HISTORY This is the best time-line I can make out from the paperwork available. My very sincerest thank to Jerry Shore (now retired) and his crew at the Fleet Air-Arm Museum's Records Office for their very kind help in tracking this down! UPDATE: Ray Sturtivant, master of all things related to the Fleet Air Arm has managed to furnish even more information about '838's service life, and information from Ray is shown in red. Thanks Ray, your help is very much appreciated. Date Flying Hours Narrative 25-10-54 0.45 Armstrong Whitworth Checks. Bagington Aerodrome, Coventry. 25-11-54 0.45 Received at RNAS Abbotsinch. 31-03-55 Aircraft WV838 accepted by the Royal Navy 1-04-55 Transferred to 802 sqdn, RNAS Lossiemouth (a/c 182) 3-09-55 Front rear fuel tank changed. Tank to mods (03ston) 24-10-55 First MC4 completed, 802 sqdn Aircraft Carrier HMS Eagle 17-11-55 Transferred to RNAS Ford ('075/FD':'511/FD') 2-05-56 Transferred to RNAS Abbotsinch (LTS) 19-05-56 Aircraft preserved IAW Abbotsinch 25-06-56 Aircraft Depreserved 2-07-56 Transferred to RNAY Fleetlands 16-07-56 Received - RNAY Fleetlands 11-01-57 109.05 Converted to FGA.6 (Fighter, Ground Attack Mk6) 17-01-57 110.15 Transferred to RNAS Abbotsinch 17-01-57 111.35 Received at RNAS Abbotsinch (LTS) 22-03-57 111.35 ECU Y14/645602 Removed: Nene ECU Mk 10301 Serial No 894/653134 Fitted during N.AMM Yo Procedure. 10-12-57 114.10 New Cold Air Unit Fitted 26-03-58 115.10 Damage to port side fuselage in vicinity of frame 2. 28-04-58 ---.-- Transferred to 806 Squadron RNAS Lossiemouth (185) 28-04-58 115.50 Transferred to 738 Squadron RNAS Lossiemouth (635/LM) 28-04-58 116.10 Received at RNAS Lossiemouth 2-07-58 116.10 Received at 738 Squadron 14-07-58 119.45 New Hydrobooster (starboard) Fitted. 22-07-58 124.40 New 28 3/4' Flap Shuttle Valve Fitted 8-08-58 137.55 Serviced Oxygen Regulator Fitted 25-08-58 139.30 Serviced 49' Flap Selector Valve Fitted 30-10-58 174.20 Nene ECU 894/N653134 removed for access. Double fuel pump change. ECU Mk10301 894/N653134 Re-installed. 30-10-58 174.20 Maincheck 4 carried out IAW 12-11-58 184.00 New Oxygen Regulator Serial: 8053 fitted. 17-12-58 212.25 Transferred to 736 Squadron RNAS Lossiemouth. 17-12-58 ???.25 Received by 736 Squadron RNAS Lossiemouth. (603/LM) 09-02-59 ???.?? Transferred to RNAS Lossiemouth. 09-02-59 ???.?? Std tyre burst during formation take-off, take off aborted, crashed through safety fence at speed at upwind end of runway, Cat HY (see below) 4.2.59 (Lt PEH Banfield); 6-03-59 ???.?? Transferred to RNAY Fleetlands. unknown 239.05 Port mainplane, stbd mainplane, rudder, fin, elevators and tailplane removed for transit by road. 19-04-59 ???.?? Written off at RNAY Fleetlands. 3-10-99 ???.?? Sold at Auction to Phoenix Aviation From Admiralty Fleet Order 6125/44, 16th November 1944 :- HY Indicates 'Heavy Damage, Not repairable by Ship or Station resources. HZ Indicates 'Likely beyond repair' ZZ Indicates 'Written Off' < Index