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Seafire - Aircraft Details - Aviation Directory

Seafire


Name : Seafire

Pilots and Aircrew for : Seafire
A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
NameInfo
Crosley, Michael
Click the name above to see a profile of Crosley, Michael

   Died : 20 / 6 / 2010
Crosley, Michael

Robert Michael Crosley was born on February 24 1920 , Mike Crosley was a Metropolitan Police constable (a reserved occupation) when war broke out, but volunteered on the day of the Fleet Air Arm strike on Taranto, November 11 1940. Fleet Air Arm Ace Mike Crosley joined the carrier HMS Eagle in late 1941, one of four FAA pilots flying Sea Hurricanes in defence of the Malta convoys, On June 12 he was on alert on the deck of HMS Eagle. After two hours strapped in his cockpit, he was expecting to stand down when he heard the klaxon sound. Within a few moments he was airborne, being directed by radar to an enemy aircraft; and when his flight leader turned back with engine trouble, Crosley decided to pursue the enemy alone. He closed until the wingspan of the three-engined Italian bomber filled his gunsight, then pressed the trigger. At that moment he noted sparks coming from the underside of the bomber – it was the enemy returning fire. Then smoke burst from the Italian's engines and its wingtip came dangerously close as it dived towards the sea. Crosley followed, determined to finish it off; but as he emerged from the cloud he saw the bomber floating on the water with a yellow life raft beside it. The next day Crosley shot down a twin-engined German fighter-bomber. He wove in and out of the German's slipstream, and when the target filled his gunsight he fired one long burst which hit the aircraft's wing, "sparking like firecrackers". In August 1942, during Operation Pedestal, he was lucky to escape with his life after the carrier was torpedoed and sunk by U73. She capsized within 7 minutes. He later joined HMS Biter flying Sea Hurricanes, in Operation Torch. and on November 8 he shot down two Vichy French fighters in a dogfight over the airfield of La Senia, near Oran. He was awarded his first DSC. Mike Crosley was then selected to pass on his experience to new fighter pilots at HMS Dipper, near Yeovilton, where he flew the Royal Navy's version of the Spitfire, known as the Seafire. By D-Day Crosley had joined 886 Naval Air Squadron, flying Seafires from Lee-on-the-Solent. His role was to direct the fire of the heavy ships which were bombarding the German defences. On the second day of the Allied landings he shot down a German Bf109, which crashed 15 miles south-west of Caen, and two days later damaged an Fw190 which he chased in a dogfight through the skies over Normandy. After D-Day Mike Crossley was appointed to command 880 Naval Air Squadron; this was based in Orkney as part of 30 Naval Air Wing, which embarked in the fleet carrier Implacable and carried out a series of attacks on German shipping in the fjords of Norway. By the time the war ended 880 Squadron and Implacable were prosecuting the war in the Pacific, striking at the Japanese mainland. Crosley was mentioned in despatches, and in August 1945 received a Bar to his DSC. he finished the war in the Far East, with 5.5 victories. After the war Mike Crosley joined No 6 Empire Test Pilots' Course, and left the Navy to test Short's flying boats under development in Belfast. On the outbreak of the Korean War he rejoined the Navy, helping to train new pilots and flying 75 missions over Korea from the carrier Ocean. He wrote pilots' notes for a range of aircraft, which he flew to their limits, and was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air. In 1954-55 he was commanding officer of 813 Squadron, flying the Wyvern from the new HMS Eagle. In 1958 Crosley was promoted commander and returned to test flying at Boscombe Down, making the first deck landings of the Buccaneer low-level bomber. Mike Crosley logged 2,818 flying hours in 147 different types of aircraft and made 415 deck landings. Throughout the war he kept extensive diaries, on which he based two books: They Gave Me a Seafire (1986) and In Harm's Way (1995). Sadly Mike Crosley died at the age of 90 on the 20th June 2010.
Henshaw, Alex
Click the name above to see a profile of Henshaw, Alex

