Supermarine
Seafire of 887 Squadron Fleet Air Arm in aviation art print by M A Kinnear.
887 squadron took part in the Salerno landings and joined Task Force
37 taking part in the ramrod attacks on Sumatra. Aviation print of Sub
Lieutenant Victor Lowden's Supermarine Seafire is available from Cranston
Fine Arts.
Aircraft side view by M A Kinnear.
Supermarine Seafire MkIII LR866 (S121).
Aircraft History:
Built by Westland
Aircraft Ltd. Yeovil and delivered to 39 MU on 12th December 1943, it went
to 880 squadron May 1944 then onto 887 squadron September 1944. Whilst
being flown by S/L V Lowden on 15th August 1945 LR866 was credited with
2½ destroyed and 2 'probable' A6M5 "Zeke" fighters. This was
the last air combat of the 1939-45 conflict.
887 Squadron Fleet Air Arm:
887 Squadron was formed as a Fleet
Fighter squadron at Lee-on-Solent 1st May 1942. Initially equipped with
Fulmars Mk II, the squadron re-equipped with Spitfires MKV in
December, finally equipping with Seafires Mk III in March 1943 - which 887
used until its disbandment - in both L and F variants. In April 1943 the
squadron embarked on HMS Unicorn sailing in May on convoy escort to Malta
and in September, they provided fighter cover for the Salerno landings.
887 became part of the 24th Naval Fighter Wing in October joining HMS
Indefatigable in July 1944. 887 was in action off the coast of Norway
during operations against the Tirpitz. On rejoining HMS Indefatigable, 887
sailed for Ceylon to join the British Pacific Fleet. The squadron took
part in attacks on Sumatra (January 1945), the Sakishima Group of islands
(March/ April) and prior to V J Day saw action over the Japanese mainland.
In November 1945 they sailed to New Zealand and then onto Australia before
sailing home. 887 squadron was disbanded on arrival at Gosport on 15th
March 1946.
Battle Honours: Atlantic 1943, Salerno
1943, Norway 1944, Palembang 1945, Okinawa 1945 and Japan 1945.
Welcome to Cranston Fine Arts, Military, Naval and
Aviation art print searchable database for use by customers of Cranston
Fine Arts and authorised trade outlets around the world.
Cranston Fine Arts, publishers and distributors of
over 2400 prints available from Cranston Fine Arts or authorised dealers
around the world.
