Thunder & Lightnings

Supermarine Scimitar - Photo Gallery

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A Vickers ad from early 1955 for the Supermarine 525. A Royal Navy recruitment advertisement from 1957. A Royal Navy recruitment advertisement from 1963. Rather corny, but considerably more sophisticated than the RAF's efforts of the same years - "It's a man's life in the RAF!" being one of the more memorable tag lines!

Scimitar Selection

Scimitar F.1 XD264 / 154 of 803 NAS, HMS Victorious, 1959. Unfortunately I have lost the details of who sent me this fine shot - if you recognise it, please get in touch. Skyraiders and Sea Venoms in the background. Scimitar F.1 XD2?? / 152 of 803 NAS, HMS Hermes. Unfortunately I have misplaced Jon's original email so not sure of a date for this photo - if it was mid 1962, this is probably XD213. Scimitar F.1 XD215 / 150 of 803 NAS, HMS Hermes. Unfortunately I have misplaced Jon's original email so not sure of a date for this photo - probably mid 1962. The carrier-code 'R' on a dark red tailfin identify Scimitar F.1 XD280/100 as being from HMS Ark Royal. Belonging to 800 NAS, it is seen taxiing in at RAF Khormaksar prior to taking up patrolling duties along the Yemen border. Kenya was one of the most enjoyable ports-of-call for naval personnel and many a visit was extended by an aircraft going unserviceable, as was the case with this 800 NAS Scimitar F.1, XD215/108 in October 1963. A serious defect kept it on the tarmac at Embakasi Airport (Nairobi) for several days while spares were transported from HMS Ark Royal via Mombassa. XD215 survives as a nose section owned by Nick Parker in Cheltenham. Scimitar F.1 XD274 / 114 of 800B Flight, HMS Eagle, 1965 or 66. 800B flight was an inflight refuelling flight, carried on board to increase the range of 800 Squadron Buccaneers and 899 Squadron Sea Vixens. John tells me Scimitar pilots were generally mad and once let off the lead with no drop tanks and such used to put on some impressive displays. Lt Cdr Paddy Waring used to drop off the cat and skim the sea such that his exhaust caused a tail plume to be generated on the water. After about half a mile he would then pull up into the vertical and scream away. XD274 shown here has hook and legs down, is carrying three drops and a buddy flight refuelling pod on the starboard inner pylon. Scimitar F.1 XD231 had the name Stormform applied to the tailfin when this photograph was taken of it arriving at RAF Fairford in 1966. Operated by the RAE at Bedford, it was the last of its type to be refurbished at Long Marston (in 1967).