   Died : 24 / 2 / 2007
Henshaw, Alex

Alex Henshaw perhaps understands the Spitfire better than any other pilot - for he was Vickers Chief Test Pilot on Spitfires at the new Spitfire factory at Castle Bromwich during World War II. By the end of the war he had personally test flown a total of 2360 different Spitfires and Seafires - more than ten per cent of the entire production. It is often stated that those lucky enough to have seen Alex handle the Spitfire in flight, that it is an experience that can never be forgotten, he was acknowledged as a virtuoso in aerobatics. Alex Henshaw died 24th February 2007.
Marriott, J A
Click the name above to see a profile of Marriott, J A
Marriott, J A

Damaged Seafire LR864 after arrester gear on HMS Indefatigable failed on 23rd July 1945.
Quill, Jeffrey
Click the name above to see a profile of Quill, Jeffrey

   Died : 20 / 2 / 1996
Quill, Jeffrey

Jeffrey Quill was born at Littlehampton in Sussex in 1913, the youngest of five children. He was educated at Lancing College, overlooking Shoreham aerodrome (then a small grass field with old hangars and a wooden hut for the flying club). The frequent sight of aircraft at close quarters increased Quill’s already burning interest in aviation, and after leaving Lancing in 1931 he was accepted into the Royal Air Force at the age of 18, as an acting Pilot Officer. He learned to fly on Avro Tutor biplanes, and went solo after only 5 hours 20 minutes – well below the usual 9 hours. In September 1932 he joined No.17 (Fighter) Squadron at Upavon, where he flew Bristol Bulldogs. He was then posted to Duxford, to the RAF Meteorological Flight, where they flew open-cockpit Siskins to heights of up to 25,000 feet to collect weather data. In November 1934 Quill became Flight Commander, and set out with his team to achieve 100 per cent regularity in the scheduled climbs (twice every day, except Sundays, at 0700 and 1300 hrs) without missing a single flight, even in “unflyable” weather. For this outstanding achievement he was awarded the Air Force Cross. In January 1936 Jeffrey Quill became assistant to Mutt Summers, the chief test pilot at Vickers (Aviation) Ltd., and his initial task was the testing of the Wellesley bomber. On 26 March 1936 Quill made his first flight in the prototype Spitfire K5054. Much work was needed on the Spitfire before it was eventually cleared for squadron service in July 1938. Jeffrey Quill spent the entire war in charge of development and production flying, but insisted on having first-hand combat experience, and in August 1940 he was assigned to 65 (Spitfire) Squadron at RAF Hornchurch. During that month he shot down a Me109, and shared in a Heinkel He111 before being recalled to Supermarine to test the Spitfire Mk III. The Seafire, the naval version of the Spitfire used by the Fleet Air Arm, was suffering enormous losses in deck landing accidents. During 1944 Quill spent five months with the Royal Navy, and made more than 75 deck landings. By the end of the war, he had personally test-flown all 50-odd variants of Spitfire and Seafire. His personal favourite was the Spitfire Mk VIII. Jeffrey Quill continued as chief test pilot after the war, when Vickers – ever on the cutting edge of development – produced Britain’s third jet aircraft, the Attacker. On 27 July 1946 Quill made the first flight from Boscombe Down, and continued to undertake the testing, until one day the following June he passed out at about 40,000 feet. Fortunately he recovered at about 10,000 ft, in time to land safely. Quill had been flying continuously for 16 years, often at high altitude and without oxygen. He had logged over 5000 hours and flown more than 95 aircraft types. Jeffrey Quill died at Andreas, Isle of Man, on 20 February 1996.


Jeffrey Quill after winning his Air Force Cross.


