File talk:HMS Victorious (R38) aerial c1959.jpeg

This photograph was taken in 1958 when 849 Squadron were still equipped with SKyraiders for early warning. The two Skyraiders are parked on the foredeck between the two steam catapults, they were replaced by Gannet in 1959/60. Also the twin boom aircraft parked aft appear to be Sea Venoms, the other aircraft parked by the Skyraiders are Scimitars the forerunners of the Buccaneer originally known as the NA39 before it was given its name. The picture was taken on "Victorious" first commission after her seven year refit in Portsmouth Dockyard and I would suggest that as personnel on the flight deck are in tropical rig it was taken in the Mediterranean in the summer of '58.I was serving on "Victorious" at that time. G.F.Knowles