Aircraft 1942-6:

This list is of aircraft that are known to have been on Squadron charge at some time, It is taken mainly from Ray Sturtivants Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939-1945, the list is not necessarily complete.  Aircraft Damage Categories simplified from various categories in use 1942-6:

X - repairable by local resources. Y - requiring repair elsewhere.

Z - lost, destroyed or not worth repair, to be struck off charge.

Grumman F4F-4B Martlet IV

(name changed to Wildcat Jan 1944 to conform with USN nomenclature):

FNl28 -    engine fire, forced landing in Canada Cat Z 21 Aug 1942, aircraft probably on loan from                      pool (Lt DA Van Epps).

FN198 -   7 Oct  1942; to ARS Hatston 15 Mar 1943. 

FN227 -   7 Oct  1942-Jan 1943.

FN228 -   7 Oct  1942; to ARS Hatston 15 Mar 1943. 

FN229 -   7 Oct  1942; to ARS Hatston 15 Mar 1943.

FN230 -   7 Oct  1942; to ARS Hatston 15 Mar 1943. 

FN249 -    Feb 1943; to ARS Hatston 17 Mar 1943. 

FN298 -    3 Dec 1942; to ARS Hatston 15 Mar 1943.

Supennarine Seafire lb (conversion from Spitfire F.Vb)

Squadron re-equipped with Seafires from 15 Mar 1943 at RNAS Hatston:

X4172 -     Machrihanish Apr 1943.

MB357 -    Feb- Apr 1943.

MB358 -    Feb 1943; to 801 Squadron Apr 1943.

Supermarine Seafire llc:

MA972 - Aug-Oct 1943; returning from Salemo tail damaged HMS Unicom, repaired onboard

               12 Sep 1943 (Lt HH Popham).

MB115 - Sep-Oct 1943.

MBI 87 - Fighter direction ex crashed in sea off Rora Head Orkney  Cat Z, 27 Jul 1943

               (Sub Lt RWD Forbes killed).

MB204 - (P) Sep 1943; hit barrier HMS Illustrious 13 Oct 1943 (Sub Lt PTW Weston).

MB206 - fuselage wrinkled on landing Cat Y 21 Aug 1943 (Sub Lt PTW Weston).

MB208 - Mar 1943; taxied into steamroller on peri-track Cat X 22 Jul 1943 (Lt HT Palmer).

MB209 - Mar 1943; port tyre burst on landing, swung, and onto nose, Machrihanish Cat X

               16 Jun 1943 (Sub Lt NH Lester). 

MB212 - Aug 1943; hit barrier HMS Illustrious Cat X 4 Aug 1943 (Lt HT Palmer).

MB215 - Mar-Jul 1943; to 886 Sqdn.

MB217 - Jun 1943; hit barrier HMS Illustrious 15 Oct 1943 (Sub Lt E Kirkham).

MB238 - May 1943 Hatston.

MB257 - Mar-Jul 1943; landed on port wheel HMS Illustrious Cat Y, 8 Jun 1943 (Sub Lt E Kirkham).

MB258 - Mar-Jul 1943; caught Swordfish trailing aerial, damaged 13 Jun 1943 (Sub Lt ABB Clark).

MB264 - Jul-Nov 1943; ashore at Paestum.

MB269 - Apr 1943; heavy landing HMS Illustrious broke aircraft back, Cat Y, 19 Aug 1943

                (Sub Lt ABB Clark).

MB277 - May 1943; taxied into soft earth, nosed over Machrihanish Cat X 8 Jun 1943

                (Sub Lt PJM Canter); to 899 Sqdn Jul 1943.

MB294 - Mar-Oct 1943; tail broke on heavy landing HMS Illustrious Cat X 1 0 Sep 1943

               (Lt HT Palmer).

MB303 - Mar 1943; port u/c began to collapse after heavy landings HMS Illustrious Cat X

                28 Jun 1943 (Sub Lt PTW Weston); struck round down Cat X -q,-Sep 1943

                (Lt WJ Pooley).

MB306 - 15 Jun 1943; to 880 Sqdn 13 Aug 1943.

