No.800 Sqn FAA - Squadron Details

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No.800 Sqn FAA - Squadron Details - Aviation Directory

No.800 Sqn FAA

Name : No.800 Sqn FAA
Country : UK
More Details : Fleet Air Arm

Pilots and Aircrew for : No.800 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

Bruen, J
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Bruen, J

Callaghan, M J
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Callaghan, M J

Joined the RN in 1966. Mike qualified as a Buccaneer Observer in 1968 and served in 800 Squadron (HMS EAGLE) and completed three tours with 809 Squadron (HMS ARK ROYAL). He also served as an instructor on 736 Squadron (Buccaneer OFT) at RNAS Lossiemouth and with 237 OCU (the RAF Buccaneer Operational Conversion Unit) at RAF Honington. After the final commission in HMS ARK ROYAL, Mike joined the staff of the Sea Harrier Intensive Flying Trials Unit (IFTU) at RNAS Yeovilton in 1979, which introduced the aircraft into RN service. When the IFTU became the HQ Squadron (899), Mike remained on the staff as an instructor to assist in the training of the pilots for the first frontline squadrons. In 1981, he was appointed to the staff of HQ 3 Commando Brigade RM as the Brigade Aviation Officer. Barely having completed his Arctic Warfare Training in Norway in 1982, he deployed with the Brigade to the Falklands, embarked in HMS FEARLESS. As part of the planning team for the amphibious assault, he had a key role in co-ordinating the offensive air, helicopter support and fire support aspects of the campaign. He even waded ashore from a landing craft in San Carlos! In 1984, Mike was appointed to the NATO HQ in Oslo, Norway (HQ AFNORTH). Returning to UK in 1986, he became the Operations Officer, RNAS Yeovilton, His final RN appointment in 1989 was as a member of the Directing Staff at the Maritime Tactical School, with responsibilities for Sea Harrier and carrier operations. On retiring from the RN in 1991, Mike joined British Aerospace (now BAE SYSTEMS) and has been involved in a number of programmes including the Future Aircraft Carrier. He is now based in Bristol and lives in Bath with his wife and daughter.

Charlton, P
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Charlton, P

Collins, Paul A J
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Collins, Paul A J

Joined the Royal Navy in 1964 and as a midshipman served in HMS EAGLE in the Far East in 1966. He qualified as an observer at RNAS Lossiemouth in 1969 and joined 800 NAS flying in Buccaneer Mk 2 embarked in HMS EAGLE 1970-71. HMS EAGLE was deployed to the Mediterranean and to the Far East during this period. Immediately after returning to the UK he flew to New York to join 809 NAS embarked in HMS ARK ROYAL and served throughout 1972 embarked and at RAF Honington. After a further year at Honington he converted to ASW helicopters and served with 826 NAS embarked in HMS TIGER and HMS HERMES. On completion of the US Navy Staff Course in 1976 he joined 700 Lynx Intensive Flying Trials Unit for the introduction of the Lynx HAS 2 to operational service and subsequently became the flight commander of Phoebe Flight embarked in HMS PHOEBE. He was Operations Officer at RNAS Yeovilton 1979-81 and during this time flew in the Royal Naval Historic Flight for two display seasons in the Fairy Firefly and Swordfish. He was then the Operations Officer of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS during build and on commissioning 1982-1984. He was on the staff of Flag Officer 3rd Flotilla as Staff Plans Officer 1984-86 and embarked in HM Ships INVINCIBLE and ARK ROYAL [new] during this period. He left the RN in 1988 after 2 years on the staff of Commander British Forces Hong Kong. Paul then joined the Army as a Major in the RAPC serving in Germany with 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and HQ 1st Armoured Division, RPO Exeter and HQ 49[East] Brigade in Nottingham. He retired in 2000 and now lives on Dartmoor.

