C.1942. AERIAL PORT BOW VIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMS ILLUSTRIOUS. NOTE THE TYPE 281 RADAR ...

C.1942. AERIAL PORT BOW VIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMS ILLUSTRIOUS. NOTE THE TYPE 281 RADAR AERIALS AT THE HEAD OF THE FOREMAST AND MAINMAST. THE 281 AERIAL ON THE FOREMAST IS SURMOUNTED BY A TYPE 291 RADAR AERIAL. THE LARGE CYLINDER ON THE FOREMAST CONTAINS A TYPE 72 HOMING BEACON. NOTE THE TWIN 4.5 INCH BD MARK II MOUNTINGS RECESSED INTO THE FLIGHT DECK AND THE EIGHT BARRELLED 2 POUNDER AA MOUNTING SITED JUST BEFORE THE ISLAND. A SWORDFISH TORPEDO SPOTTER RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS BEING MANHANDLED ON THE FLIGHT DECK. COLLAPSED CRASH BARRIERS STRADDLE THE DECK ABREAST THE ISLAND AND ARRESTOR WIRES CAN BE SEEN AFT. THE PLUME OF SMOKE FORWARD INDICATES WIND DIRECTION AND SPEED. THE SHIP IS PAINTED IN AN ADMIRALTY DISRUPTIVE CAMOUFLAGE SCHEME WHICH EXTENDS ACROSS THE FLIGHT DECK. (NAVAL HISTORICAL COLLECTION)