MB310 - 15 Jun 1943; written off by 3 Aug 1943.

MB316 - 15 Jun 1943

MB318 - 15 Jun 1943; to 885 Sqdn by Aug 1943.

MB321 - 15 Jun 1943; to 807 Sqdn by Jul 1943.

MB325 - 15 Jun-Aug 1943.

Supermarine Seafire LIIc:

LR655 - (P) from Hatston Aug 1943; to 899 Sqdn Nov 1943.

LR659 - (X) Sep 1943; ashore at Paestum, 13 sorties.

LR665 - (P) from 15 MU Jun 1943; returning from Salemo, hit round-down broke back HMS Unicorn                       Cat Z 12 Sep 1943 (Sub Lt E Kirkham); to HMS Battler for repair Sep 1943.

LR682 - from 15MU Jun 1943; bounced into barrier HMS Illustrious Cat Y 23 Jul 1943

               (Sub Lt NH Lester); to Hatston Oct 1943.

LR685 - from 15MU Jun 1943; slow and heavy landing HMS,'Illustrious Cat X 6 Jul 1943

               (Lt Cdr FRA Turnbull)  to Henstridge Oct 1943.

Supermarine Seafire F-III (Squadron re-equipped from 27 Nov 1943 at RNAS Henstridge):

LR767 - by Mar 1944, collided w LR865 during formation aeros 16 Mar 1944, Cat X

              (Sub Lt IHS Morgan); engine fire on take off, undercarriage collapsed 24 Apr 1944

              (Sub Lt PA Meakin);

LR769 - (IA) Nov 1943-May 1944.

LR786 - (1 X) Nov 1943, swung over side landing HMS Implacable, Cat Z 28 Oct 1944

               (PO E Barrow killed).

LR783 - (H) Jan-Apr 1944; Jul 1944-Oct 1944; floated over wires into barrier HMS Indefatigable,                      Cat Z 18 Oct 1944 (Sub Lt JD Pywell).

LR784 - (I B) Nov 1943-May 1944.

LR785 - (IC) Nov 1943; Op Offspring, flak damage Cat X 10 Aug 1944 (Lt Cdr C Walker);

               fuselage buckled in heavy landing Cat Y 18 Sep 1944 (Lt Cdr C Walker).

LR788  under carriage selector lever jammed, wheels up landing Henstridge 2 Jan 1944

              (Sub Lt PTW Weston); under carriage selector u/s, port under carriage u/s, damaged prop 30                 Oct 1944  (Sub Lt IHS Morgan). 

LR789 - Jan-Mar 1944; wheels up landing Henstridge Cat X 2 Jan 1944 (Sub Lt PTW Weston).

LR790 - Nov 1943; flak damage Cat Y 10 Aug 1944 (Sub Lt ABB Clark); to ARS Hatston

              11Aug 1944.

LR794 - Mar-Apr 1944; to 889 Squadron.

LR798 - (IL) Dec 1943-Jun 1944.

LR799 - (I K) Feb-Oct 1944.

LR803 - (R) Nov 1943-Jan 1944; to 885 Sqdn.

LRB06 - May-Jun 1.945.

LR815 - (I M) Mar 1944; port oleo collapsed in heavy landing HMS Indefatigable

               29 Aug 1944 (Lt HT Pahner).

LR816 - (I P) Jan 1944; head on collision with NN334 taxying  2 Feb 1944 (Lt WJ Pooley);

               Operation  Goodwood, shot down 2 enemy Bv.1 38 in flames off North Cape, shared with                    LR859 22 Aug 1944 (Lt HT Palmer).

LR817 - Oleo leg broke, damaged port wing in heavy landing Cat X 2 Feb 1944 (SU PD Gardner).

LR840 - Mar 1943.

LR843 - (1P) taxied into by following aircraft Cat Z 12 May 1944  (887 Sqdn pilot).

LR844 - (I G) Feb 1944; stalled on high approach Cat X 17 Mar 1944; caught No. 7 wire, tail                             slammed and broke aircraft back.  3 Aug 1944, both HMS Indefatigable.  Cat Z  

                (both Sub Lt IHS Morgan). 

