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Flying Marines

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Pioneering pilots

The rise in capabilities of air warfare the inter war period saw a flurry of construction of the aircraft carrier. In 1926 an RAF pilot made the first night landing on a flight deck in a Blackburn Dart aboard HMS Furious.

On 26 November 1929 Lieutenant Owen Cathcart Jones RM made the first-ever night deck landing in a single seater fighter plane aboard HMS Courageous.

First Deck Landing made by Lt O Cathcart-Jones RM on HMS Courageous, 1928. (RMM)
First Deck Landing made by Lt O Cathcart-Jones RM on HMS Courageous, 1928. (RMM)

By 1930 it had become common for night flying from carriers to take place, although it was limited to experienced pilots only.

The Admiralty regained control of the Fleet Air Arm in July 1937. They wished to expand the service to include the training of other ranks and amongst the naval personnel chosen to train were nine Royal Marine Non Commissioned Officers.

Many of these men would go on fly for the Fleet Air Arm in World War Two.

 


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