Out of the blue I got a call one day from Commander Vic Syrett of the RNHF at Yeovilton, who had kept my details from an earier visit to NAS Yeovilton some time before. As I listened to him things just got better. Not only VIP treatment with lunch thrown in but a flight in the photoship which was to be the RNHF's Blackfish MkII LS326. This was one of the stars of the film 'Sink the Bismarck' . The reason for the photo-opportunity was the official handing over of the recently restored Blackfish MkI W5856. Blackburns at Brough had restored this aircraft back to flight and the CEO of BAe, Sir Richard Evans was going to hand it over at a 'private' (ie employees only) airshow on the 22nd May 1993. Vic mentioned that this was to be a fairly low key affair and only 3 freelance photojournalists had been invited but the BBC's Look North team may put in an appearance. (More of them later)
I thanked Vic and just happened to mention that my father lived in Hessle, only some 5 miles away , and he would be 70 on that very day and that he had served in the RN during the war (WWII
) and had been sunk twice by Gerry U-boats and Italian mines whilst serving on Destroyers. Vic, bless him, said 'by all means you must bring him too , he can't go airside but we will give him a VIP lunch and an introduction to the RNHF Admiral.. 
The 22nd of May dawned ..It started out as such a brilliant day with stunning May weather. I was told I had free rein and could wander anywhere I liked but was told 'Please don't wander onto the runway when aircraft are landing!!!)
I briefed my Dad and put him on the front row of the crowd line whilst I went over to the flightline.I had no idea what was going to be flying, other than the Blackfish so it was a pleasant surprise to see some of the arriving participants.
Here are some of them.. (As my notes have not survived these shots are not in any real chronological order..)
This Catalina arrived. PBY-5A (Now at Duxford?)
Skyraider taxies in
Grumman Hellcat arrives
Firefly WB271 was rolled out
for its display
More later....
Ian
