm in 1950 and flew Sea Furys during the Korean War. He retired as a Rear Admiral in 1970 and died in 1994.

[viscount]

HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, October 2008

For the October 2008 visit of HMS Illustrious the public were only admitted onto the hangar deck via several passageways and temporary steps down to a partly raised lift with a Harrier on it, then to the hangar deck; leaving the carrier via another midships entrance back to the quayside.

The Sea Harrier had been retired in 2006, replaced by Joint Force Harrier GR.7 and later GR.9s. At the time of the Mersey visit in October 2009 HMS Illustrious had embarked a mix of Harrier GR.7As and two uprated Harrier GR.9s, most in the markings of No.1 Sqdn RAF, the one below deck having the tail motif of the Naval Strike Wing.

[viscount]

HMS PRINCE OF WALES VISIT IN MARCH 2020

These images recording the visit by HMS Prince of Wales to Liverpool in March 2020 all appear on a thread discussing the visit, recording arrival, activity and departure in detail. These are a selection of best and are the work of seven NWAN members who are all individually credited.


Photo Credit: "Digit"


Photo Credit: "Digit"
Merlin HC.2 ZJ122/F landed on HMS Prince of Wales as the carrier entered the River Mersey, then not noted again by anyone all weekend.


Photo credit: "Barfluer"


Photo credit: "Barfluer"


Photo credit: "G-PHIL"


Photo credit: "G-PHIL"


Photo credit "Robaero"


Photo credit: "Robaero"


Photo Credit: "Beemer"
EH-101 Merlin HM.4 ZH842 out on deck on the 2nd March.


Photo Credit: "Beemer"
AW Wildcat ZZ397 out on deck out on deck on 2nd March.


Photo Credit: "ian531"
The Chinook HC.5 ZH902 seen on departure, 3rd March, from the deck of HMS Prince of Wales.


Photo credit "Barfluer"
Lockheed F-35B Lightning II ZM149 on a single flypast over the carrier as it departed the Cruise Terminal facilities


Photo credit: "John Jones"


Phot credit. "John Jones"
A serene view of HMS Prince of Wales as it departs Liverpool.

[Beemer]

HMS Illustrious 18-10-2008

I visited HMS Illustrious but only got as far as below decks when all the action was on the flight deck. I took photos from inside and on the quayside before jumping on the ferry to get better views.
 

HMS Illustrious berthed by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

ZG508 Harrier GR9 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

ZD436 GR9A Harrier by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

ZD376 and ZD411 GR7s by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

ZG508 GR9 Harrier by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

Harrier below decks by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

HMS Illustrious by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

HMS Illustrious from ferry by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

Illustrious bow by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

Flightdeck by Beemer328i, on Flickr


ZG859 Harrier GR9 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

XV671 Sea King by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

XV649/80 Sea King by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

 

.

[Beemer]

HMS Illustrious Sunday 25-10-2009

I never got to go on the ship for some reason or other  so there was plenty of rotary action to keep me busy. There was a practice air/sea rescue involving Sea King coded "WG" and HMS Biter P270 Archer class patrol boat.
 
Seen onboard the ship were,

ZD627/WO Sea King by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

XZ612 Westland Lynx AH 7 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 
...and flying around the ship were,

ZH841 EH101 Merlin by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

XZ697 Westland Lynx HMA8SRU by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

XV707 Westland Sea King by Beemer328i, on Flickr


XV707 Westland Sea King ASaC7 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

XV648/818 Westland Sea King HU 5 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

HMS Biter P270 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

HMS Biter P270 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

ZH841 EH101 Merlin by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

ZH841 Merlin by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 
I and my camera were getting covered in spray.
 

Rescue by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

 

 

[Beemer]

H.M.S. ARK ROYAL, CRUISE TERMINAL, 16th January 2009

After avoiding the Mersey for so many years, fleet flag-ship HMS Ark Royal was back again after only 7 months, 15th to 19 January 2009. However with the aviation units disembarked, there was only token aviation interest.
 

HMS Ark Royal berthed 16-01-2009 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

HMS Ark Royal Ski-jump by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

XV697/181 Westland Sea King ASaC7 16-01-2009 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

XV697/181 Westland Sea King ASaC7 16-01-2009 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

ZH831 EH-101 Merlin HM1 16-01-2009 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

Merlin in front of the Liver Building 16-01-2009- by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

HMS Ark Royal plaque 16-01-2009 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

HMS Ark Royal Bell 16-01-2009 by Beemer328i, on Flickr
 

 

[ian531]

Hi,

My log for Ark Royal on 7th June 2008

XZ732 Westland Lynx HMA8
ZD254 Westland Lynx HMA8
XZ240 Westland Lynx HAS3S
ZD258 Westland Lynx HMA8
ZF562 Westland Lynx HMA8
XZ722 Westland Lynx HMA8
ZF557 Westland Lynx HMA8
ZA130 Westland Sea King


Ian