Hands To Flying Stations (1975)

Official govt film uploaded as "fair use." Naval Instructional Film A2690.
Royal Navy documentary from 1975 featuring aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (R09). The film details flight operations aboard the Ark. Aircraft in the film include the Phantom FG1, the Buccaneer S2, the Gannet AEW3, the Wessex HAS1 and the Sea King HAS2.
HMS Ark Royal (R09) was an Audacious-class aircraft carrier built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 25 February 1955. She was decommissioned on 14 February 1979 after 23-years service. She was the last operational RN aircraft carrier to use "cats and traps" (conventional catapult launch and arrested landing). The Ark featured in the 1976 BBC television series Sailor.

[@AreBeeT5]

I served on the flight deck when this film was made (74-76 commission). I was an Aircraft Handler and I'm actually pictured at 6.47 (furthest away) lying on the chocks of the Gannet. The job of making sure that the contra rotating props didn't wash the chocks back into fly 4 (deck aft and on the port side) was for the chockmen of number 2 tractor team to lay on them until the aircraft was ready to launch. Bloody cold place to work, dangerous as hell especially at night but I wouldn't swop that experience for anything.

[@Axgoodofdunemaul]

Hats off to you and everyone who served.

[@irvan36mm]

6:47

[@tonkerdog1243]

You saw the best of what we were ever going to be. Well done sir

[@jamesanderton344]

Between that low hanging radome and the contraprops, it looks like the Gannet had a couple of ways to hurt you.

[@LauraCampbellbiz]

just found this film.. my dad served on HMS Ark Royal. I think we see him in the briefing room. CPO Chick Henderson. 809 Squadron..I believe

[@jackharrison6771]

Thanks for posting this. What the hell can one say, except WOW.. what a life.

[@duartesimoes508]

I absolutely love the way the Gannet's wings fold, as if the aircraft was saying "it's not my fault!"

[@THE-BUNKEN-DRUM]

🤷‍♂️

[@DAllan-lz3lg]

Towing the gannet by hand with the prop running.....scrambling about under jacked up jets with engines running....dangerous work !

[@alexandermakrianis]

I love watching these videos of the RN carriers in action. I was in the US Navy and served aboard carriers for 4 years but seeing the RN carrier operations up close always impresses me. You Brits had your act together, what happened as the result of poor decision making from the UK government was a real shame .

[@vader1a]

HAZMAT FireGuy Very poor decisions indeed

[@alexandermakrianis]

Absolutely, and they didn't stop there unfortunately. There have been several bad decisions made in the US as well, particularly after the Cold War ended, but they were still not as detrimental as those that the UK military faced.

[@alexandermakrianis]

@John Brighton that's ridiculous, where did that come from? I hope you're just joking around. I served 20 years in the US military between the Navy, Navy Reserve, and Air Force Reserve. I'm a military history buff as well and that is why I have such an interest in this video

[@rogernicholls2079]

@@alexandermakrianis I think He's pulling your leg mate.

[@alexandermakrianis]

I hope so, you know how youtube is though. Sometimes it makes comments that were intended to be a joke look like a poke at someone. I just reacted to that comment based on how I interpreted it.

[@altezeitgruppe]

Thank you for posting this film, somewhere I was one of the flight deck crew on R09 in '72-75, the best job in the world. Unfortunately you have to nearing 70 to have been part of this community but I will always be proud of my life on Ark Royal.

[@davepyke7184]

I served on the Ark Royal between 1972 - 1974, this was my first ships posting, very exciting for a 16 year old lad

[@paganist10]

my dad was nearing the end of his service (1979) - AH Phil Lees - grumpy old bastard AH

[@benclay46]

I was on the waist cat for this! I now realize why as an old man my knees and shoulders are aching. I was young then and it was very exciting especially night launches, when the Jet Blast Deflectors glowed cherry red, even though they had cold water pumped through them!

