Buccaneer Strike Force
by
Philip West
The Blackburn Buccaneer, in its heyday the worlds most advanced low-level, high-speed strike aircraft. The Buccaneer is remembered with affection and respect as a purposeful-looking, rock-steady aircraft offering a formidable strike weapons platform, flying low and fast over the wave-tops or land with equal effectiveness, on this occasion in the presence of HMS Ark Royal.

The Signatories

Captain Michael C Clapp CB joined the Royal Navy in 1950 from Marlborough College. As a midshipman, he served in the Far East during the Korean campaign. In 1954 he was boarding officer capturing a caique running guns into Cyprus. In 1955, he was appointed to No. 1 Long Observer Course, expecting to specialise in anti-submarine warfare. His first operational flying tour was, however, with 849 Airborne Early Warning Squadron, In 1959, after a series of flying courses, he was posted to Ferranti Ltd to assist in test flying the weapon system for the Buccaneer Mk 1 finally joining 700 Z Flight, the Intensive Flying Trials Unit.

Paul A J Collins joined the Royal Navy in 1964 and as a midshipman served in HMS EAGLE in the Far East in 1966. He qualified as an observer at RNAS Lossiemouth in 1969 and joined 800 NAS flying in Buccaneer Mk 2 embarked in HMS EAGLE 1970-71. HMS EAGLE was deployed to the Mediterranean and to the Far East during this period.

Lieutenant Commander M J Callaghan joined the RN in 1966, Mike qualified as a Buccaneer Observer in 1968 and served in 800 Squadron (HMS EAGLE) and completed three tours with 809 Squadron (HMS ARK ROYAL). He also served as an instructor on 736 Squadron (Buccaneer OFT) at RNAS Lossiemouth and with 237 OCU (the RAF Buccaneer Operational Conversion Unit) at RAF Honington.

Lieutenant Commander Frank Cox RN joined the Fleet Air Arm in 1962 directly from school having received a nautical education and been involved in gliding from a very early age. He evaded attempts to divert him into becoming a fulltime ‘Fishhead’ career officer and remained on a short service commission in aviation where his heart lay.

Lieutenant Commander J E Eatwell RN joined the Royal Navy as an Air Cadet in 1956 and went straight to sea in HMS Theseus, part of the Home Fleet Training Squadron. He commenced Observer training in September 1956 flying Sea Prince, Firefly, Gannet, Brigand and Sea Venom aircraft, before embarking with 894 Sea Venom Squadron in HMS Eagle in 1958. He received training at De Havilland for the Sea Vixen and embarked on HMS Ark Royal with 892 Squadron, the first Sea Vixen Squadron in 1960, transferring to HMS Victorious for a deployment to the Far East.

Captain E M Hackett FCMI MNI RN joined the Royal Navy in 1961 from Dauntseys School and served in HM Ships URCHIN and DUCHESS under training, before joining the minesweeper PUNCHESTON (Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Mike Clapp!) in the Far East Fleet during the Confrontation against Indonesia. He began flying training in 1966 and qualified as a Buccaneer pilot in 1968 after which he joined 801 NAS in HERMES for his first deck landing off Singapore. He was Flag Lieutenant to the Flag Officer Naval Air Command between 1970 and 1972 flying Sea Devons and the Hawker Hunter. He then joined 809 NAS in ARK ROYAL after completing the Air Warfare Instructor’s Course at RNAS Lossiemouth. He completed the Naval Staff Course and was Senior Pilot of 809 from 1974 to 1977, again in ARK ROYAL.

Lieutenant M Holloway RN joined the Royal Navy in 1963 as a short service pilot. He served with 800 Squadron flying the Buccaneer Mk1 from HMS Eagle and subsequently he flew the Mk2, also with 800 Squadron.

Commander T J I Howard-Jones RN BSc learned to fly in Manchester University Air Squadron in 1963 and he joined the Royal Navy in January 1967. He served as an Observer on 809 Naval Air Squadron (Buccaneer S Mk 2) from 1970 to 1971 and 1976 to 1978. He completed the Royal Air Force Staff Navigation Course in 1971 and GD Aerosystems Course in 1972. He worked at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment Boscombe Down as Flight Trials Officer from 1973 to 1976 and a Trials Section Leader from 1982 to 1985. He was a Systems Analyst at the Royal Aircraft Establishment Farnborough from 1978 to 1981. He served in MOD Whitehall as the desk officer for the Sea Harrier Mid Life Update in 1985 – 1987 and 1990 to 1992. His final appointment before leaving the Royal Navy was as Officer in Charge of the Naval Air Warfare Development Unit from 1992 to 1994.

Lieutenant Commander Brian Jackson-Dooley RN joined the Royal Navy in 1961 and as a midshipman served in a landing ship, HMS Striker, in the Persian Gulf. The principal purpose for the military presence in the region at that time was to dissuade the Iraqis from invading Kuwait and it proved successful.

Captain Alan Leahy CBE DSC RN joined the Royal Navy in 1943 as Naval Airman 2nd Class. he was trained by the US Navy as a fighter pilot flying Corsairs. Later he qualified as an Air Weapons Officer. He has served on the aircraft carriers Implacable, Illustrious, Theseus, Vengeance, Glory, Bulwark, Ark Royal, Victorious and Hermes. he commanded 738 (Seahawks), 803 (Scimitars) 700 Z and 809 (Buccaneers) and has flown 35 different types of aircraft.

Captain John de Winton RN joined the Royal navy as a seaman officer. He qualified as a fighter pilot in 1955 after flying training with US Navy. Served in Sea Venom Night and all Weather Fighters based at Yeovilton 1956 to 1960. 809 Squadron HMS Albion (Suez) 56/57. Qualified as flying instructor 1958. QFI NAWF School 766 Squadron 58/60. Sea Vixens Squadrons based at Yeovilton 60/61. 893 Squadron HMS Ark Royal. Senior pilot 893 Squadron HMS Centaur.

Edition Size: 350 S/N, 25 Artist Proofs and 25 Remarques

Overall Size: 28" x 20"
S/N Price: $230.00 [Order] [Checkout]
AP Price: $280.00 [Order] [Checkout]
Remarques Price: $465.00 [Order] [Checkout]