Cox, Frank
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Cox, Frank

Joined the Fleet Air Arm in 1962 directly from school having received a nautical education and been involved in gliding from a very early age. He evaded attempts to divert him into becoming a fulltime â€˜Fishheadâ€™ career officer and remained on a short service commission in aviation where his heart lay. On completion of training in 1965 Frank served in 800 Squadron flying Mk. 1 Buccaneers from HMS Eagle. In 1967 he joined 738 Squadron flying Hunters as a Tactical Instructor. Having completed the Air Warfare Instructorâ€™s course he returned to 738 as an AWI where he also flew as a member of the â€˜Diamondsâ€™ Aerobatic team. In 1967 he returned to the Buccaneer world flying Mk. 2â€™s in 809 Squadron from Lossiemouth and HMS Ark Royal. He joined the staff of 764 Squadron (AWI School) in 1971 and in 1972 commenced an appointment as a staff AWI on 237 Buccaneer OCU at RAF Honington. Thence, in 1974, followed an exchange tour with the US Navy instructing students in the art of weaponary without the assistance of computer wizardry on the A6 Intruder at NAS Oceana. He returned to 809 Squadron in 1976 and became Senior Pilot in 1977 until the Squadron was disbanded in December 1978. A sojourn at RAF (Ex RNAS) Brawdy until 1981 as Senior Naval Officer overseeing Naval Students through their advanced training on Hawk aircraft led to his final appointment with the Naval Flying Standards Flight at Yeovilton as the AWI where he also flew the Firefly and the Seafury for the Naval Historic Flight displays. Having completed his naval service in 1983 Frank continued to fly Hunters until 1985 for Airwork Ltd. and subsequently Flight Refueling Ltd. Since then he has been flying Corporate jets worldwide for various private owners. He has his own â€˜Flight Deckâ€™ in North Devon where he flies and restores vintage and classic aircraft.

Crosley, Michael
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Died : 20 / 6 / 2010

Crosley, Michael

Robert Michael Crosley was born on February 24 1920 , Mike Crosley was a Metropolitan Police constable (a reserved occupation) when war broke out, but volunteered on the day of the Fleet Air Arm strike on Taranto, November 11 1940. Fleet Air Arm Ace Mike Crosley joined the carrier HMS Eagle in late 1941, one of four FAA pilots flying Sea Hurricanes in defence of the Malta convoys, On June 12 he was on alert on the deck of HMS Eagle. After two hours strapped in his cockpit, he was expecting to stand down when he heard the klaxon sound. Within a few moments he was airborne, being directed by radar to an enemy aircraft; and when his flight leader turned back with engine trouble, Crosley decided to pursue the enemy alone. He closed until the wingspan of the three-engined Italian bomber filled his gunsight, then pressed the trigger. At that moment he noted sparks coming from the underside of the bomber â€“ it was the enemy returning fire. Then smoke burst from the Italian's engines and its wingtip came dangerously close as it dived towards the sea. Crosley followed, determined to finish it off; but as he emerged from the cloud he saw the bomber floating on the water with a yellow life raft beside it. The next day Crosley shot down a twin-engined German fighter-bomber. He wove in and out of the German's slipstream, and when the target filled his gunsight he fired one long burst which hit the aircraft's wing, "sparking like firecrackers". In August 1942, during Operation Pedestal, he was lucky to escape with his life after the carrier was torpedoed and sunk by U73. She capsized within 7 minutes. He later joined HMS Biter flying Sea Hurricanes, in Operation Torch. and on November 8 he shot down two Vichy French fighters in a dogfight over the airfield of La Senia, near Oran. He was awarded his first DSC. Mike Crosley was then selected to pass on his experience to new fighter pilots at HMS Dipper, near Yeovilton, where he flew the Royal Navy's version of the Spitfire, known as the Seafire. By D-Day Crosley had joined 886 Naval Air Squadron, flying Seafires from Lee-on-the-Solent. His role was to direct the fire of the heavy ships which were bombarding the German defences. On the second day of the Allied landings he shot down a German Bf109, which crashed 15 miles south-west of Caen, and two days later damaged an Fw190 which he chased in a dogfight through the skies over Normandy. After D-Day Mike Crossley was appointed to command 880 Naval Air Squadron; this was based in Orkney as part of 30 Naval Air Wing, which embarked in the fleet carrier Implacable and carried out a series of attacks on German shipping in the fjords of Norway. By the time the war ended 880 Squadron and Implacable were prosecuting the war in the Pacific, striking at the Japanese mainland. Crosley was mentioned in despatches, and in August 1945 received a Bar to his DSC. he finished the war in the Far East, with 5.5 victories. After the war Mike Crosley joined No 6 Empire Test Pilots' Course, and left the Navy to test Short's flying boats under development in Belfast. On the outbreak of the Korean War he rejoined the Navy, helping to train new pilots and flying 75 missions over Korea from the carrier Ocean. He wrote pilots' notes for a range of aircraft, which he flew to their limits, and was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air. In 1954-55 he was commanding officer of 813 Squadron, flying the Wyvern from the new HMS Eagle. In 1958 Crosley was promoted commander and returned to test flying at Boscombe Down, making the first deck landings of the Buccaneer low-level bomber. Mike Crosley logged 2,818 flying hours in 147 different types of aircraft and made 415 deck landings. Throughout the war he kept extensive diaries, on which he based two books: They Gave Me a Seafire (1986) and In Harm's Way (1995). Sadly Mike Crosley died at the age of 90 on the 20th June 2010.

