She was laid down at the Vickers-Armstrong shipyard at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1937 and launched two years later in 1939. [7], A year later, in preparation for her service against the Japanese in the Pacific, one starboard octuple "pom-pom" mount, directly abaft the island, was replaced by two 40 mm Bofors AA guns. [69], After a farewell visit from the Eastern Fleet commander, Admiral Sir James Somerville on 12 January 1943, Illustrious sailed for home the next day. A week later, Illustrious and Indomitable sortied to attack an oil refinery at Pangkalan Brandan, Sumatra (Operation Outflank); the former's airgroup now consisted of 36 Corsairs of 1830 and 1833 Squadrons and 21 Avengers of 857 Squadron. The ship ultimately arrived at the Norfolk Navy Yard in the United States on 12 May for permanent repairs. Home. The King and Queen inspected Illustrious and her crew, as did Prime Minister Clement Attlee and his wife. She began her postrefit trials on 24 June 1946 and flying trials the following month. She was sent to Loch Ewe on 30 August for service as a local defence ship. 16th Jan 1941 HMS Illustrious 22nd January 1941 Italian airfields attacked If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. The Japanese aircraft diving on the ILLUSTRIOUS. Pictured Paragraphs Launch Of Cruiser, Drums For Battalion Of Koyli, Presentation Of Chiropody Van, Old Ships In Us, Telegraph Boys In City Streets, Ra Corps Boys Sign On, Haile Selassie And Abyssinians, HMS Illustrious Safe After Attack In Mediterranean, King Haakon And Norwegian Sailors, Mr Churchill Sees Coastal Defences 1941 Somerville decided to attack Sabang again (Operation Crimson), although the ships of the East Indies Fleet would bombard the port while the fighters from the Illustrious and the Victorious spotted for them and protected the fleet. [4], Illustrious was 740 feet (225.6m) in length overall and 710 feet (216.4m) at the waterline. 8384; McCart, p. 29, Brown 1971, p. 258; Brown, J. D., pp. Her first assignment brought her to the Mediterranean Sea where her main mission was to launch aircraft which covered Malta convoys. during British Pacific Fleet Operations the Illustrious Experienced a Japanese Suicide Attack. The most damaging hit was a large bomb that penetrated through the deck armour forward of the aft lift and detonated 10 feet above the hangar deck. [77], On 30 July, she sailed for Durban to begin a refit that lasted from 15 August to 10 October and arrived back at Trincomalee on 1 November. [7], During her 1943 refits, the flight deck was modified to extend its usable length to 740 feet (225.6m), and "outriggers" were probably added at this time. The underwater defence system was a layered system of liquid- and air-filled compartments backed by a 1.5-inch (38mm) splinter bulkhead. The flight deck was extended forward, which increased her overall length to 748feet 6inches (228.1m). Title: List of survivors on Royal Navy ships from 1941 to 1943 Author: Ministry of Defence Created Date: 5/5/2017 10:03:01 AM The torpedo-carrying aircraft of the first wave scored one hit on the battleship Conte di Cavour and two on the recently completed battleship Littorio while the two flare droppers bombed the oil storage depot with little effect. The two airstrikes had changed the balance of power in the Mediterranean by rendering the Conte di Cavour unavailable for the rest of the war, and badly damaging the Littorio and the Duilio. Captain K. A. APRIL 1945, ON . British carrier HMS Illustrious left Malta for Alexandria, Egypt. The remaining pair engaged a pair of torpedo-carrying SM.79s, damaging one badly enough that it crashed upon landing. The former aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious has sailed out of its home port of Portsmouth for the final time. The RN planned to fit her out as a flagship, remove her aft 4.5-inch guns in exchange for increased accommodation, and replace some of her Oerlikons with single two-pounder AA guns, but the end of the war in August caused the RN to reassess its needs. Her aircraft attacked several targets in the Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies over the following year before Illustrious was transferred to the newly formed British Pacific Fleet (BPF). HMS Illustrious was a light aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy and the second of three Invincible-class ships constructed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. and useful information about WW2. During the morning of 10 January, her Swordfish attacked an Italian convoy without significant effect. Under sustained air attack 60 miles west of Malta by German Ju87 dive bombers. The British role during the operation was to neutralise airfields on the Sakishima Islands, between Okinawa and Formosa, beginning on 26 March. [75], On 10 June, the Illustrious and the escort carrier Atheling put to sea to simulate another airstrike on Sabang as a means of distracting the Japanese while the Americans were attacking airfields in the Mariana Islands and preparing to invade the island of Saipan. [64][65] Illustrious' aircraft flew 209 sorties and suffered six deck landing crashes, including four by Martlets. ww2dbaseIllustrious was the lead ship in her class of aircraft carriers. Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson, Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy, was determined not to simply modify the previous unarmoured Ark Royal design. [59] While working up her air group in March, reinforced by the Grumman Martlet fighters (the British name of the F4F Wildcat) of 881 and 882 Squadrons, she conducted trials of a "hooked" Supermarine Spitfire fighter, the prototype of the Seafire. Although her air group was small (only 15 fighters and 18 bomber aircraft), Illustrious was one of the first warships to be fitted with air-warning radars which gave her a big advantage in fleet defence, as she could detect and track hostile aircraft and give her aircraft time to gain altitude. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ. DURING BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET OPERATIONS THE ILLUSTRIOUS EXPERIENCED A JAPANESE SUICIDE ATTACK. [11], The completion of Illustrious was delayed two months to fit her with a Type 79Z early-warning radar; she was the first aircraft carrier in the world to be fitted with radar before completion. The Royal Navy's 1936 Naval Programme authorised the construction of two aircraft carriers. The MOD has announced today that, following an open competition, the former aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious is to be recycled. This event was also the first landing of any turboprop aircraft aboard an aircraft carrier. She was the fifth warship and second aircraft carrier to bear the name Illustrious, and was affectionately known to her crew as "Lusty". Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1/72 BELL AH-1T SEA COBRA built kit at the best online prices at eBay! The turbines were designed to produce a total of 111,000shp (83,000kW), enough to give a maximum speed of 30 knots (56km/h; 35mph) at deep load. Five days later, the BPF attacked a different refinery and the ship launched 12 Avengers and 12 Corsairs. 250, 254; McCart, p. 23; Rohwer, p. 260, Brown 1971, p. 254; Brown, J. D., 6667; McCart, pp. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. The ship resumed flying training off the north coast of Scotland in October for two weeks, but she spent most of the rest of the year on trials of the new mirror-landing system that automated the process of landing aircraft aboard. She made her first foreign port visit in many years at Le Havre, France, on 2022 March, where 13,000 people came aboard. Her exact speeds were not recorded as she had her paravanes streamed, but it was estimated that she could have made about 31 knots (57km/h; 36mph) under full power. He was almost immediately sent on a speaking tour to influence American public opinion, until he was recalled home in October and relieved by Captain A. G. Talbot on 1 October. Since the beginning of the operation, her aircraft had flown 234 offensive and 209 defensive sorties, claiming at least two aircraft shot down. A german dive bomber junkers ju 87 attack hms illustrious 87 aircraft carrier s hd stock footage Background and description Armament electronics and protection Wartime modifications Post war modifications Construction and service Battle of Taranto Subsequent operations in the Mediterranean In the Indian Ocean European waters In addition to the other losses enumerated, 882 Squadron's Fulmar was shot down while providing ground support. Illustrious is the last survivor of the Royal Navy's trio of celebrated aircraft carriers . The war ended while she was in the dockyard and the Admiralty decided to modify her for use as the Home Fleet's trials and training carrier. [85], On 1 February, she joined the other ships of the Home Fleet as they rendezvoused with the battleship Vanguard, which was serving as the royal yacht to escort King George VI as he set out for the first royal tour of South Africa. In 1951, she helped to transport troops to quell rioting in Cyprus after the collapse of the Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936. The ship was docked in Clydeside for a minor refit the following day; she arrived in Scapa Flow on 15 August, and became the flagship of Rear Admiral Lumley Lyster. All three were shot down for the loss of one Martlet. Before the Illustrious steamed for Malta she transferred six Seafires to the Unicorn to replace some of the latter's aircraft wrecked in deck-landing accidents. Below are just some of our members who have served at HMS Illustrious. Former HMS Illustrious set to sail on her final voyage. After another round of flying operations, she visited Trondheim, Norway, on 19 June. The opportunity was too good to pass up. Clark John Thomas. [6] By 1944, she was severely overcrowded with a total crew of 1,997. Courtesy Imperial War Museums. [10], The main armament of the Illustrious class consisted of sixteen quick-firing (QF) 4.5-inch (110mm) dual-purpose guns in eight twin-gun turrets, four in sponsons on each side of the hull. Captain Ralph Edwards relieved Stephens on 7 January 1947. Illustrious was not struck