HMS ARK ROYAL OPERATES PHANTOMS [Allocated Title]

Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections. Click here to find out more.


  • Title: HMS ARK ROYAL OPERATES PHANTOMS [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 4571
  • Other titles: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: HMS Ark Royal operates Phantom FG1 and Buccaneer 2 strike aircraft.
  • Description: Aerial shot of HMS Ark Royal at sea, aircraft on deck. MS across Ark Royal's flightdeck as a Sea King HAS.1 helicopter of 824 Squadron lifts off and climbs away. HA as 892 Squadron Phantom FG.1 is launched from waist catapult. One of the ship's Wessex rescue helicopters, fluorescent orange bands over nose and tail, hovers off to port. Phantom 006 (serial XV 591) is launched from main deck. Aerial shot fine on the port bow as a Phantom is launched from waist catapult, and flies off below the camera aircraft. HA as Phantom 006 is launched from waist catapult. LA forward to starboard corner of flightdeck - a Phantom climbs away after its launch. LA from just forward of the end of the angled flightdeck as a Phantom is launched from the waist catapult, passing close by to the right of the camera. Aerial shot from off to port as a Phantom is launched, the camera panning to follow the aircraft's flight. Fine HA onto Buccaneer S Mk 2 022 (serial XT 286) of 809 Squadron as it is launched along the main deck catapult, the camera holding as the aircraft climbs away - vortices of steam from the catapult swirl across the deck. MS to the rescue Wessex as a frogman seats himself in the aircraft's open side doorway. Aircraft launchings - filmed from the various camera angles already described. Sequence shot on the hangar deck as aircraft mechanics work on engines, underwing hardpoints, etc. Camera goes up on elevator to the flightdeck. CU as deckcrewman tethers the nosewheel of a Buccaneer to a deckpoint along the after edge of the flightdeck. Phantom 011 comes up on elevator, its nose fairing folded back to fit the lift - in the background is parked a Fairey Gannet AEW.3 (serial XG 790) of 849 Squadron B Flight. Phantom 011 is towed off and a second aircraft brought up. Buccaneers are pushed aft. Interior of operations room with radar operators at work. Phantoms land on. Buccaneer 020 passes low over the flightdeck after an aborted landing approach. Other Buccaneers land on. Two Sea King HAS.1s land on - both carry two externally mounted AS torpedoes. Aerial sequence showing Ark Royal steaming in close company with two RFAs - one of the Later Tide Class tankers (Tidespring or Tidepool) to starboard and Air-Stores Support Ship Lyness to port.
  • Alternative Title: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: ADM 4571
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © Crown copyright. IWM (ADM 4571)
  • Featured Period: 1946-1975
  • Production Date: 1972
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations (Navy) (Production sponsor)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 892 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 809 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 849 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 824 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Ark Royal (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Lyness (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, fleet: Ark Royal (object name) ships, British naval - supply: Lyness (object name) ships, British naval - supply: Tide Class (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Blackburn Buccaneer (object name) aircraft, United States naval - combat: McDonnell F-4 Phantom & [British] (object name) aircraft, British naval - helicopter: Westland Sea King (object name) aircraft, British naval - helicopter: Westland Wessex (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Fairey Gannet (object name) operations, British naval - routine: replenishment at sea (object name) operations, British naval air - maintenance (object name)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 720 ft; Running time: 8 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 4571

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
Register