- Author
- Letter Writer
- Subjects
- Biographies and personal histories, WWII operations, Letter to the Editor
- Tags
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- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- December 2005 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
In the article “HMS Nabob 1944″(REVIEW Sep 2005) mention is made of LCDR Bobby Bradshaw, particularly the landing on HMS Nabob and leading his squadron of Avengers under the Harbour Bridge after VJ Day.
During a recent visit to England I visited Trebah Gardens, near Falmouth (Cornwall). Whilst looking at the postcard rack I spied one depicting a painting of this latter flight. The Gardens were given to a Trust by Bobby’s sister, Mrs Hibbert, who still lives in the grounds. Incidentally, the text about Bobby on the postcard, which includes all the details in your article, says that when he was catapulted off Nabob had a 70 degree list and was down 45 degrees by the stern. If this was so it was really a miracle flight!
Peter Poland
(It is true what you saw on the back of the postcard, but with a little discussion amongst aviator colleagues and ex-carrier men, it was agreed that this information must have been a mistake – try the data in the bath with a model boat- and was interpreted to probably have been a list of 7 degrees to starboard and 4.5 degrees down by the stern – which would have been well outside flying limits and extremely difficult, notwithstanding all the other aircraft parked on the deck. The ship was not in immediate danger of sinking but I would have had my doubts with even a roll to 70 degrees! Ed)