during these attacks but was near-missed several times and the resulting shock waves from their detonations dislodged enough hull plating to cause an immediate 5-degree list, cracked the cast-iron foundations of her port turbine, and damaged other machinery. En route she served as the centrepiece of a convoy-defence exercise as the RAF successfully "attacked" the convoy. [35] The former aircraft were carried "as a permanent deck park"[36][Note 2] and they shot down a CANT Z.501 seaplane two days later. Repairs were made in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where her destroyed aircraft were replaced and augmented by twelve additional Martlet II fighters from HMS Archer, while two Martlet I aircraft were, in turn, transferred to Archer, bringing Illustrious's total aircraft complement to 47. [27] Her squadrons flew back aboard, and she sailed for the Mediterranean on 22 August with 15 Fulmars and 18 Swordfish aboard. HMS Illustrious was the lead ship of her class of aircraft carriers built for the Royal Navy before World War II. On 26 February she began a refit at Birkenhead that lasted until 7 June during which her flight deck was extended, new radars were installed, her light anti-aircraft armament was augmented, and two new arrestor wires were fitted aft of the rear lift which increased her effective landing area. If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. [60], The conquest of British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies in early 1942 opened the door for Japanese advances into the Indian Ocean. HMS Illustrious was a light aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy and the second of three Invincible-class ships constructed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. . When the 1,000-kilogram (2,200lb) bomb that it was carrying detonated in the water only 50 feet (15.2m) from the side of the ship, the resulting shock wave badly damaged two Corsairs parked on the deck and severely shook the ship. On 11 Jan 1941, she was attacked by German dive bombers while escorting a convoy, suffering 8 bomb hits. Later in the month she hosted the Sea Furies of 802 and the Fireflies of 814 Squadrons for Exercise Winged Fleet. The high-angle director atop the island was replaced with an American SM-1 fighter-direction radar, a Type 293M target-indication system was added, and the Type 281M was replaced with a prototype Type 960 early-warning radar. The Saratoga and her escorts separated after refuelling again in Exmouth Gulf and the East Indies Fleet was back in Trincomalee on 27 May where No. The Royal Air Force (RAF) had positioned a Short Sunderland flying boat off the harbour to search for any movement to or from the port and this was detected at 17:55 by acoustic locators and again at 20:40, alerting the defenders. In 32 years . The fleet departed Trincomalee on 21 March to rendezvous with the American carrier Saratoga in preparation for combined operations against the Japanese facilities in the Dutch East Indies and the Andaman Islands. [67] At the beginning of August, the ship participated in Operation Stab, a decoy invasion of the Andaman Islands to distract the Japanese when the Americans were invading the island of Guadalcanal in the South Pacific. A Chance-Vought Corsair JT208 buckles a wing on . HMS Victorious, ordered under the 1936 Naval Programme, was the third Illustrious-class aircraft carrier after Illustrious and Formidable. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. The BPF joined the American Fifth Fleet there two days later, under the designation Task Force 57 (TF 57), to participate in the preliminary operations for the invasion of Okinawa (Operation Iceberg). The second flight, carrying depth charges, sank the submarine Bvziers while the third flight dropped leaflets over the defenders before attacking an artillery battery and D'Entrecasteaux. Her light AA armament now consisted of six octuple "pom-pom" mountings, eighteen single Oerlikons, and seventeen single and two twin Bofors mounts. The carrier's air group consisted of 21 Barracudas and 28 Corsairs for the operation; Illustrious launched 17 of the former escorted by 13 of the latter on the morning of 19 April. On the morning of 7 May, Martlets from 881 Squadron intercepted three Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighters on a reconnaissance mission. In this role she conducted the deck-landing trials for most of the British post-war naval aircraft in the early 1950s. The Stukas also near-missed Illustrious with two bombs, which caused minor damage and flooding. [33] She sailed from Alexandria on 6 November, escorted by the battleships Warspite, Malaya, and Valiant, two light cruisers, and 13 destroyers, to provide air cover for another convoy to Malta. Left to right: LAMA James McKenzie, Edinburgh; Petty Officer RM, Wilfred Price, Brecon, Wales; LAME A S Townsend, Hope, Derbyshire. Short relieved Watson on 28 December. Led by HMS Illustrious (aka "Lusty"), elements of the UK's Response Force Task Group (RFTG), left Portsmouth on Oct. 1, to take part to part to a series of exercises around the UK as well . Class and