LR847 - May 1944; landed to starboard, wing hit NN248 parked on outrigger HMS Implacable

               28 Oct 1944 (Sub Lt RH Reynolds). 

LR852 - (I R) Mar 1944; caught No3 wire, port oleo collapsed and wing damaged

               HMS ndefatigable 31 Jul 1944 (Sub Lt WG Gibson).

LR855 - (K) Feb 1944.

LR856 - Feb 1944.

LR859 - (1G) Operation  Goodwood, shot down 2 enemy Bv.138 in flames off North Cape, Norway                   shared with LR816 22 Aug 1944 (Sub Lt RH Reynolds).

LR862 - Apr 1944; hit by flak in attack on Vanes airfield, glided down and crashed at Ploermel,                         25m NE Luden*, France Cat Z 9 May 1944 (Lt PA Meakin POW).

LR863 - (1T) Mar 1944; Op Goodwood, hit water near Banak then forced landing on beach in                            flames Cat Z 22 Aug 1944 (Sub Lt I Sergeant 887 Sqdn POW).

LR865 - (1D) Mar-Oct 1944; collided with LR767 during formation aeros Cat X 16 Mar 1944

               (Lt WJ Pooley).

LR869 - (IA) Jun-Aug 1944; to 880 Sqdn Aug 1944.

LR870 - Feb 1944; mid-air collision at Ballyherbert, crashed on farm near Bangor High Road,                           Donaghadee Cat Z 9 Mar 1944 (Lt HT Palmer); to Shorts Belfast 13 Mar 1944.

LR871 - (lV) 1944.

LR872 - (1W) port oleo collapsed on heavy landing HMS Indefatigable Cat X 15 Aug 1944 (887                       sqdn pilot); crashed Netley Brook near Wellington Shropshire after possible collision with                    unknown aircraft Cat Z 20 Nov 1944 (Sub Lt J Brooke 887 Sqdn killed).

LR874 - Oct 1944; to 887 Sqdn.

LRB75 - (-IC) Mar 1944; to 899 Sqdn Jun 1944.  LR878 - Jun 1944; to 899 Sqdn.

NM915 - Jul 1943; Op Avalanche, shot down USAAF Mustang over Paestum 12 Aug 1943 (not 894                  Sqdn pilot); unable to raise u/c 13 Sep 1943 (Sub Lt NH Lester).

NN206 - tail hit round-down bounced over barrier and hit NN207 HMS Indefatigable

               15 Aug 1944 (Sub Lt GS Thompson)

NN207 - taxied forward of barrier and stationary, NN206 bounced over barrier and into deck park                     HMS Indefatigable Cat Z 15 Aug 1944 (Sub Lt JW Saunders killed).

NN239 - Dec 1944-Jan 1945.

NN241 - Oct 1944; to 801 Sqdn Dec 1944.  NN242 - Aug-Sep 1944.

NN245 - Aug-Sep 1944

NN248 - 14 Aug 1944; port oleo collapsed on landing HMS indefatigable, parked on outrigger then                   hit by wing of LR847 landing.  Cat X 28 Oct 1944 (Lt Cdr J Crossman).

NN250 - Aug 1944; to 887 Sqdn Aug 1944.

NN334 - Henstridge Nov 1943: wingtip struck MT vehicle Henstridge 19 Dec 1943

               (Sub Lt PA Mealdn); head on collision w LR816 taxying Burscugh Cat X 2 Feb 1944

               (Sub Lt IHS Morgan); to 887 Sqdn Nov 1944.

Supermarine Seafire L.III (Sqdn re-equipped from Nov 1944 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent):

NF449 - Dec 1944; bounced into barrier HMS Indefatigable 20 May 1945 (Sub Lt JC Taylor).

NF495 - hit top of No.l barrier with under carriage HMS indefatigable Cat Z 4 Dec 1944

               (Sub Lt DD Leighton).