Eatwell, J E
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Eatwell, J E

Joined the Royal Navy as an Air Cadet in 1956 and went straight to sea in HMS Theseus, part of the Home Fleet Training Squadron. He commenced Observer training in September 1956 flying Sea Prince, Firefly, Gannet, Brigand and Sea Venom aircraft, before embarking with 894 Sea Venom Squadron in HMS Eagle in 1958. He received training at De Havilland for the Sea Vixen and embarked on HMS Ark Royal with 892 Squadron, the first Sea Vixen Squadron in 1960, transferring to HMS Victorious for a deployment to the Far East. After a tour with 899 Headquarters Squadron, he transferred to the Buccaneer S Mk 1 in 1963 and then received training as a Photographic Interpreter (PI) prior to joining 800 squadron in HMS Eagle as a Photo Recce Specialist. This was followed by a tour instructing in 736 Squadron before rejoining 800 Squadron with the Mk 2 Buccaneer for another embarked tour in HMS Eagle covering the withdrawal from Aden. Further appointments at Lossiemouth as Station Intelligence Officer and P I to Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers, Operations Staff in HMS Eagle and as a Trials Officer at RAE Farnborough followed. His final four years were spent at the Joint School of Photographic Interpretation, responsible for the selection and training of all RN. WRNS and RNR PIs. He retired from the RN in 1976 but remained active as a PI and Intelligence Officer in the RNR, finally retiring in 1993.

Gedge, T J H
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Gedge, T J H

Commander T J H Gedge AFC Royal Navy started flying in Glasgow University Air Squadron and joined the Royal Navy in January 1963 as a short career fighter pilot, later transferring to a full career commission. He flew Sea Vixen all weather fighter aircraft from HMS Victorious and F-4 Phantom aircraft from HMS Ark Royal before commanding 800 Naval Air Squadron, the first front-line Sea Harrier squadron in HMS Invincible and later in HMS Hermes. He formed and commanded 809 Squadron Sea Harriers for Operation Corporate for relief of the Falkland Islands in 1982, initially flying from MV Atlantic Conveyor. Qualified as a Flying Instructor (QFI) and later as an air warfare instructor (AWI) he served at Yeovilton, Lossiemouth and Leuchars in second-line flying appointments. He was the last Senior Pilot (SP) of the Royal Naval Air Warfare School 764 Squadron and later SP of the RN Phantom Training Flight at RAF Leuchars followed by SP of the front line Phantoms, 892 Squadron. Other appointments included HMS Jupiter, Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth as Aviation Officer and 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Staff trained at Greenwich he also completed the RAF Air Warfare Course at RAF Cranwell and the RN Force Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Course at HMS Dryad. Since the Falklands War, Tim Gedge served in the MOD in the Directorate of Naval Air Warfare and later in the Directorate of Operational Requirements (Sea Systems) on the British Naval Staff in Washington and as Staff Aviation Officer to the Flag Officer Flotilla Three (the seagoing NATO Commander ASW Striking Force). His active service career completed in the MOD Central Staffs and he retired in 1996.

Holloway, M
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Holloway, M

Joined the Royal Navy in 1963 as a short service pilot. He served with 800 Squadron flying the Buccaneer Mk1 from HMS Eagle and subsequently he flew the Mk2, also with 800 Squadron. He was a QFI and served at RAF Linton on Ouse in a second-line flying appointment. After leaving the Royal Navy in 1971 he joined the Fleet Requirements and Air Direction unit at Yeovilton, flying the Hunter and Falcon 20 that were operated by Flight Refuelling Ltd. For several years he flew in the Blue Herons aerobatic team. When the Hunters were withdrawn he flew for a number of minor airlines before returning to Yeovilton in 1998 as a pilot on Heron Flight flying the Navy Jetstream on communication flights all round Europe. He retired from flying at the end of 2003.

Lowe, I
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Lowe, I

Ritchie, B
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Ritchie, B

Sabey, A
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Sabey, A

Taylour, Edward
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Died : 13 / 9 / 1942

Taylour, Edward

Squadrons :
No.759 Sqn FAA
No.800 Sqn FAA
No.804 Sqn FAA