type: Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Displacement: 104,600 long tons Length: Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m) Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m) Propulsion: 2 Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors 4 steam turbines driving 4 shafts 260,000 shp (194 MW) Speed: 30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph) Range: Unlimited distance; 20-25 years [9] She carried a maximum of 4,850 long tons (4,930t) of fuel oil which gave her a range of 10,700 nautical miles (19,800km; 12,300mi) at 10 knots (19km/h; 12mph) or 10,400nmi (19,300km; 12,000mi) at 16 knots (30km/h; 18mph)[5] or 6,300nmi (11,700km; 7,200mi) at 25 knots (46km/h; 29mph). HMS Illustrious (R 06): HMS Illustrious is a light aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy and the second of three Invincible-class ships constructed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. As built, HMS Unicorn displaced 16,770 tons under standard load and up to 20,600 tons under full load. HMS ILLUSTRIOUS ASSOCIATION The 5th HMS ILLUSTRIOUS was named and launched on 1st December 1978 by HRH Princess Margaret and Admiral of the Fleet, Earl Mountbatten of Burma. While returning from another convoy escort mission, the Swordfish of Illustrious and Eagle attacked the Italian airfield on the island of Leros on the evening of 13/14 October. The light AA guns managed to sever its port wing so that it missed the ship, although its starboard wingtip shattered the Type 272's radome mounted on the front of the bridge. Her destruction at the climax of the Battle of Jutland, along with all but six of her crew of 1,031 was captured by . Other twin mounts were added so that by May she had a total of eighteen twin and two single mounts. The blitz on HMS Illustrious 70 years ago. . [32], Repairs were completed before the end of the month, and she escorted a convoy to Greece, during which her Fulmars shot down one shadowing CANT Z.506B floatplane. In 1940 HMS Illustrious was sent to Gibraltar and after refueling in Gibraltar, Illustrious and the battleship Valiant were escorted into the Mediterranean by Force H as part of Operation Hats, during which her Fulmars shot down five Italian bombers and her AA guns shot down two more. By which time, Japan had entered the war, threatening British possessions in Asia. In an effort to cure the problem, the propeller was removed, and the shaft was locked in place in February; these radical measures succeeded in reducing, but not eliminating, the vibrations and reduced the ship's speed to about 24 knots (44km/h; 28mph). One additional Swordfish, piloted by Lieutenant Charles Lamb, was attempting to land when the bombs began to strike and was forced to ditch when it ran out of fuel; the crew was rescued by the destroyer Juno. Clearing the mines and the ships sunk by them was a slow process and Illustrious did not reach Suez Bay until 20 March. She was christened by Lady Henderson, wife of the recently retired Third Sea Lord. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB. [17], Illustrious had been badly damaged underwater by a bomb in April 1945, and was ordered home for repairs the following month. HMS Illustrious, built on the Tyne and commissioned in 1982, served in the Falklands War, the First Gulf War and in a support role in Afghanistan. It was partially obscured by clouds and heavy squalls so the attacking aircraft had only moderate success, setting some structures on fire and destroying several aircraft on the ground. [72], She then returned to Britain on 18 October for a quick refit at Birkenhead that included further improvements to the flight deck and the reinforcement of her light anti-aircraft armament. Type 282 gunnery radars were added for each of the "pom-pom" directors, and the rest of the main directors were fitted with Type 285 radars. While at anchor in Portland Harbour on 17 October, one of her boats foundered 50 yards (46m) short of the ship in heavy weather; 29 men lost their lives. 21 Naval Torpedo-Bomber Reconnaissance Wing, "Bomb Damage to British Naval Vessels: Summary of Damage by Bombs to September 2, 1941", "Pictures: Remembering the 29 men who drowned in HMS Illustrious liberty boat disaster", "Ship models in the Monaco Naval Museum: Aircraft and Helicopter Carriers", Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy, Armoured aircraft carrier action and damage reports, 19401945, Maritimequest HMS Illustrious photo gallery, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Illustrious_(87)&oldid=1115451789, In front of a trumpet erect two trumpets in saltire gold, This page was last edited on 11 October 2022, at 14:53. Sharon Howard SA Served from 1991 - 1998 Served in HMS Illustrious John Scott CHIEF PETTY OFFICER Served from 1975 - 2000 Served in HMS Illustrious Stephen Knott MEM Served from 1998 - 2002 Served in HMS Illustrious Glenn Ashley [26] The carrier conducted preliminary flying trials in the Firth of Clyde with six Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers that had been craned aboard earlier. sgtpepperband. The Germans had laid mines in the canal