Sargeant, I
Click the name above to see a profile of Sargeant, I
Sargeant, I

Taken prisoner 22nd August 1944 after forced landing in Seafire LR863 during Operation Goodwood. Sargeant was serving with No.887 Squadron, but the aircraft was from No.894 Squadron.
Twiss, Peter
Click the name above to see a profile of Twiss, Peter

   Died : 31 / 8 / 2011
Twiss, Peter

Peter Twiss was born on the 23rd of July,1921 in Lindfield, West Sussex. Peter Twiss spent much of his early days on a farm near Salisbury. When war broke out later in 1939 he enlisted as a Naval Airman Second Class in the Fleet Air Arm, qualifying as a pilot after initial training at 14 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School at Castle Bromwich on Tiger Moths and then went on to fly Hawker Harts and Fairey Battles. Operational training followed at RNAS Yeovilton flying Blackburn Rocs and Skuas and Fairey Swordfish followed by a period at the Army School of Co-operation at Andover on Bristol Blenheims on twin conversion before being posted to the Orkneys to 771 Squadron. By then he had amassed 292 hours on 12 types and attained the rank of Midshipman. Peter Twiss flew with 807 Squadron FAA from the carrier HMS Furious during the Malta convoys, and later took part in the invasion of North Africa. Best known as a post-war test pilot, particularly of the Fairey Delta FD2 with which he set a World Absolute Speed Record, Peter Twiss also saw distinguished service as a Fleet Air Arm pilot. Flying Fulmars, he was with HMS Ark Royal when she was sunk in November 1941 and then served with his squadron on both Argus and Furious for several of the vital Malta convoys with Force H. He formed the first Seafire Squadron for Operation Torch and was awarded a Bar to his DSC. Returning to the UK, he was sent to the Night Fighter Development Unit. During the war Peter began to get opportunities to fly new aircraft and he started his test flying in America late 1944 and had his first opportunity to fly a jet aircraft. By now he had attained the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. In 1945 he attended the Empire Test Pilots School at Cranfield and then went to the Naval Squadron at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment based at Boscombe Down. In 1946 he joined Fairey Aviation as a test pilot. Lieutenant-Commander Peter Twiss test flew many of the Fairey aircraft including the Fairey Primer, Fairey Firefly, Fairey Gannet, the Fairey FD1, and the Fairey Rotadyne compound helicopter and in 1947 he entered the Lympne Air flying a Firefly IV winning the high speed race with 306 mph. His achievement in breaking the world air speed record in 1956 in the Fairey Delta 2 was recognised by receiving the Queens Commendation for Valuable Service and an OBE. By 1959 Peter was Chief Test for Fairey Aviation when the company was sold to Westland Aircraft and he decided to retire from test flying. He had then amassed 4,500 hours in 148 different types of aircraft. Sadly, Peter Twiss passed away on 31st August 2011.



Squadrons :
No.738 Sqn FAA
Historical Notes :
22-07-1944 - Cartwheeled on landing from Ravager Cat Z. S/L WSM Brownrigg died of injuries
Squadrons :
No.759 Sqn FAA
No.899 Sqn FAA

Known Individual Aircraft : Seafire :

