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Grumman Martlet II
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Grumman Martlet II
Grumman Martlet II (AM968) of 881 Squadron on the lift of HMS Illustrious, 1942
The Royal Air Force Museum is Britain's only national museum dedicated wholly to aviation
Media ID 1881199
© Charles Brown Collection, Royal Air Force Museum
Fleet Air Arm Royal Navy Ships World War Two
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the intensity and energy of naval aviation during World War II. The image, titled "Grumman Martlet II (AM968) of 881 Squadron on the lift of HMS Illustrious, 1942," was taken by Charles E. Brown for the Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum. The scene unfolds on the flight deck of HMS Illustrious, a formidable British aircraft carrier that played a crucial role in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters of the war. In the foreground, a Grumman Martlet II fighter, registration number AM968, is being lifted into the air by the ship's crane. The Martlet, a single-seat, carrier-borne fighter, was a key component of the Fleet Air Arm, the branch of the Royal Navy responsible for operating naval aircraft. The Martlet's pilot, clad in his bulky flying gear and helmet, waits anxiously in the cockpit as the crew of HMS Illustrious maneuver the fighter into position for takeoff. The tension in the air is palpable as the aircraft's engines roar to life, and the crew members on the flight deck scramble to secure the safety ropes and clear the way for the takeoff. The photograph provides a fascinating glimpse into the daily life of a carrier-borne fighter pilot during World War II. It also serves as a poignant reminder of the courage and skill of the men and women who served in the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, and the vital role they played in defending Britain and its allies during a time of great adversity.
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