[@Dave-id6sj]

I'm a little bit jealous mate, if I could finish high school again and then choose a career it would be in the Navy (RAN, or RN), maybe not carriers because I finished year 12 in November 1984 in Australia (Born in Wales, dual citizen), but Frigates like my dad did on HMS Loch Fyne and HMS Phoebe (dad was in from 1949 to 1971), dad was an LSBA and also did 2 years in Malaya 1950 to 1952 with 40 Commando Royal Marines (he wasn't a Commando, just at Kuala Kangsar Base Hospital), with some patrolling when he could get his boss to let him go out for a look around and provide field medical if needed.

[@saltandsteelforever9242]

Great video! It's really impressive to see how RN operated HMS Ark Royal the last fixed-wing aircraft carrier until the late 1970s.

[@Bradonomous]

I've watched tons of docs about aircraft carriers and I've been to the carrier experience at RNAS Yeovil, but this is the only film that really captures the tension and the controlled chaos of a flight deck - the pace of this film is astounding, it bombards you with detail faster than you can take in, I love it!.... BOW CAT... BUCANEER!!! WAIST CAT..... PHANTOM!!!!!

[@Jigglypuff981]

+Bradonomous It's like listening to the high-octane near-hyperventilating newsreel commentators from 1940 about dogfights over East Anglia XD

[@Bradonomous]

+Jigglypuff981 Genius! So true!

[@spudskie3907]

+Bradonomous I agree with your comment. That narration was superb.

[@cab6273]

Wow, I didn’t have an appreciation for how small the Ark Royal was. Operating Phantoms and Buccs on her no doubt took great skill and guts.

[@ianstewart2335]

Designed before the jet age… Hermes was smaller still - she operated the Buccaneer! 😌

[@kdum8]

Brilliant! Used to watch this in the 80s when I was a young kid and loved it then! Fleet Air Arm forever!

[@davidjfraser]

Only after the Stokers have got things ready for you!

[@Kfirc2]

Amazing even after 45 years the film is an amazing and exciting historical documentary. Thank you so much from Israel

[@pauluspaul3951]

This is the RN that I served in and remember. Happy days :-)

[@brianbarrat4541]

Paulus Paul Ditto!

[@Freebird67]

Ditto

[@johnrandle1337]

Snap !!!

[@MrTerrylomax]

Me too, 809 Bucc armourer '75 - '77

[@elciomendes7329]

Great video! I love the Buccaneer and the British Phantom. So many things can go wrong in a carrier, it's really a dangerous and complex operation.

[@rob6102]

I was a young chockhead on the Ark during her final commission, this really does bring back many memories.

[@michaelsmitten9240]

Thanks for video. I was a Greenie on Hermes stationed on flight deck during 4th Commission, 1968, 893 Sqdn, Sea Vixens

[@tomroland2315]

Last saw a Buccaneer when it was flying over the Somerset levels at low level. Nice to see them again. Great video.

[@kenmtb]

Amazing professionalism by all of the men. Long hair and beards are an RN job perk!

[@ronniefarnsworth8224]

Smashing good times, I missed out on most of this Harriers were my time, you can almost smell the sea air ! : ) RN 1978-1986

[@crazybrit-nasafan]

Thank you for serving. Much respect to you good sir.

[@sailordoc2007]

One never forgets the smell of the sea air .., mixed with fuel smells at times

[@rob6102]

@@sailordoc2007 Avcat

[@Remrett]

Great video. Good to see how much detail and effort goes into getting these aircraft in the air. Shame us Brits don’t do that on carriers anymore. It’s all VSTOL now!

[@rojtaggbert8444]

That beeb series called Sailor is now a must watch. These guys don't get enough hats off.

[@flyingphobiahelp]

Always enjoyed that show back in the 70s

[@leejackson2969]

I love these old school vids. I joined the RN long after these carriers were gone, would have loved seeing these things going. The RN Phantoms are still some of meanest looking jets ever!