Type

Serial

Codes

First Flew

Squadron History

Aircrew History

History Notes

Engine

Factory

Seafire 45

LA428

17/01/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA429

04/02/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA430

20/02/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA431

24/02/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA432

03/03/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA433

11/04/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA434

16/04/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA435

19/04/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA436

27/04/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA437

28/04/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA438

11/05/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA439

15/05/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA440

19/05/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA441

26/05/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA442

-

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA443

02/06/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA444

09/06/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA445

13/06/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA446

22/06/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA447

27/06/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA448

23/06/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA449

26/06/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA450

29/06/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA451

29/06/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA452

29/06/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA453

28/07/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA454

10/07/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA455

24/07/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA456

27/07/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA457

27/07/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA480

10/08/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA481

06/09/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA482

17/08/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA483

22/08/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA484

23/08/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA485

02/08/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA486

29/08/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA487

11/09/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA488

14/09/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA489

11/10/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA490

15/09/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA491

19/10/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA492

09/11/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA493

20/11/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA494

17/11/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA495

26/11/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA496

27/11/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA497

14/12/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA498

08/12/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 45

LA499

15/12/1945

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 61

SM

Seafire 46

LA541

-

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA542

-

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

SM

Seafire 46

LA543

00/03/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

SM

Seafire 46

LA544

13/06/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

SM

Seafire 46

LA545

26/03/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA546

-

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA547

10/05/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

SM

Seafire 46

LA548

03/06/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

SM

Seafire 46

LA549

20/06/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA550

09/07/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

SM

Seafire 46

LA551

19/07/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

SM

Seafire 46

LA552

13/08/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

SM

Seafire 46

LA553

23/08/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

SM

Seafire 46

LA554

07/09/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

SM

Seafire 46

LA555

19/09/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA556

05/10/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA557

28/10/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA558

18/11/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA559

16/12/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA560

04/12/1946

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA561

22/01/1947

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA562

06/02/1947

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA563

19/03/1947

no information

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire 46

LA564

14/03/1946

details

no information

no information

Griffon 87

Seafire IIc

LR631

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 46

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR632

-

no information

no information

details

Merlin 46

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR633

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 46

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR634

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR635

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR636

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR637

-

details

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR638

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR639

D8J

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR640

8S

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR641

1B

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR642

8M

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR643

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR644

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR645

8R
HZ

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 45

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR646

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 50

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR647

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 50A

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR648

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 50

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR649

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 50

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR650

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 50

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR651

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 50

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR652

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 46

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR653

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 50

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR654

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 46

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR655

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 50

Westland

Seafire IIc

LR656

-

no information

no information

no information

Merlin 50

Westland

All results pages : 1 2 3 ... 26
Displaying airframes to 99 of 2577


Squadrons for : Seafire
A list of all squadrons known to have flown the Seafire. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

No.1833 Sqn FAA

Country : UK
Fleet Air Arm

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.1833 Sqn FAA
No.1833 Sqn FAA

Full profile not yet available.

No.759 Sqn FAA

Country : UK
Fleet Air Arm

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.759 Sqn FAA
No.759 Sqn FAA

Full profile not yet available.

No.800 Sqn FAA

Country : UK
Fleet Air Arm

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.800 Sqn FAA
No.800 Sqn FAA

Full profile not yet available.

No.804 Sqn FAA

Country : UK
Fleet Air Arm

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.804 Sqn FAA
No.804 Sqn FAA

Full profile not yet available.

No.809 Sqn FAA

Country : UK
Fleet Air Arm

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.809 Sqn FAA
No.809 Sqn FAA

Full profile not yet available.

No.885 Sqn FAA

Country : UK
Fleet Air Arm

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.885 Sqn FAA
No.885 Sqn FAA

Full profile not yet available.

No.887 Sqn FAA

Country : UK
Founded : 1st May 1942
Fate : Disbanded 15th March 1946.
Fleet Air Arm

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.887 Sqn FAA
No.887 Sqn FAA

887 Squadron Fleet Air Arm: 887 Squadron was formed as a Fleet Fighter squadron at Lee-on-Solent 1st May 1942. Initially equipped with Fulmars Mk II, the squadron re-equipped with Spitfires MKV in December, finally equipping with Seafires Mk III in March 1943 - which 887 used until its disbandment - in both L and F variants. In April 1943 the squadron embarked on HMS Unicorn sailing in May on convoy escort to Malta and in September, they provided fighter cover for the Salerno landings. 887 became part of the 24th Naval Fighter Wing in October joining HMS Indefatigable in July 1944. 887 was in action off the coast of Norway during operations against the Tirpitz. On rejoining HMS Indefatigable, 887 sailed for Ceylon to join the British Pacific Fleet. The squadron took part in attacks on Sumatra (January 1945) the Sakishima Group of islands (March/ April) and prior to V J Day saw action over the Japanese mainland. In November 1945 they sailed to New Zealand and then onto Australia before sailing home. 887 squadron was disbanded on arrival at Gosport on 15th March 1946.




Last edited : 17:32, October 22, 2012
Last editor : kc

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