Date:	Friday 5 July 1957
Time:	day
Type:	Fairey Gannet AS.1
Owner/operator:	820 Sqn FAA RN
Registration:	XA390
MSN:	F.9260
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	HMS Bulwark, North Channel, Bangor Bay, Northern Ireland -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	HMS Bulwark, Bangor Bay, Northern Ireland
Destination airport:	RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), Eglinton, County Londonderry
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
Fairey Gannet AS.1 XA390: Built by Fairey Aviation at Stockport, and First flown at Ringway, Manchester 10/1/1956. Delivered to the RN FAA (Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm) at RNAS Anthorn RDU 14/2/1956. Transferred to RNAY Donibristle for modifications 31/5/1956. First issued for service to 820 Squadron RN FAA at RNAS Eglinton on 4/7/1956 as "322/B"

Written off (damaged beyond repair) 5/7/1957: Broke out of the catapult while being prepared for launch from HMS Bulwark while operating in the North Channel, off Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. The aircraft ran off the deck into the sea but the pilot and two others on board were rescued by a passing civilian boat

Crew of Gannet XA390:
Lieutenant G.L.P.Steer, RN (PO (EL))
G.S.F. Chilcott (A/LAPM)
J.M. Williams

According to an eyewitness report "We were at anchor in Bangor Bay, Belfast, and there was a very strong wind..it was a typical dull grey windy North of Ireland day. They decided that because of the strong wind, it was like cruising into wind for normal take off or launches. The Gannet was on the Port catapult and applied normal full power for launch. The strop broke prematurely during the runup and she went off the end at slow speed. The Gannet just missed a civilian sailing dinghy that was racing around....the crew of the dinghy (a husband and wife) recovered the crew, and they came back alongside. The crew of the aircraft were unhurt, and the crew of the dingy were given a gift of safety equipment".

The wreckage of Gannett XA390 was recovered one week later (12/7/1957) by HMS Barrington from where it crashed and sank (see photos - links #4, #5, & #6)

1. Fleet Air Arm Fixed Wing Aircraft Since 1946 (Ray Sturtivant et al, Air Britain, 2004 p.313)
2. http://www.ukserials.com/losses-1957.htm
3. http://www.planetrace.co.uk/1950-1959_26.html
4. Wreckage of Gannet XA390 being recovered 12/7/1957 (#1): https://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/attachments/4/3/8/56829.attach
5. Wreckage of Gannet XA390 being recovered 12/7/1957 (#2): https://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/attachments/4/3/8/56830.attach
6. Wreckage of Gannet XA390 being recovered 12/7/1957 (#3): https://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/attachments/4/3/8/56828.attach
7. https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/383390-help-experts-gannet.html
8. http://www.axfordsabode.org.uk/pdf-docs/bulwrk02.pdf

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
16-Aug-2020 14:14	Dr. John Smith	Added
16-Aug-2020 21:04	Angel Dick one	Updated [Operator, Operator]