[@tailhooker100]

I was on this ship for 2 years flying Buccaneers having been on the Air Warfare Instructors course with Sharkey Ward, and 2 guys you can see on here being Tim Gedge and David (Twiggy) Hansom. Previously 18 months on Hermes which was even smaller.......it was a privilege. Every single man on these ships (not just thew aircrew) was vital to its operation and even now reflecting back on those challenging days, I wonder how it ever came to work as well as it did, given the complexity of every aspect of life at sea. An era passed, particularly now that Pete Shepherd has recently passed on...he definitely was a legend during his life. I would loved to have one more crack at the deck

[@tailhooker100]

@Rob Wilton Hey Rob...didnt we all?

[@lancelot1953]

Very well made video, great documentary on HMS Ark Royal, a veteran of the Royal Navy's illustrious heritage, thank you for posting this great piece of history, Ciao, L

[@firefightergoggie]

And the UK took all of that knowledge, all of that experience, all of that professionalism, all of the capability, and all of the equipment and just pissed it away.

[@garyshepherd9367]

Labour sucks

[@possiblyadickhead6653]

@Agar Edward and they would be totally obsolete.

[@elrjames7799]

@@garyshepherd9367 Yes: but it was Sir John Nott (as a Conservative Defence Secretary) who axed Ark Royal, not the previous Labour Government. Nott was no fool and if you watch the video of the victory celebrations, his countenance was more apt to a funeral. He seemed to know well enough (and probably thought himself partly responsible for) the unnecessary casualties taken by both naval and other forces as a result of an absence of supersonic long range interceptors occasioned by a lack of the Ark.

[@garyshepherd9367]

@@elrjames7799 Wilson government cancelled the carrier programme in the sixties

[@elrjames7799]

@@garyshepherd9367 Now you've 'shifted the goalposts'. First you assert that Labour scrapped the Ark and when proved false you then fall back on cancellation of a 'carrier programme' (whatever that was because there was no such Ministry of defence designation). There is no question: John Nott retired the Ark Royal and, in all probability (in light of consequent extra UK Falkland casualties), bitterly regretted it.

[@donsland1610]

Having served on The Ark on the final deployment 77/78 I really enjoyed watching this. It brought back so many memories, in particular seeing old colleagues such as Pete Shepherd, Neil Thomas and "Spaghetti" Morrelli, king of the whispering boulters.

[@davidrendall7195]

Neil Thomas and Spag Morrell going on to Sea Harrier success in the Falklands.

[@jimmymullen7825]

Fantastic video...exciting stuff...but dangerous too.......great to watch the aircraft coming back to the carrier again......

[@cming9423]

10:43 Mark. Talking about the wind over the deck. "Good for healthy complexion". Good Show, Good Show all 'round.!!!

[@Pearmain2009]

Thanks for loading this one of the FDO's was a work colleague and he had some stories to tell about Ark and Victorious. He was n Ark during this commissioning period until 1976. Proper carrier action and by the best in the world.

[@lucindarandolph369]

Awwwww! My amazing QArmy friend John sent me this. It's what made him join the RN in 1979 as an AEM - Air Engineer Mechanic. (Radio.) God bless all white hat military! NCSWIC. The best is yet to come. Oorah! x

[@dhowells8569]

Great video. Wonderful to see Pete Sheppard as the LSO doing the checks and his calm tones finishing this film...slightly low, Roger, keep that attitude... A legend in his own time.

[@slicer819]

So that was Pete Sheppard then....Sea Fury and FAA legend, died just recently Feb 2020 RIP.

[@howyduinyall7653]

Lt cmdr Sheppard “Is my aircraft ready” ie the sea fury at Yeovilton early 70s, funny what you remember as a young mechanic not long out of school.

[@c.castro4630]

I'm impressed by this "small" aircraft carrier

[@ianstewart2335]

She was very small for the jets she eventually carried - those cats were short compared to US ones - ridiculously short! 😮

[@robertcombs55]

I Love these old films!

