HMS Ark Royal IV - Flagship of the Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers - a mobile airfield and a most impressive sight as she launches a Phantom from one of her catapults. She had a standard displacement of 43,000 tons, a beam of 168 feet, and was 846 feet long. Ships company numbered 2,570 and her Air Group consisted of Phantom Interceptors, Buccaneer strike and Gannet AEW aircraft together with Wessex SAR and Sea King ASW helicopters. She served her Nation and the Royal Navy for 23 years and sailed 800,000 miles of valuable service, finally being decommissioned in 1979.
Signatures:
Vice Admiral Sir Edward ANSON KCB (former Captain of the Ark Royal)
Admiral Sir Desmond CASSIDI GCB (former Captain of the Ark Royal)
Commander TJH GEDGE RN AFC (Phantom pilot – actually flew Phantom depicted)
Commander D. HOBBS (Gannet pilot)
Lt. Commander D R GEORGE RN AFC (Wessex helicopter pilot)