A Royal Navy Cold War Buccaneer Pilot: Flying the Famous Maritime Strike Aircraft
£6.60
Steve Kershaw joined the Royal Navy in 1963. He began flying training in 1968 and progressed to the Blackburn Buccaneer – a world-class naval strike jet that was designed to fly very fast at ultra-low altitudes. In 1970, Steve joined 800 Naval Air Squadron, which embarked on HMS Eagle on its epic final cruise.
The voyage to the Far East was far from trouble-free – an aircraft crashed into the sea, there was a devastating explosion on board the carrier, and then two sailors were arrested for murder in Auckland. New year 1972 saw HMS Eagle decommissioned and 800 NAS disbanded.
Steve was transferred to 845 Naval Air Squadron, on which he flew Wessex helicopters. Embarked on HMS Hermes, the squadron supported Royal Marines Commandos during their deployment to the mountains of Norway under NATO plans for a European war. During this time, helicopters were strangely sabotaged on board and one of them crashed into a fjord at night.
By 1974, HMS Ark Royal was the last remaining Royal Navy fixed-wing aircraft carrier to which Steve returned to fly Buccaneers on 809 Squadron. It was in this period that he participated in a NATO exercise in Norway and a Mediterranean cruise.
On return, the squadron prepared for a bombing competition between the RAF and Royal Navy Buccaneers. As part of this, Steve flew a low-level sortie off the Lincolnshire coast. The light was fading, and he was struggling to see the target ahead. He failed to see they were losing height. The aircraft hit the sea. Steve and his observer, David, were ejected into the water.
In this book, Steve’s story is revealed by his son, Simon, through the words of his father, drawn from a mass of letters sent by him, and the recollections of those who served alongside him.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Air World (30 Jun. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 8800 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 210 pages |
| Page numbers source ISBN | 139904012X |
by Amazon Customer
A must for the many enthusiasts of the Buccaneer aircraft, well written in the 1st Person.
by Dunsailing4v1Mess
Served onboard the ArkRoyal R09 twice.
This brought back memories of 809 Squadron, and 892 Squadron.
Excellent reading, Excellent
by Jim H
The narrative is excellent and informative as it draws the reader inexorably to it’s tragic and sad ending.
Highly recommended for those who have an interest in aviation matters and indeed for those who do not.
by Andy
Written in a ‘first person’ engaging style, with contributions from those mentioned along the way, this book provides a colourful and informative insight as to what it was like to fly the mighty Buccaneer off and onto the deck of a Royal navy aircraft carrier in the early 1970s.
After a brief period mucking about with Jungly helicopters (the still mighty Wessex), the subject returns to the Bucc and flying on HMS Ark Royal.
… and then there is a poignant and shocking end to the story.
I will not spoil it for you, but if you have any interest in Flying, the Royal Navy or cold war aviation, this very definitely a MUST read.
by Steven Brown
I had the privilege of growing up as a small boy in Lossiemouth and then Honington with the constant roar of Buccaneers in the air. This book is a memoir of life as one of those cool headed, steely eyed Buccaneer pilots. The diaries and letters home of Steve Kershaw paint a vivid and moving picture of the tension, excitement and pain of family separation of being away from home, but also on the frontline of a very real Cold War and the inherent dangers of preparing for a hot one.