[@chrissheppard5068]

If only we had that in 82.

[@britishpatriot812]

I remember on a number of occasions probably late 60s early 70s, seeing several Blackburn Buccaneers parked just behind the boundary fence, right beside the road, while driving with my father down the Sydenham bypass in East Belfast. I think that RNAS Sydenham was a maintenance depot. Now George Best Belfast City Airport.

[@garethmurtagh]

That oil drum was a real “WTF?” moment, at first I thought it was a wheel off one of the tractors!

[@tonyjames5444]

Watching a Buccaner landing on reminds me of the old Navy saying "piss flaps like a buccaneers air brakes"

[@waynemongo]

That's pretty grim!!

[@stevehill4557]

I served in the US Navy 1971 to 77 . RVAH9 recon squadron flying RA5C vigilantes. We we assigned to four carriers during that time. I was impressed at how our proceedures matched up. Even much of the terminology is the same. Stephen Hill AT2

[@HO-bndk]

Phantom: Still the most macho-looking 'plane ever designed.

[@Johnpugwash]

This made me join RN in 1979 , probably too close as my father on board with 800 NAS

[@andreasfey5059]

Great stuff, thank you for sharing

[@captainswoop8722]

This is truly brilliant!

[@danielwoodruffe2938]

Is that "Sharky Ward" in the Briefing room - British legend (Argentine nightmare)!

[@exhorderhd]

Could be him at 4:20 - not sure though. He did fly Phantoms in 892 NAS.

[@JimWhitaker]

A wonderful film.

[@whiteknightcat]

The fast paced banter and jargon is hard to keep up with ... Top-hole. Bally Jerry, pranged his kite right in the how's-your-father; hairy blighter, dicky-birded, feathered back on his sammy, took a waspy, flipped over on his Betty Harpers and caught his can in the Bertie.

[@Creighton-Jones]

Wizard prang and still back on deck in time for tea. Top hole. What-O.

[@Johnpugwash]

Love ❤️ the Gannets

[@CharlesTimothy-z1o]

Brilliant video

[@johnmunro4952]

carrier's with Bucks and phantoms MUST have been the most powerful the RN ever had. The tactical nuclear threat carried by the Buckaneers alone must have given the Soviets nightmares.

[@grasshoppers7742]

The launch run looks really short, get airborne so quick ! Great vid.

[@Bruce-1956]

Fascinating and bloody dangerous.

[@nigeh5326]

Great stuff thanks for posting I'm looking forward to seeing the Queen Elisabeth class soon the Royal Navy without at least 1 carrier it's just not natural 😀🇬🇧

[@DavidHh1969]

Thank Cameron for scrapping Ark Royal. Too soon. We need a Royal Navy with teeth eh.

[@ianstewart2335]

Pure magic 🇬🇧

[@magna4100]

Absolutely brilliant.

[@rivco5008]

That Phantom/Buccaneer combination was 1st class, capable of any kind of mission. I think it was unfortunate that the British carriers were phased out when they had such an effective force afloat. Nothing against the A6, but maybe the US navy should've bought the Buccaneer; from what I've read there was no better low-level attack plane in the world at that time. Just hypothetical, I know they're retired, but with the proper upgrades that aircraft could probably be effective today.

[@Jigglypuff981]

+Californian Well Crabair (the Royal Air Force in derogatory parlance) kept the Buccaneers flying until 1994, think their age showed them up but they were pretty effective against Saddam's defences, and they shaving the rocks right up until they were withdrawn Plus they just look gorgeous :P I can highly recommend "Phoenix Squadron" by Rowland White, gives a fantastic insight into not only the Buccs but also British naval aviation as a whole in the Cold War

[@rivco5008]

+Jigglypuff981 Crabair, I'd never heard that one. I know from books I've read over the years that the interservice disputes between the RAF and the Royal Navy were not good for the RN. In hindsight, there's no way they should not have had more modern aircraft when WW2 began, but I believe the British system meant the Treasury made that call. But, and this is just my opinion I'm not British, the government in the 60's deciding to end the carriers was just as bad. I think, but don't know for sure, that USA expanding it's own carrier force was based, at least in part, by the impending loss of Eagle, Victorious, & Ark Royal. Lot of power in those 3 ships. btw completely agree on the sheer beauty of the Buccaneer there was nothing like it.

