Description
Object description
On her way up the Channel to Portsmouth to be decommissioned for scrapping, HMS Eagle flies off her aircraft, Buccaneers of 800 Squadron and Sea Vixens of 899 Squadron. The Vixens fly to Yeovilton where the pilots greet their children, wives and girlfriends.
Full description
RNAS Yeovilton. Underexposed LS as four Sea Vixens fly past. Sea Vixens FAW.2s of 899 Squadron from HMS Eagle land at Yeovilton - still very dark. Vixen 125 folds wings and joins parked aircraft. Pilot disembarks from 121. Pilot and observer deplane from aircraft 123 to greet waiting women. MCU of 124 - the aircraft's nose has been hastily painted with the words LAST VIXEN DECK LANDING EVER - the bearded pilot seats his two children on the edge of the cockpit. Pilots disperse with their friends and families. MS of starboard side of the nose of Vixen 127 decorated with a flying stork carrying a baby and the words TODAYS THE DAY - TONIGHTS THE NIGHT. MS of 127's pilot cradling a baby in swaddling clothes - another man, possibly his observer, stands next to him holding a second child. The wives are also present. The portside of 127 features a second stork and the words WE SHOT THE WORKS and BIG DAVE. Cut to four Vixens flying overhead and peeling off into a turn. The girlfriends, wives and children of the aircrew wait for their arrival. The Vixens make another pass. Ground crew also wait. Sea Vixen 121 XJ 579 taxies up, wings folding, to be directed to the park - the aircraft has a red-painted shark's mouth and eyes painted on the nose. More aircraft join the park - 134 taxies past wearing a red mouth, a Playboy bunny on the nose and the legend LOVE MACHINE. The pilot and observer of 132 disembark - the figure 2 of the fleet number has been transformed into a duck and, as the two men walk away, the aircraft can be seen to sport a particularly fine set of pointed teeth. Aircrew greet their wives and girlfriends. CU of the pilot of 124 with one of his children. Cut to Sea Fury FB.11 TF 956 being run up and taking off for a historic fly past - it is painted up as an aircraft operating off Theseus as part of TG 9.395 during the Korean War. A Hawker Hunter T.8 takes off. The Sea Fury makes a pass over the field before landing. HMS Eagle at sea - some negative scratches. MS from helicopter as Eagle steams right to left through frame - an AEW.3 Gannet is on deck. HA sequence as Gannets of 849 Squadron's D Flight are launched - one COD.4 and three AEW.3 aircraft. Sea Vixens are launched from bow and waist catapults, followed by Buccaneers. HA as another Sea Vixen is launched - 136 decorated with painted flowers. HA from island as Buccaneers 104 and 107 are launched. LS along the deck as Flight Deck Director brings another Buccaneer forward from the range. Buccaneer 101 taxies onto the waist catapult - she has some modest decoration in the words HOME -> BEEP BEEP! painted in blue on the starboard wing slipper tank and YAHOO on the engine intake duct. MS of the nose of Sea Vixen 137 bearing a fine shark's mouth - in the background is the less martial 136 decorated with a pink flower. Vixen 123 taxies past camera. 133 is launched from waist catapult. 135 is directed forward to the bow. Planeguard Wessex 48 lifts off to take up station astern - Wessex 47 is already off to port. HA onto Buccaneer 114 on bow catapult as the catapult team fit hold-back and bridle - the bridle is tensioned, hauling the aircraft back on to its tailskid - the FDO gives the signal and 114 is launched. More Buccaneers are brought forward - 102 is launched. HA onto Sea Vixen 136 as pilot and observer are strapped in - as Buccaneers 100 and 106 are launched from the waist Vixen 136 taxies forward to be launched from the bow. More Sea Vixen launchings. Final sequence shows more of the demonstration by Yeovilton's Sea Fury.
Physical description
16mm