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Captain Roy C Swales BSc RN

Captain Roy C Swales BSc RN entered BRNC Dartmouth in May 1959, passing out as an Acting Sub Lieutenant in 1961. Served in HMS Scarborough and selected for helicopter pilot training in 1962. Flying training at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, RNAS Culdrose and RNAS Portland between 1963-64. Served with 829 and 826 Squadrons between 1964-67, in the Far East, Mediterranean and Home before a two year USN exchange at NAS Key West, Florida. Joined 700S Squadron flying Sea King Mk1 at RNAS Culdrose between 1969-70. Commanded HMS Upton (minesweeper) 1971-72. Senior Pilot 819 Squadron, HMS Gannet 1973-74 before joining 824 Squadron as Senior Pilot on board HMS Ark Royal 1974-75. Joined the Staff of Flag Officer Naval Air Command twice (1975-77 and 1978-80) and became CO 706 Squadron 1977-78. Appointed to Directorate of Naval Air Warfare, MoD 1982-84, and was Commander (Air) at RNAS Portland 1985-86. Appointed Captain, he was Senior Military Coordinator at Defence Operational Analysis Establishment 1986-88 and then joined the International Military Staff at NATO HQ, Brussels until he returned to the MoD for his last appointment as Deputy Director for Naval Aviation Requirements in the Directorate of Operational Requirements (Sea) in 1991. He retired from the Active List in 1993. In 1997 he gained a BSc (First Class Honours) through the Open University. He is an active volunteer with the Records and Research Centre at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

Captain Roy C Swales BSc RN - Signed Aviation Art

Ark Royal by Philip West. 2 of 3 editions available. All 3 editions feature up to 9 additional signatures. £170.00 - £190.00

Text for the above items :

Ark Royal by Philip West. HMS Ark Royal IV - Flagship of the Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers - a mobile airfield and a most impressive sight as she launches a Phantom from one of her catapults. She had a standard displacement of 43,000 tons, a beam of 168 feet, and was 846 feet long. Ships company numbered 2,570 and her Air Group consisted of Phantom Interceptors, Buccaneer strike and Gannet AEW aircraft together with Wessex SAR and Sea King ASW helicopters. She served her Nation and the Royal Navy for 23 years and sailed 800,000 miles of valuable service, finally being decommissioned in 1979.

Sea King

Sea King The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British license-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopterand built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the US Seaking, being powered by Rolls-Royce Gnome engines, British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a fully computerised control system. The Westland Sea King also has a role as a Commando troop transport mainly for export. Sea Kings are used extensivily in Air Sea rescue and many Sea King were used during the Falklands War, performing mainly anti-submarine search and attack, and also replenishment, troop transport, and Special Forces insertions into the occupied areas. On 23 April 1982, a Sea King HC4 was ditched while performing a dangerous transfer of supplies to a ship at night, while operating from the flagship aircraft carrier HMS Hermes. Another Sea King was lost, again from ditching into the sea, due to a systems malfunction. and. Five days later another Sea King, again from HMS Hermes, crashed into the sea due to an altimeter problem both sets of crew were rescued.

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Captain Roy C Swales BSc RN Squadron details

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