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No.893 Sqn FAA |
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Name : No.893 Sqn FAA Country : UK More Details : Fleet Air Arm |
Known Service Details : | |||||||
Pilot or Aircrew | Rank | Start of Service | End of Service | Known Dates | Aircraft | Airframes | Notes |
May 1956 | 2nd November 1956 | ||||||
| Pilots and Aircrew for : No.893 Sqn FAA | ||
| A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking their name. | ||
| Name | Info | |
| Olding, Robert Click the name above to see a profile of Olding, Robert
| Olding, Robert Robert Charles Olding was born in Colchester on November 29 1932 and attended Colchester Royal Grammar School. During National Service he trained as a navigator and elected to remain in the RAF. In April 1954 he joined No 264 Squadron, operating Meteor night fighters, before his adventurous streak led him to volunteer for a two-year appointment with the Fleet Air Arm. Olding was an experienced RAF night fighter navigator when he volunteered for an exchange tour with the Fleet Air Arm’s 893 Squadron in May 1956. With the crisis over Suez escalating, 893 flew its Sea Venoms to the Mediterranean and embarked in HMS Eagle. The Anglo-French air offensive, Operation Musketeer, began on the night of October 31 with the aim of neutralising the powerful Egyptian Air Force (EAF), initially by bombing its airfields. At first light the following day, carrier-borne aircraft launched a series of attacks to destroy aircraft on the ground. During a further raid that afternoon Olding and his pilot, Lt-Cdr John Willcox, led a formation to attack the airfield at Bilbeis, destroying a number of EAF aircraft by rocket and cannon fire. The next day Willcox and Olding flew on another strike, attacking aircraft dispersed at Almaza airfield. Here the anti-aircraft fire was both accurate and heavy, and Olding’s Sea Venom was hit under the forward fuselage, blasting a large hole in the floor of the cockpit. Olding suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his legs but continued with his duties. With the hydraulics damaged, Willcox had to control the aircraft in the reversionary manual mode. En route back to Eagle, Olding applied a tourniquet to his leg and injected himself with morphine. Unaware of the full extent of the damage to his Sea Venom, Willcox elected to land on the carrier without the flaps and with the undercarriage up. The first attempt had to be aborted but, with the hook lowered, Willcox made a second, slower, approach with Olding calling out the speeds. After landing, Olding passed out. He was rushed to the ship’s sick bay before being flown to a hospital in Cyprus, where his leg became infected and had to be amputated above the knee. He was awarded a DSC. After returning from Suez, Olding spent three months having treatment and learning to walk with his false leg. He refused to use a stick (he walked unaided throughout his life) and even tried to ride a bicycle, but came off, breaking his arm. He returned to duty, and a year later started flying again, this time on the Javelin night fighter. Robert Olding died on 19th October 2012. | |
| Winton, John de Click the name above to see a profile of Winton, John de | Winton, John de 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. In 1962 he transferred to Lossiemouth, initially to Buccaneer Mk1 Intensive Flying Trials Unit, then as Senior Pilot 801 Squadron, first front line Buccaneer squadron, HMS Ark Royal and HMS Victorious in the Far East. He was CO of 809 Squadron Trials and Training Squadron Lossiemouth in 1964. In 1965 he became CO 801 Squadron HMS Victorious, Far East, then after disbanding Mk 1 Squadron, CO 0f 801 Squadron again, first Mk 2 Buccaneer Squadron. He was promoted to Commander at the end of 1965. He commanded HMS Puma, frigate from 1967-1969, then London (MOD) i/c of all Fleet Air Arm officer appointments. Promoted to Captain in 1971. Staff of CinC Fleet 1971-73. Commanded HMS Leander and Captain 3rd Frigate squadron from 1974-75. Director of Naval Air Warfare (MOD) from 1975-78. He retired in 1980. Served in Sultan of Oman’s Navy as Chief of Staff from 1982-88. He is married with four children, six grandchildren and lives in Somerset. He keeps busy with many jobs in his large garden, playing golf and croquet. | |
Known Individual Aircraft of No.893 Sqn FAA : | ||||||||
Type | Serial | Codes | First Flew | Squadron History | Aircrew History | History Notes | Engine | Factory |
D | 02/06/1942 | no information | no information | Merlin 46 | High Post | |||
| Aircraft for : No.893 Sqn FAA | ||
| A list of all aircraft associated with No.893 Sqn FAA. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name. | ||
| Aircraft | Info | |
Sea Vixen 
Manufacturer : De Havilland Production Began : 1951 | Sea Vixen The de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen was a twin boom, two seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm during the 1950s–1960s, originally known as the DH.110, an aircraft designed for both the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm (FAA). The de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen was designed as an all-weather, missile-armed, high-speed jet fighter. The Royal navy required a fighter to replace the aging De Havilland Sea Venom and the Fleet Air Arm took the Sea Vixen, but the Royal Air Force did not, instead opting for its competitor the Gloster Javelin. The first De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen prototype first flew on 26 September 1951 piloted by WW2 ace John Cunningham. In 1952 tragedy struck while the aircraft was being demonstrated at the Farnborough Airshow on 6th September 1952. Following a display by a Sea Vixen on its ability to break the sound barrier, it disintegrated, killing 31 people, including the aircraft's two crew: test pilot and record breaker John Derry and Tony Richards. Crew: Two, Length: 55 ft 7 in (16.94 m) Wingspan 51 ft 0 in (15.54 m) Height: 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) Empty weight: 27,950 lb (12,680 kg) Loaded weight: 41,575 lb (18,860 kg) Maximum takeoff weight 46,750 lb (21,205 kg) Powerplant: 2×Rolls Royce Avon Engines Mk.208 Maximum speed Mach 0.91 (690 mph, 1,110 km/h) at sea level Range 790 mi (1,270 km) with internal fuel Service ceiling: 48,000 ft (15,000 m) Rate of Climb: 9,000 ft/min (46 m/s) Armament: Rockets: 4 × Matra rocket pods with 18 × SNEB 68 mm rockets each Missiles: 4 × Red Top or Firestreak missiles Bombs: 2 × 500 lb (227 kg) bombs. | |
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Died : 19 / 10 / 2012