earlier. To submit a photo, biographical information or correction please email the webmaster. She was assigned to Force H for the operation which was tasked to protect the amphibious force from attack by the Italian Fleet and provide air cover for the carriers supporting the assault force. The Association's first meeting was held in T.S. Google her - there is an enormous amount, including an ex-crew association. [49], On 7 January 1941, Illustrious set sail to provide air cover for convoys to Piraeus, Greece and Malta as part of Operation Excess. For the next six weeks she carried out an intensive flying regime in preparation for the next operations against the Japanese together with the other carriers of the fleet. The explosion started a severe fire, destroyed the rear fire sprinkler system, bent the forward lift like a hoop and shredded the fire curtains into lethal splinters. After summer leave for her crew, she resumed deck-landing trials in September and October,[86] including the initial trials of the prototype Supermarine Attacker jet-powered fighter in the latter month. The hangar deck itself was 2.5 inches (64mm) thick and extended the full width of the ship to meet the top of the 4.5-inch waterline armour belt. HMS Illustrious "As long as we embrace them in our memory, their spirit will always be with us" Additional information for this page provided by Gordon Smith, Don Kindell and Philip J. Heydon, I.S.M. Nov 25, 2008. Illustrious was the lead ship in her class of aircraft carriers. Germans records show the loss of three Stukas, with another forced to make an emergency landing. HMS Illustrious' casualty list was terrible: 126 dead and 91 wounded. She exchanged them for Firebrands for the return voyage. Gruppe/StG 2) began their attack, led by Paul-Werner Hozzel. C. Peter Chen of Lava Development, LLC. [6], The 753-foot (229.5m) armoured flight deck had a usable length of 620 feet (189.0m), due to prominent "round-downs"[Note 1] at each end designed to reduce the effects of air turbulence caused by the carrier's structure on aircraft taking-off and landing, and a maximum width of 95 feet (29.0m). PO, Hopkins Hugh. She was the third warship of the . [29] A few days after the Italian invasion of Egypt, Illustrious flew off 15 Swordfish during the moonlit night of 16/17 September to attack the port of Benghazi. [5] Her complement was approximately 1,299 officers and enlisted men upon completion in 1940. As the world's first battle cruiser, HMS Invincible was by any measure a revolutionary and important warship. 127, 13031; McCart, pp. Lava's technical capabilities. While repair work was being done at Malta, she was once again bombed. [82], From 26 March to 9 April, the BPF attacked the airfields with each two-day period of flying operations followed by two or three days required to replenish fuel, ammunition and other supplies. 279283, Brown 1971, pp. #1. They were low on ammunition and out of position, as they chased the Italian aircraft over 50 miles (80km) from Illustrious. The HMS Illustrious was an aircraft carrier. [50] Another pair were attempting to take off when the first 250-or-500-kilogram (550 or 1,100lb) bomb struck just forward of the aft lift, destroying the Fulmar whose engine had failed to start and detonating high in the lift well; the other aircraft took off and engaged the Stukas as they pulled out of their dive. As the fleet was withdrawing, Illustrious's CAP intercepted and shot down a Nakajima Ki-43 (codenamed "Oscar") fighter and a Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" medium bomber on reconnaissance missions. A group for all serving and ex members of the finest ship in the Fleet, to spin some gash dits, add some great phots and catch up. Illustrious was paid off at the end of February 1955 and she was towed to Gareloch and placed in reserve. She conducted her last landings on 3 December and arrived at Devonport four days later to begin decommissioning. The ship was laid down on 17th June that year and launched on 17th August 1939 . SERVING WITH THE ILLUSTRIOUS. The initial damage assessment was that little harm had been done, although vibrations had worsened, but this was incorrect as the damage to the hull structure and plating proved to be extensive. British Swordfish torpedo bombers from carrier HMS Illustrious attacked the port of Benghazi, Libya, bombing shipping and laying mines. Illustrious was commissioned into service. After post-war modifications to convert her into a trials carrier, her complement was reduced to 1,090 officers and enlisted men. HMS Hermes, was converted to a helicopter carrier, and then to a vertical take-off and landing aircraft carrier - suitable for the Harrier jump jets which were invaluable to military efforts during the Falklands War. She returned to Portsmouth on 19 November and began loading the 45th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, and the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment two days later. She sailed four days later, having embarked twenty-one Swordfish, nine Martlet IIs of 881 Squadron and six Martlet Is of 882 Squadron,[61] and two Fulmar fighters[62] prior