[@Jigglypuff981]

+Californian the government was convinced by the RAF that their new fighters and TSR2 bombers would be able to provide adequate defence from any shore-based airfield in the world, and so targeted the new supercarriers for the budget. In the end both the FAA and RAF got doddled by the government when they cancelled TSR2 and their replacement Aardvarks Then of course the Falklands happened and they decided that carriers were a good idea. You live and learn I guess XD

[@Jigglypuff981]

Unfortunately the RAF will be back, the shared ownership of British Harriers was apparently a good idea and the plan is that hey will have general ownership of the entire F-35 force under 1 Group RAF (the combat jet jockeys). What I have heard though is that the Royal Navy has done enough whining to convince them that the carrier priorities come before the RAF telling the Navy what to do, as with the Harriers and Afghanistan Hopefully they have enough sense

[@jasonaris5316]

@@rivco5008 the USN even offered to pay the RN to keep the Ark operating

[@wingnut71]

Great film i have not seen before. I really enjoyed it. Shows just how much work and organization is necessary for flight operations from a carrier deck. I was 4 years old when this was filmed and i remember watching her on TV in 1980 when they took her to Cairnryan for scrap. I wonder if that footage still exists in the BBC archive?

[@ScrotusXL]

We even had ship borne tanking capability back then to take the fight to the Argentine mainland!

[@ScrotusXL]

Sobering thought, watching this. Our naval air power projection was better than when we went to the Falklands just a few years later. That conflict could've been shortened with the strike capabilities of the Buccaneer and the air to air capabilities of the Phantom. As usual civil servants always win by hastily slashing budgets and losing major assets without thinking of or knowing the near future consequences. Back then we thought it inconceivable that the US would take a grandstand seat when the Argentinians invaded, because they were mutual allies. Let's hope that situation doesn't arise again in the next 10 years or so before we have any credible carrier capability.

[@Jigglypuff981]

+ScrotusXL However the fact that we had VTOL/STOVL ships did mean that Invincible and Hermes could launch and recover aircraft in conditions that would've barred flying from a CATOBAR carrier like the Grand Old Lady....I have to agree though that her presence may have prevented the conflict escalating the way it did

[@nigeh5326]

I'm sure I read in one of my books on the Falklands that when Maggie was told about the Argie invasion she asked 'where is the Ark Royal?' . Sadly by then the Ark Royal was up north being stripped 😞

[@FallenPhoenix86]

Think that was in Sharky Ward's book, kind of rings a bell.

[@darrenparker4897]

Yeah right cos half the crews of the new carrier are American!

[@warphammer]

(Reply to ancient comment, I know) ...the thing I've always wondered is how Gannets *alone* would've changed things in that conflict. Whole new game if you could spot the Skyhawks and SEs a ways out. (Or even if the AEW Sea Kings had been ready in time)

[@internetperiodista]

Long Live to Lord Nelson !!!!

[@Mk1Bru]

Just excellent! "Check ears and beard!"

[@rusrus29]

Imagine the quick instant Air Superiority in the Falklands if we had the Ark Royal and its F4'S & Bucks!.."The Argies took advantage in knowing that our fleet was halved ! ,we still done it though! " British Navy power, the Best !!

[@A_10_PaAng_111]

Perfect! Straight, to the point, simple carrier operations. Nothing extravagant or over bearing. Unlike USA carrier operations.

[@janezjonsa3165]

Man... this is 60's. When war was something serius. When there was no #Me2.

