MANOEUVERS!

At the time of the Suez operation HMS Eagle was steaming in the Med when it was decided to carry out a listing exercise. Instructions were given that all equipment throughout the ship was to be checked and properly and securely stowed or otherwise lashed down so that it could not move whilst the listing operation was being carried out. This particularly applied to aircraft and aircraft maintenance equipment and tools in the hangars and on the flight deck, as well as equipment used in handling and moving aircraft. When it was reported that this instruction had been complied with, a general check inspection was carried out in all departments and upon this being reported as being satisfactorily completed the go ahead was given for the exercise to start.

The manoeuvre went ahead and the ship was listing quite well with everything going to plan when without any warning a fork lift vehicle broke free of its mooring on the side of the island and because it was facing across the deck started to trundle down the incline. The Flight Deck Officer, who was responsible for all aircraft handling equipment as well as aircraft movement, was on the flight deck with a handling crew and saw this, immediately grabbed a chock and ran towards the fork lift and attempted to stop it by jamming the chock under a wheel. Unfortunately with the speed the fork lift was travelling and its weight it just smashed the chock to pieces and carried on over the side. On the way down to a watery grave it hit the side of the ship adjacent to the Master at Arms cabin, which general opinion reckoned was appropriate.

The listing trial was discontinued, the ship was restored to its normal attitude and an investigation into the incident was carried out, which no doubt included the condition of the securing devices as well as their efficiency, with a general sigh of relief all round that it was not more serious and had not occurred when at action stations.