NF516 - Dec 1944; broke starboard oleo and prop landing Cat LQ 7 Mar 1945 (SLt IHS Morgan);                    Operation Iceberg, emergency landing, HMS Victorious, landed between No's 3 & 4 wires                  floated and through two barriers Cat Z 1 Apr 1945 (Sub Lt NT Quigley Dol).

NF521 - Katukurunda Dec 1944; (1 301S) Operation  Iceberg, A6M Kamikaze shot down shared

               with 141/S 4 May 1945 (Sub Lt RC Kay).

NF602 - Katukurunda Dec 1944; Operation  Meridian, under carriage failed pilot baled out Cat Z 24                Jan 1945 (Sub Lt WG Gibson, rescued OK by HMS Whirlwind).

NF642 - Feb 1945; collided w NN155 in formation Cat X 10 Feb 1945 (Sub Lt BK Swart); bounced,                                    hit  island and No3 barrier and disintegrated HMS Indefatigable Cat Z 29

                                 Jul 1945 (Sub Lt SFA Gambles OK).

NF660 - Dec 1944; port oleo collapsed on landing HMS Indefatigable Cat X 1 Apr 1945 (Sub Lt JD                      Alexander 887 Sqdn); stalled onto round-down HMS Indefatigable 20 May 1945

                   (Sub Lt GW  Draper).

NN137 - Lee-on-Solent Nov 1944; drifted landing hit barrier stanchion HMS Indefatigable Cat Z 1 0                   Apr 1945 (Sub Lt SFA Gambles).

NN143 - Lee-on-Solent Nov 1944; to Pityilu Mar 1945.

NN145 - Lee-on-Solent Nov 1944; pecked HMS Indefatigable 3 Dec 1944 (Sub Lt MJH Davey);                            collided with another air craft, pilot baled out Cat Z 4 Dec 1944 (Sub Lt PG Adams OK). 

NN 146 - Lee-on-Solent Nov 1944; Operation  Meridian, collided with NN400 and into sea.  Cat Z                      27 Mar 1941. (Sub Lt AG Cooper killed).

NN154 - Lee-on-Solent Nov 1944; wires missing and onto nose HMS Indefatigable Cat X

               21 Nov 1944 (Sub Lt BK Swart). 

NN155 - Lee-on-Solent Nov 1944; collided w another aircraft in formation, into sea disembarking to                  Schofields Cat Z 1 0 Feb 1945 (Lt GD Agard-Buber killed).

NN176 - into barrier HMS Indefatigable Cat Y 15 Mar 1945 (Sub Lt  HS Morgan).

NN177 - Lee-on-Solent Nov 1944; caught wire, buckled fuselage HMS Indefatigable Cat Y 6

               Jan 1945 (Sub Lt RH Reynolds). 

NN183 - landed heavily, burst tyre, tipped propeller  HMS Indefatigable Cat X 3 Mar 1945

               (Sub Lt NT Quigley); asked for emergency landing immediately after launch, could not be                         accepted, engine cut, ditched HMS Indefatigable near Sydney Cat Z 5 Jun 1945

               (Sub Lt JC Taylor killed).

NN186 - burst tyre on landing, slid onto wing tip HMS Indefatigable I 1 Feb 1945 (Lt DN Duncan).

NN195 - May 1945; ship pitching, buckled port oleo HMS Indefatigable 30 Jul 1945

               (Lt GW Hartland 887 Sqdn).  NN261 - May-Oct 1945.

NN262 - Katukurunda Jan 1945; bounced on nose, undercarriage collapsed HMS Indefatigable

               Cat Z, jettisoned 26 Mar 1945 (Sub Lt IHS Morgan).

NN283 - ran out of fuel, pilot baled out Cat Z 4 May 1945 (Sub Lt MJH Davey OK, rescued by                                 destroyer HMS Quality).

NN284 - Katukurunda Jan 1945 (153/S); taxied into by NN323 of 887 Sqdn HMS Indefatigable Cat                  X 31 Mar 1945 (Sub Lt IG Hepworth);  1 enemy A6M destroyed E of Formosa, shared with                      143/S, 137/S and 136/S 8 May 1945 (Sub Lt AW Bradley); to Schofields Aug 1945.