[@Howshallwesay]

I served as a Greeny flight deck crew on Hermes (893 Sqdn) and I am sure we called the "Search and Rescue" Helo in this role, the "Plane guard"

[@brianbarrat4541]

Howshallwesay Yes, always referred to as 'Plane Guard' as was the escort frigate. What a great video - brought back many memories - I was on EAGLE on her last commision. (800 Sqdn - Buccs). Those were the days!

[@DerekTolley-t8y]

Plane guard??? was on a type12 WHITBY class. doing PLANE GUARD in the med with the obligatory Russian filming.

[@danman4633]

The Ark was modernized for one reason, to give work to Guz dockyard.

[@franhiatt1]

Brilliant.

[@riff2072]

That was wicked cool.

[@bonesshed.]

I went to the CIO in Leeds 86 to join the Navy. The chap asked me a load of questions which I couldn't answer so he sent me home with a load of bumf and said come back when you know something about the navy ! A week or so latter I went to the RAF CIO and joined the RAF and did nearly 25 years haha However !! I always kinda regret not pushing on with the Navy as carrier ops is very much what I had originally wanted to do. Sliding doors, eh .

[@Delta2D2]

I watched that with British pride. What happened? PM David Cameron happened! No aircraft since the Harrier was ditched in 2012. HMS Ark Royal sold to Turkey as scrap. HMS Ocean sold to Brazil. F35’s (£52M) due to enter service in 2012, but delayed to 2021 (now £112Million). And... 2 of the most advanced Aircraft Carriers in the world (none operational until 2021) that can only operate helicopters and ”4” F35’s to practice with... That British pride is now British shame...

[@numberstation]

“The government you elect is the government you deserve.” It’s a totally different country now.

[@tanyard]

I agree HMS Ark Royal and HMS Illustrious should have been kept with the Harriers until now but due to the state of spending at the time (150bn deficit) run up by Brown and Blair over all of them years the Tories had to reduce costs somewhere and carriers are a big cost. Though now the carrier force is gradually shaping up, as of now HMS Queen Elizabeth is barley a year off of full operational capability and so far 18 of the 138 planned F-35's have been delivered with the first 48 being fast tracked by 2024 (roughly half a dozen jets a year). HMS Prince of Wales will also commission later this year. In terms of size, projection, air wing and capability they really are "the future" over the Invincible class and Harriers of which belong in the 1980-90's. Lastly I agree also that HMS Ocean should have a dedicated replacement but the ship herself was built to civilian specs allot and was only intended to serve 20 years which she did.

[@tonkerdog1243]

The F35s will make our carriers world class now.

[@Delta2D2]

There’s no doubting that Tonker Townsend , it’s just a travesty the journey it’s taken to get there.

[@Delta2D2]

King Tanyard The official figure is Labour spent £1.00771 for every £1.00 they brought in. Multiply that by 15 years and you have a £2.5 trillion. Nevertheless, was the Harrier & Nimrod Squadrons along with the Carrier’s the right call? As we approach the worst global recession in history, who knows what happens now...

[@Axgoodofdunemaul]

I can't watch this without asking, "How the hell do they keep it up?"

[@chrissharp5073]

I joined the RN in 1970 and left in 2002 during this time I watched successive Government's decimate our armed forces all in the name of progress! But then I didn't notice many very Senior Naval officers falling on their swords in protest either. We prided ourselves on our professionalism and dedication to willingly serve our country and were did that get us in the end. We will rue the day in the not too distant future that we will not be able to defend ourselves from what is increasingly becoming a dangerous world.

[@raybin6873]

Nice aircraft carrier operations. Curious...who does it best...US Navy or Royal Navy?

[@ThirdDegreeWitchExplores]

Seaking Auto Pilot up the spout .......Priceless :)

[@waterjumper]

Brills! many thanks.

[@richardprice7763]

What a navy we had back then, more of a coastal command now sadly...

