KRK4m Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 AFAIK at least eight from the last production batch of Sea Venom FAW Mk.21s (totalling 61 aircraft serialled XG606-638 and 653-680) took part in Operation Musketeer on Western Mediterranean waters in 1956. All these eight planes belonged to No.809 NAS operating from HMS Albion. I am looking for any photos of these aircraft from the Suez Crisis period - they should feature white letter Z on red outside fin tops, black/yellow identification (a'la "invasion") stripes an - in most cases - the big squadron badge (red Phoenix) under the cockpit. Tactical number in black (three digit starting with 2..) should be on lower part of the fin, while wingtip fuel tanks should be black with white horizontal stripe. At the moment the suspected (sources vary) serial/tactical no. combinations known to me are: XG618/227, XG620/226, XG665/222 or 223, XG669/224, XG670/220, XG673/227, XG677/221 or 225, XG679/220. If you have any photos confirming (or neglecting) the data above, please help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panoz Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 From Roger Lindsay's Venom book here is XG670/220 of 809 squadron photographed at Hal Far Dec. 1956. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panoz Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 And here's XG677 from the Warpaint: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panoz Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 (edited) And another one from Lindsay's book of XG663/227 (you were asking for XG673/227; a typo maybe). Note that it has the same style of markings as the other two aircraft, photos of which were posted above. Unfortunately I can't see any invasion stripes. (Would these still be on the aircraft one year later???) Edited May 30, 2013 by Panoz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudioN Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Serials I have for 809 Sqn. Musketeer Sea Venoms (from old BARG newsletters) are: XG670:220 XG677:221 XG654:222 XG672:223 XG669:224 XG667:225 XG620:226 XG618:227 The two squadrons on HMS Eagle had all aircraft in the WW serial range. HTH Claudio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panoz Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 (edited) Serials I have for 809 Sqn. Musketeer Sea Venoms (from old BARG newsletters) are: XG618:227 Re XG663 I found the following: http://894rnsquadron.homestead.com/Page5.html XG663 - from Stretton (FAA's storage facilities) 14 Jan 1957 to 894 Squadron; to 766 Squadron 07 Mar 1957 So the book is in error and the photo shows XG618. Edited May 31, 2013 by Panoz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRK4m Posted May 31, 2013 Author Share Posted May 31, 2013 Serials I have for 809 Sqn. Musketeer Sea Venoms (from old BARG newsletters) are: XG670:220 XG677:221 XG654:222 XG672:223 XG669:224 XG667:225 XG620:226 XG618:227 The two squadrons on HMS Eagle had all aircraft in the WW serial range. I knew that HMS Eagle had only WWs, but your listing of the eight XGs concerned is of great value for me. Thank you very much indeed. And similarly great thanks to Panoz for the invaluable photos. However it's nice to find an error in so praised book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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