Fleet Air Arm Carrier War by Darling Kev

Author:Darling, Kev
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2009-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

A situation not unknown to many pilots of the Sea Fury operating over Korea, the damage to the airframe caused by making an emergency landing; these being frequently caused by engine or hydraulic failures. (Rick Harding Collection)

Carrying both underwing fuel tanks plus rocket rails is this Sea Fury FB.11 WG603 138-CW which spent much of its time being used in the weapons training role. (Rick Harding Collection)

Around breakfast time on 18 October HMS Theseus departed from Inchon and the first flights were launched soon afterwards, as normal the Firefly squadron put up an anti-submarine and mine patrol while the Sea Furies provided air cover. While Theseus had been in port the ground forces had pushed the North Koreans hard and the designated bomb line, the movable point on the tactical map above which weapons could be used without restriction, was moving northwards rapidly. This meant that targets were few and far between. As there was little trade for the aircraft the Fireflies over flew the frontlines while the Sea Furies took a look at the harbours along the coast, while little was to be seen one Sea Fury experienced anti-aircraft fire which damaged the engine, fortunately the pilot was able to make an emergency landing on the carrier. With so little to do in their assigned area the Theseus Task Force moved further north taking up a position which enabled the air group to fly comfortably in the Sinanju-Chongju-Sonchon zone, arriving on 19 October. The first operations were launched the next morning, their targets being in the vicinity of Chongju. The Fireflies attacked buildings used for storage while the Sea Furies attacked various warehouses and the infrastructure of the local railway. As the town had been severely bombed by the USAF B-29 force there was very little of significance left to attack. While further sorties were launched in the afternoon and the following morning not enough targets remained in the area to justify Theseus remaining on station, therefore, the Task Force was ordered back to port at Sasebo. The return to Sasebo was well timed as the reeving of the catapult was found to be worn through while the arrester cables were also in need of an overhaul.

Pictured on the lift of HMS Glory is Sea Fury FB.11 VW546 110-R complete with Korean identification striping. Once clear of the lift the aircraft would be prepared for its next mission. (FAAM Yeovilton)

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