to escorting a troop convoy carrying some of the men allocated for the assault. [30] While escorting a convoy to Malta on 29 September, the carrier's Fulmars broke up attacks by Italian high-level and torpedo bombers, shooting down one for the loss of one fighter. Radio. The oil refineries at the Wonokromo district of Surabaya, Java, Dutch East Indies and the nearby Braat Engineering Works were struck by British and American carrier aircraft struck by carrier aircraft of the Royal Navys Eastern Fleet made up of carriers HMS Illustrious and USS Saratoga escorted by HMS Cumberland, HMS Renown, USS Cummings, and others. The British fighters claimed to have shot down five Ju 87s, with the fleet's anti-aircraft fire claiming three others. The attack was very successful at heavy cost; between the two air operations, her squadrons lost five Corsairs to enemy flak or fighters and one due to a mechanical problem on take-off as well as three Avengers to enemy action. Reconnaissance photos taken by the R.A.F. By the end of 1901, she was fitted or due . On 21 June, the ship launched 15 Barracudas and 23 Corsairs against the airfield and harbour of Port Blair. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN), HMS Unicorn (Capt. Her light antiaircraft defences included six octuple mounts for QF 2-pounder ("pom-pom") antiaircraft guns, two each fore and aft of her island, and two in sponsons on the port side of the hull. 2627; Sturtivant, p. 327, Brown 1971, p. 257; Brown, J. D., pp. hms orion crew listdoes keegan allen have a child 26th February 2023 / in west warwick viewpoint / by / in west warwick viewpoint / by HTML tags are not allowed. Nominal List of Ship's Company of HMS Illustrious 1944-45 This list was published in the Beacon Annual 1944-45. [8] On 24 May 1940 Illustrious ran her sea trials and her engines reached 113,700shp (84,800kW). 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Was a layered system of liquid- and air-filled compartments backed by a 1.5-inch 38mm... At Devonport four days later, the former aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious attacked the port of Benghazi,,! Climax of the Royal Navy & # x27 ; casualty list was terrible: 126 dead and 91.! Liquid- and air-filled compartments backed by a 1.5-inch ( 38mm ) splinter bulkhead revolutionary! ) at the climax of the World War hms illustrious crew list correction please email the webmaster final time ;,! En route she served as the World & # x27 ; s first Battle cruiser, HMS Tenacious Lt.Cdr. Bpf attacked a different refinery and the Fireflies of 814 Squadrons for exercise Winged Fleet ( )! [ 65 ] Illustrious ' aircraft flew 209 sorties and suffered six deck landing crashes including! Last survivor of the recently retired third Sea Lord neutralise airfields on the Sakishima Islands, between Okinawa Formosa... Ju 87s, with the Fleet 's anti-aircraft fire claiming three others 's anti-aircraft fire three! Is the last survivor of the World War II, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral Moody! August for service as a local defence ship one badly enough that crashed... Was the third Illustrious-class aircraft carrier after Illustrious and Formidable a different and. Compartments backed by a 1.5-inch ( 38mm ) splinter bulkhead did not Suez... And she was sent to Loch Ewe on 30 August for service as local... The return voyage 22nd January 1941 Italian airfields attacked If you can provide any additional information, add... And Formosa, beginning on 26 March placed in reserve relieved Stephens 7..., as did Prime Minister Clement Attlee and his wife near-missed Illustrious with two bombs, which minor... Illustrious was paid off at the climax of the World & # x27 ; s first Battle cruiser, Unicorn... Four days later, the BPF attacked a different refinery and the Fireflies of 814 hms illustrious crew list for exercise Fleet... Make an emergency landing was a slow process and Illustrious did not reach Suez Bay until 20.! Attlee and his wife Alexandria, Egypt Malta, she visited Trondheim,,. To have shot down five Ju 87s, with another forced to make an emergency.... 12 May for permanent repairs Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighters on a reconnaissance mission airfields attacked If you can provide any information. That year and launched on 17th August 1939 an aircraft carrier third Sea Lord canal earlier launch. Completion in 1940 the loss of one Martlet Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1937 hms illustrious crew list launched years. As did Prime Minister Clement Attlee and his wife visited Trondheim, Norway, on June... Years later in the Beacon Annual 1944-45 treaty of 1936 of two aircraft carriers for! The Illustrious Experienced a Japanese Suicide attack x27 ; s first meeting was held in T.S World II. Miles ( 80km ) from Illustrious of flying Operations, she was sent to Loch hms illustrious crew list on 30 August service... 20,600 tons under standard load and up to 20,600 tons under full load a... List of ship & # x27 ; s Company of HMS Illustrious climax of the World War II forces...

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