[@SM-dt1pr]

Everything about this looks insanely dangerous -and the enemy's not even shooting at them! Just our of interest, how many people were killed in training?

[@davidsmall2944]

This was the last of the golden age or the Royal Navy, not only did we have aircraft carriers we also had the ships to have battle groups and separate fleets!! Labour have alot to answer !! People say we have two super carriers now !! Yep but not the fleet fleet to back them up !! We need 100 ship navy again !!

[@Johnpugwash]

Most dangerous place in the World

[@mattsullivan8466]

Guy at 5:25 looking pretty casual for someone on a flight deck

[@paganist10]

Looking for anyone who remembers AH Phil Lees joined up '55 retired 79 - my dad sadly passed away 4 years ago

[@Booyaka9000]

6:14 If either of those guys out front of the Gannet are you, or you had that job, holy shit my hat is off to you and your giant balls!

[@BIVVIEDUP]

great channel

[@mrspecs9211]

2:42 that didn't age well

[@dkoz8321]

Props (spinning) scare me the most. Jet blast can blow you over the side and burn, but those meat choppers scare me the most.

[@gazza2933]

Teamwork!

[@RykerRider46]

Which carrier is this? I used to work for a guy who was a ship's diver on HMS Illustrious. He was a good man.

[@minormajor1]

One of the pilots (at 5:30) is David Hansom, known as Twiggy. David and I joined Cathay Pacific on the same day, and we did our command courses (on the B747) at the same time. We were both checked (one of many over many months!) by a fellow by the name of Pete de Sousa, ex Fleet Air Arm Scimitars (who was checked out by my Hamble instructor, Roy Noyes). I recall going up to the 4th floor of the CX building around Christmas 1987 with David to sight our check reports (which we had to read and sign off). De Sousa did us proud, we both got reports that glowed in the dark. Sadly, both have now passed away.

[@johnbutt1960]

Not being too picky but the Wessex is HAR1 and the Seakings of 824 NAS are HAS1 not 2

[@vkorhonen3993]

Wondering if it would be possible to point out anybody described in Rowland White's "Phoenix Squadron"...?

[@well-blazeredman6187]

'Phoenix Squadron; is a superb book, from the dust-jacket cover to the last full-stop. Anyone who enjoyed 'Vulcan 607' would love it.

[@josephturner4047]

We had a P.O. Cook who was called Flying Officer W****** on account of his inability to keep PD on Courageous.

[@mrjklian]

If she was still in service in the Falklands, Argentina would have wiped the floor.

[@rogerakers1828]

Watched this many times but only just noticed. In @ 5.24 minutes a chockhead! blue surcoat wearing shorts at flying stations. This is not allowed for anyone least of all the flight deck party. This a training film so would have been shown at SAH. The School of Aircraft Handling at Culdrose where chockheads us chockheads did our training. Any explanations from anyone?

[@bouya924]

How can they operate such big and fast airclafts on such a small flightdeck ?

[@cming9423]

Excellent video even today. Wish there was this kind of commentary with the US Navy carriers. So much of what you watch happening on videos of US carriers is guesswork on the part of the viewer.

[@ThreeHivesontheHill]

How do I get a copy of this video incase KZbin removes it in the future

[@tommydoing50]

Great

[@allgood6760]

Cool vid👍🇳🇿

[@linedriver1]

If only the Public knew what was ACTUALLY going on in these days!

[@yeyonge]

and these carrier and mighty phantoms didnt see actions in Falkland sad

[@hatuletoh]

"The angled flight deck was an originally a British idea!" Another glorious first for England! 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏅🍻 Of course, at the time, the UK didn't have enough money to buy a rowboat, so the actual testing, proof of concept, and refinements fell to another English-speaking country, but that's all right--that particular country didn't single-handedly hold off the Luftwaffe for a year, nor have to absorb a a crap ton of Nazi bombs into its cities for the trouble. In any case, think history has shown that collaboration produces the best results for both countries.