NN290 - Mar-Jun 1945; caught No7 wire and into barrier HMS Indefatigable Cat X

               27 Mar 1945 (Sub Lt ASTC Belcher).

NN291 - (153/S); struck off charge 18 Oct 1945.

NN293 - Lee-on-Solent Nov 1944; long range fuel tank hit underside of fuselage when

               Jettisoned Cat Y 6 Jan 1945 (Sub Lt WG Gibson).

NN294 - May 1945; swung on landing, port oleo collapsed Schofields 25 Oct 1945

               (Sub Lt H Stack).

NN297 - Mar 1945; caught trickle wire, broke back HMS Indefatigable Cat Z I Apr 1945

               (Sub Lt GW Hartland 887 Sqdn ok).

NN345 _ Jun-Jul 1944; to 880 Sqdn.

NN351 - Nov 1944; into barrier HMS Indefatigable Cat Z 4 Dec 1944 (Sub Lt BK Swart).

NN363 - Mar-Jul 194b; Operation  Meridian, shot down enemy A6M smoking into sea 4 May 1945                   (CPO IB Bird 887 Sqdn); Operation  Olympic, lack of fuel, pilot baled out Cat Z

               27 Jul 1945 (Sub Lt JM Sturrock OK).

NN400 - Op Meridian, collided w NN 1 46, crashed into sea Cat Z 27 Mar 1945

               (Sub Lt SC Yarde 887 Sqdn died).

NN405 - May-Jun 1945.

NN447  Operation  Meridian, two enemy Ki2l destroyed, 1 shared with ship 29 Jan 1945

              (Sub Lt KE Ward); fast landing bounced into barrier HMS Indefatigable 26 Mar 1945

              (Sub Lt RC Kay).

NN452 - Dec 1944.

NN454 - shot down by fire from HMS Illustrious during enemy attack on fleet Cat Z 6 Apr 1945

               (Sub Lt NV Heppenstall killed). 

NN457  taxied into lorry Katukurunda 12 Dec 1944 (Sub Lt PG Adams).

NN460 - (H6X) into barrier HMS Indefatigable Cat Y 6 Jan 1945 (Sub Lt IHS Morgan).

NN507 - (148/S) port u/c broke off landing HMS Indefatigable Cat Y 28 Jul 1945 (887 Sqdn pilot).

NN520 - floated into barrier HMS Indefatigable Cat Y 28 Dec 1944 (Sub Lt RC Kay).

NN521 - caught wire, buckled fuselage HMS Implacable Cat Z (but later rebuilt) 24 Jan 1945

               (Sub Lt F Hockley).

NN584 - escorting Avengers to Kaisaris , off  Tokyo shot tail off enemy A6M, damaged another                         Osaka Bay, tyre burst on landing tipped onto nose HMS Indefatigable 15 Aug 1945

               (Sub Lt RC Kay).

NN599 - hit by flak Tuba, N of Nagoya Bay Cat Z 30 Jul 1945 (Sub Lt JD Alexander killed).

NN608 - (P6Y); forced landing, u/c collapsed, no date.

NN627 - bounced on after lift, struck barrier HMS Implacable 20 Nov 1945 (Sub Lt CB Ere).

PP922 - unable to lower undercarriage HMS Implacable 24 Jul 1945 (Sub Lt GT Murphy).

PP935 - stalled onto round-down hook jammed up into barrier HMS Implacable Cat Z

               6 Jan 1945 (Sub Lt IHS Morgan).

PP989 - May 1945; rear of fuselage hit round-down HMS Indefatigable 28 Aug 1945

               (Sub Lt KE Ward).

PP992 - overshot and nosed up 4 Jun 1945 (Lt DN Duncan); u/c failed to lower, belly landing

               HMS Implacable 24 Jul 1945 (Sub Lt GT Murphy).

PRl46 - swung to starboard damaged port wing 1 Jul 1945 (Sub Lt RWJ McCabe).

