Fighter All Weather (FAW) of the Fleet Air Arm.

899 Squadron to HMS Eagle 1969 to 1970 7th Commission

  • From early October 1968 HMS Eagle refits in Devonport Dockyard
  • Under the command of Captain J.D. Treacher RN, HMS Eagle recommissions on Wednesday 5th March 1969 in Devonport. The Lord Mayor of Exeter and his Lady plus retainers and 11 Admirals in attendance (including 6 former HMS Eagle captains)
  • Cdr Air. Cdr, Ted Anson RN
  • Little F.  Lt. Cdr Mike Darlington RN
  • 5th March 1969 commissioning ceremony
  • 7th March 2 weeks sea trials. 1st Phantom F4k deck trials. Touch and Go's
  • To Plymouth for 10 days
  • Sailed Plymouth 2nd April 69
  • C.O. 899 Sqn Lt Cdr Geoff Hunt RN. Embarked Sea Vixens of 899 Sqn
  • Sailed Irish Sea to Moray Firth for work up part 1
  • Anchored off RNAS Lossiemouth 3 days
  • 27th April work up part 2 complete
  • North Sea to Portsmouth
  • 9/19 May 1969 Leave
  • Sailed 23 May 69 for Final Workup and ORI
  • Sqns embarked in English Channel
  • Work Up in St Brides Bay SW Wales
  • 899 Missile shoot firing Redtop and Sidewinder
  • Back to English Channel and Phantom F4K trials team embark for 2 weeks
  • 1st arrested Phantom f4k landing 2nd June and 1st Catapult Shot 3rd June 1969
  • 16th June sailed for USA after weekend in Plymouth
  • 4 days flyex enter Norfolk 27 June 69 for 7 days
  • 899 Sqn hosted by VF 41
  • 5th July sailed Norfolk Virginia
  • 2 day flyex
  • 9th July Cape Cod heading towards Boston Massachusetts
  • 14 July 69 sailed fast passage to Plymouth UK
  • 20th July 1969 arrived Plymouth Charlie Buoy
  • 24th July 1969. Sea Vixen XJ 489 lost while disembarked at RNAS Yeovilton. Both crewmen killed.
  • Dress rehearsals for the Presentation of a Colour to the Western Fleet by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in Torbay 29th July 1969. 899 Sqn practice and partake in Queens Review Flypast. Also a Fly past at RAF Linton on Ouse to mark the final passing out of the final RN pilots fixed wing course
  • The Royal Dinner on board served Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Phillip, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and members of the Royal Staff
  • CO 892 changes to Cdr Dunbar Dempsey
  • Families Day off Plymouth
  • 4th September 1969 sailed from Plymouth
  • Embark Squadrons
  • Exercise Peacekeeper with ships of Standing Naval Force Atlantic
  • Short break Plymouth
  • Sailed 25th September 69
  • 27th September 1969 enter Gibraltar
  • 14 days SMP
  • 899 disembark RAF North Front
  • 11 October 1969 sailed for Malta area
  • Off Crete
  • Ex Deep Furrow Aegean Sea 2 days 17th/18 Oct exercise with USS John F Kennedy and USN forces
  • Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus area Exercise Ranular with RAF ADEX
  • Entered Malta Grand Harbour 31st October 1969
  • 2 weeks SMP
  • Squadrons disembark to RAF Luqa. Malta
  • 13th November 1969 sailed Malta, enter Naples 14th November 1969
  • 18th November sailed Western Mediterranean 
  • Flyex off Gibraltar Ex DECAMP and then through straits to exercise with HMS Hermes
  • Return to UK in company with HMS Hermes with 893 Sqn embarked
  • 5th Dec 1969 alongside Devonport
  • 12 January 1970 sail Plymouth
  • 3 days flyex
  • 18th January 1970 one day in Gibraltar
  • 10 day flyex
  • We at anchor off Iles de Hyeres
  • 30th Jan 70 Enter Toulon
  • CO 899 Sqn Sqn now Lt Cdr Mike Layard
  • Short visit and flyex in local areas
  • 19th February 1970 headed to Gibraltar
  • 22nd February 1970 Gibraltar one day
  • 27th February arrive Liverpool at Princes Pier
  • 4th March 1970 sail Liverpool
  • Four new 899 Sqn pilots fly from the deck for the first time at night
  • 7/8/9th March 1970 Plymouth
  • Next 2 and half weeks Harrier trials
  • Squadrons disembark off Spithead
  • 25th March 1970 enter Plymouth for Mid Commission DED
  • RFA's Olmeda and Olna attended HMS Eagle during this commission

Acting Sub Lieutenant Martyn H. Dean RN after his first Land On. 899 Sqn. HMS Eagle. 4th April 1969. Nose Oleo Collapsed. A black circular patch on the back of the helmet was his trademark.

Royal Yacht Brittania . Solent July 27th 1969. The Royal Fleet Review.

HRH Queen Elizabeth presents the New Colour.

S/Lt Taff Davies applying the 899 Sqn Logo in the Hangar.

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