This is a vivid and powerful story of life on board the last of our
great Second World War-era aircraft carriers, modernized to serve beyond
its time. It is a story of the Cold War which conveys the trials and
tribulations of flying one of the best-loved military aircraft in
history.
Steve Kershaw joined the Royal Navy in 1963. He began flying training in
1968 and progressed to the Blackburn Buccaneer - a world-class naval
strike jet that was designed to fly very fast at ultra-low altitudes. In
1970, Steve joined 800 Naval Air Squadron, which embarked on HMS Eagle
on its epic final cruise.
The voyage to the Far East was far from trouble-free - an aircraft
crashed into the sea, there was a devastating explosion on board the
carrier, and then two sailors were arrested for murder in Auckland. New
year 1972 saw HMS Eagle decommissioned and 800 NAS disbanded.
Steve was transferred to 845 Naval Air Squadron, on which he flew Wessex
helicopters. Embarked on HMS Hermes, the squadron supported Royal
Marines Commandos during their deployment to the mountains of Norway
under NATO plans for a European war. During this time, helicopters were
strangely sabotaged on board and one of them crashed into a fjord at
night.
By 1974, HMS Ark Royal was the last remaining Royal Navy fixed-wing
aircraft carrier to which Steve returned to fly Buccaneers on 809
Squadron. It was in this period that he participated in a NATO exercise
in Norway and a Mediterranean cruise.
On return, the squadron prepared for a bombing competition between the
RAF and Royal Navy Buccaneers. As part of this, Steve flew a low-level
sortie off the Lincolnshire coast. The light was fading, and he was
struggling to see the target ahead. He failed to see they were losing
height. The aircraft hit the sea. Steve and his observer, David, were
ejected into the water. Steve, however, did not survive.
In this book, Steve's story is revealed by his son, Simon, through the
words of his father, drawn from a mass of letters sent by him, and the
recollections of those who served alongside him.
