Bicentennial, RN Flattop style

Some 50 years ago today. A full half-century, “an old ship with a young crew” calls at a lost colony, “all’s forgiven.” The pride of the Royal Navy, the Audacious-class aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (R09) entering Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 30 June 1976, with the crew eager to commemorate the Bicentennial of the United States. The historic ship’s visit and life aboard were featured in the popular 1976 BBC documentary series “Sailor.” Arrayed aboard are FG.1 Phantoms of 892 NAS, Buccaneers of 809 NAS, Gannets of 849B NAS, Sea Kings of 824 NAS. A Wessex SAR from the Ships Flight is also on deck. Shipping back to Plymouth, her Bicentennial deployment logged some 37,850nm and became the cover of her crew book. All would be gone just three years later when Ark Royal decommissioned, the last full-sized British carrier to “cat and trap” conventional aircraft.