PR206 - Aug 1945; escorting Avengers to Kaisaris a/f 3O Miles South of Tokyo probably destroyed

                enemy A6M, damaged another Osaka Bay, 15 Aug 1945 (Sub Lt DN Duncan); swung wing                     and prop dug into ground Schofields 25 Oct 1945 (Sub Lt RA Gorvin).

PR209 -         floated into barrier HMS Indefatigable 21 Nov 1945 (Sub Lt JCL Armstrong).

PR213 -         from Pityilu 12 Jul 1945.

PR254 -         (145/S) Operation Iceberg, enemy A6M shot down in sea 4 May 1945

                       (Lt AS Macleod).

PR256 -         (146/S) Operation Iceberg, 2 enemy A6M shot down over fleet 1 Apr 1945

                       (Sub Lt RH Reynolds).

PR263           Operation Olympic, damaged by enemy A6M Odaid Bay Japan 15 Aug 1945

                       (Sub Lt RA Gorvin).

PR285            under carriage failed to lower, belly landing HMS Indefatigable 1 Dec 1945

                       (Sub Lt H Atack).

PR331 -         Sep 1945; floated over wires, hit island and overturned HMS Indefatigable Cat Z

                       6 Dec 1945 (Sub Lt CB Ratcliffe).

Unknown Aircraft:

Seafire L.II -  ditched HMS Illustrious 28 Jun 1943 (pilot ok).

Seafire F.III - crashed into sea SE of Mew Island 13 Feb 1944 (Sub Lt JE Marshall killed).

Seafire L.III - engine failure on take off, ground-loop,  Eastleigh Cat Z 24 Apr 1944

                       (Sub Lt PA Meakin).

Seafire F.III - drop tank fouled oil cooler on jettisoning, ditched in English Channel on

                       operational patrol 10 May 1944 (Lt C Van Wijk RNIN OK).

Seafire L.III   under carriage hit barrier, tipped upside down, HMS Indefatigable Indian

                       Ocean 6 Dec 1944 (Sub Lt DD Leighton cracked skull and broken arm).

Seafire L.III   Operation Meridian 11, two enemy Ki.21 destroyed 29 Jan 1945

                       (Sub Lt KE Ward).

Seafire L.III   Operation Meridian 1 enemy Ki.21 shared with 1844 Sqdn Hellcat 29 Jan 1945

                       (Sub Lt E Elson).

Seafire L.III   Operation Meridian 1 enemy Ki.21 shared with Corsair, then shot down

                       1 enemy Ki.48, radiator hit by ships gunfire but landed safety 29 Jan 1945

                       (Lt Cdr J Crossman).

Seafire L.III   Operation Meridian, destroyed enemy Ki2l (Sally), then shot down 29 Jan 1945

                       (Sub Lt JW Hayes).

Seafire L.III - (I 41 /S) Operation Iceberg, 1 enemy A6M shared with NF521 (SLt RC Kay)

                        4 May 1945 (Sub Lt RH Reynolds).

3 Seafire L.III  Operation Iceberg, with NN284 (Sub Lt AW Bradley), shared 1 enemy A6M

                         shot down E of Formosa 8 May 1945,143/S (Sub Lt F Hockley), 137/S (Sub Lt JC                                Taylor),  136/S (Sub Lt KD Gall).

Seafire L.III - Came in against wave off, too high and fast with windscreen oiled up, hit barrier and                             island, tail swung to port, barrier rode up and hit pilots head 25 Jul 1945                                                 (Sub Lt KD Gall Dol 26 Jul 1945).

Seafire L.III - Shot down on escort mission to Onagawa Wan 9 Aug 1945

                       (Lt Cdr J Crossman POW.)

Seafire L.III - Shot down by flak over Tokyo 15 Aug 1945

                       (Sub Lt F Hockley captured by Japanese and murdered same day).

Identification Markings:

Martlet:   -  unknown;

Seafire:  -  single letters to 1A+ HMS Indefatigable Jul 1944, to P6+ Oct 1944, to H6A+ Dec 1944,                       to 130-154/S 1945.