Hermes

February 1970

Some of the ships’ aircraft operated from RAF Luqa during her stay. Double asterisks (**) denotes an aircraft logged at the airport.

AIRCRAFT SERIAL SQUADRON NOTES

B. Buccaneer S.2 XT275/235/H ** 801 D/D 29/7/65 to RN. Converted to S Mk 2A standard and issued to No 208 Sqn in 11/74. Returned to BAe at Bitteswell in the summer of 1978 for mod to S Mk 2B standard then passed to No 15 Sqn on 26/9/78 before finding itself one of the more fatigued airframes and placed in store with No 19 MU St Athan in 8/81. Transferred to long-term storage with No 27 MU Shawbury by 11/83.

B. Buccaneer S.2 XV162/232/H ** 801 D/D 21/9/66 to RN and with No 12 Sqn at its formation but lost off Bridlington on 13/6/72.

B. Buccaneer S.2 XV168/231/H 801 D/D 13/12/66 to RN and delivered to No 12 Sqn as one of its original airframes in 1969 with which it served until 8/85 when it passed to No 208 Sqn's charge.

B. Buccaneer S.2 XV332/233/H ** 801 D/D 16/1/67 to RN and to No 12 Sqn as one of its original airframes in 1969. With No 237 OCU 10/72-10/73 before again returning to No 12 Sqn charge by 2/75. However, passed back to RN and 809 Sqn until squadron's demise on 4/12/78, when in company with the other 13 aircraft flew to RAF St Athan for rework and handing over to the RAF. Issued to No 216 Sqn in 1/80 but was back with No 12 Sqn by 1/81 eventually proceeding to No 208 in 2/84. Following a major overhaul at St Athan in late 1986 the airframe was delivered to No 237 OCU in 2/87.

B. Buccaneer S.2 XV333/234/H ** 801 D/D 27/1/67 to RN and first noted in RAF service unmarked with No 12 Sqn in 3/72. Handed on to No 237 OCU in 1/73 and subsequently to No 12 in 7/73, No 15 in 5/74 and back to RN before once again serving with No 15 in 9/79. At the deactivation of No 15 Sqn as a Buccaneer squadron the airframe was placed in short-term store at St Athan before issue to No 12 Sqn in 10/1/81. Served with No 12 until at least 11/1/85 when as part of Sea Eagle update programme it was transferred to No 208 Sqn, first being noted as such in 5/86.

B. Buccaneer S.2 XV334/230/H 801 D/D 6/2/67 to RN and was delivered to RAF charge from Sydenham on 7/12/72 and issued to No 12 Sqn. It was then taken out of service and despatched to BAe at Brough on 9/12/73 for mod to S2B standard. Returned to No 12 Sqn charge by 6/75 and went on to serve alternately with No 12 Sqn and No 237 OCU until transfer to No 15 at Laarbruch in 1/79. Airframe returned to St Athan store in 1/81 and resides in long-term store with No 27 MU at RAF Shawbury.

B. Buccaneer S.2 XV338/236/H ** 801 D/D 29/3/67 to RN and first noted on RAF charge with No 12 Sqn in 8/73. Passed to No 237 OCU by 2/75 until dismantled at Honington for roading to RAF St Athan in 1/81 where it was declared surplus and broken up for spares with the cockpit section being returned to Honington as 8774M on 7/2/83.

DH Sea Vixen FAW.2 XJ490/245/H ** 893

DH Sea Vixen FAW.2 XJ491/250/H ** 893

DH Sea Vixen FAW.2 XJ518/253/H ** 893

DH Sea Vixen FAW.2 XJ526/255/H ** 893

DH Sea Vixen FAW.2 XJ571/242/H ** 893 Seen at RAF Luqa on 16.02.72.

DH Sea Vixen FAW.2 XJ578/244/H ** 893

DH Sea Vixen FAW.2 XN688/251/H ** 893

DH Sea Vixen FAW.2 XN691/247/H ** 893

DH Sea Vixen FAW.2 XN692/247/H ** 893

DH Sea Vixen FAW.2 XN702/254/H ** 893

DH Sea Vixen FAW.2 XP920/252/H 893

F. Gannet AEW.3 XL454/261/H **, XL456/260/H **, XP227/263/H ** 849 “A” flight.

F. Gannet COD.4 XA454/264/H ** 849 “A” flight.

W. Wessex HAS.1 XS877/265/H ** SAR flight.

W. Wessex HAS.3 XP139/272/H ** 814

W. Wessex HAS.3 X_923/271/H ** 814