WestlandWyvern

Dear Mike,

Have just had reason to view your history on Westland Wyvern ejections. I flew the Wyvern some 50 years ago! Hence my interest.

You did not feature , Lt Robert Sandison RN's ejection, which was during September 1957, if my memory serves me correct. He lost control of the aircraft at low altitude not far north of Arundel, Sussex. Unfortunately he ejected too low and sideways I believe, and was killed. You can probably obtain more details from the FAA Flight Safety Centre at RNAS Yeovilton. His father Col. Sandison presented a solid silver trophy of the Wyvern to the FAA, to be presented annually to the FAA officer who made most progress both in officer like qualities and flying ability. It was awarded many times and eventually I would have the honour to be awarded it some ten or so years later. "Bobby" Sandison was trained in the States at Pensacola USNAS.

2. Regarding my ejection from a Wyvern . . . - (see Biographical details of Cdr. Doust by following the name link]

Yours sincerely,

Michael J. Doust, Commander, RN(Rtd)
19th November 2005

Lt Sandison's ejection has now been added - can anyone add further details [Mike]

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit - Serial	based	crashed	crew	seat	photo
8th June 1951	RN	Westland Wyvern 2	VW869	A&AEE (Graduate no 9 Course )C Sqn		Lt CDR (e) D. K. Hanson ejected at about 1500ft at high speed but caught his left thigh and leg on the control column. He did not operate the manual ejection sequence and was killed		Martin-Baker Mk 1B
7th April 1954	RN	Westland Wyvern			fire in air near Stretton.	Lt. Newman ejected at 7,000ft., 200kts		[Martin-Baker Mk.1B
13th October 1954	RN	Wyvern TF1	VZ783/X	813 Sqn H.M.S. Albion, Mediterranean	into the sea following catapult launch	Lt. B. D. Macfarlane ejected under the water suffering slight injuries [personal testimony]		Martin-Baker Mk.2B
12th August 1955	RN	Westland Wyvern	WL877	813 Sqn HMS Eagle	Engine problems. Crashed near Naples	Sub. Lt. Steers ejected		Martin-Baker
14th November 1955	RN	Westland Wyvern	VZ778	813 Sqn HMS Eagle	Missed wire on HMS Eagle	Lt. Bushe ejected		Martin-Baker
17th November 1955	RN	Westland Wyvern	VZ791	830 Sqn HMS Eagle	Engine problems. Crashed near Winchester while carrying out dummy dives	Lt. J. P. "Jake" Smith ejected [see notes ejected a second time but killed]		Martin-Baker
17th May 1956	RN	Westland Wyvern	VZ791	830 Sqn	Crashed on approach to Hal Far	Lt. King ejected		Martin-Baker
3rd November 1956[Suez Campaign]	RN	Westland Wyvern S4	WN330/J379	830 Sqn HMS Eagle	Hit by anti-aircraft fire over Gamil Bridge, west of Port Said, Egypt. The pilot glided the aircraft for three miles out to sea and ejected safely near the carrier	Lt. McCarthy ejected		Martin-Baker
5th November 1956 [Suez Campaign]	RN	Westland Wyvern S4	WN328/J371	830 Sqn HMS Eagle	The engine exploded while on air support operations for paratroop landings on Gamil airfield, Egypt	Lt. Cdr. "Smokey" Cowling ejected safely. [personal testimony]		Martin-Baker
14th February 1957	RN	Westland Wyvern	??	??	??	Lt. Barry B. Hartwell		Martin-Baker
17th September 1957	RN	Wyvern	VZ795	831 Sqn	Collision with VZ798 near Littlehampton	Sub. Lt. Edward ejected		Martin-Baker
17th September 1957	RN	Westland Wyvern	VZ798	831 Sqn	Collision with VZ795 near Littlehampton	Sub. Lt. Smith ejected		Martin-Baker
24th September 1957	RN	Westland Wyvern	VZ756	813 Sqn	Crashed on sortie from HMS Eagle	Lt. Michael J. Doust ejected		Martin-Baker
?? September 1957	RN	Westland Wyvern				Lt Robert Sandison		Martin-Baker
date needed - post 17th Sept 1955	RN	Westland Wyvern		830 Sqn HMS Eagle	He joined "Eagle's" carrier circuit, and downwind at about 400ft he ejected for some unknown reason; there was no radio call and both he and his fighter were not recovered!	Lt. J. P. "Jake" Smith,RN ejected but not recovered		Martin-Baker