iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

If you see this, post a not quite Star Trek

John Billingsley, who played Dr Phlox in Star Trek: Enterprise, in a hospital bed as a patient with memory loss in The Rookie. He turns out to be a suspected serial killer!

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Several decades worth of gaming here…

My 9 Games, featuring cover shots of:
Elite
Aces of the Deep
TIE Fighter
Forza Horizon 2
Assassins Creed Black Flag
Gran Turismo
Command & Conquer
F-19 Stealth Fighter
Speedball 2

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Hafner’s previous effort was the one-man Rotachute. Fancy being towed across the North Sea in one of these bad boys?

Hafner Rotachute, an interesting contraption resembling half a helicopter, with a harness instead of a cockpit.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Following heavy Lysander losses during the Battle of France, the Westland P.12 (1941) was an attempt to boost defensive firepower. Pairing a 4-gun turret with a revised tail, the resulting aircraft had similar handling and performance to a standard Lysander, but the project wasn’t taken forward.

Westland P.12 banking towards the camera at low level. The front of the aircraft, with its high mounted wing, radial engine and spatted undercarriage, is that of a Westland Lysander. The rear fuselage ends in a tail turret, with a horizontal stabiliser below mounting twin tailfins.

Right side view of the P.12 on a muddy grass airfield.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The GAL.47 (1940) was a private venture by General Aircraft Limited to develop an Airborne Observation Post (AOP) aircraft, a role later taken by the Auster. It was briefly evaluated against a competing design, but neither prototype was selected for production. The GAL.47 was written off in 1942.

GAL.47 in flight. It’s a small, twin-boom aircraft with a ‘pusher’ engine; the tailfin is placed midway along the horizontal stabiliser. The pilot sits in a forward ‘pod’ with a bulged cockpit canopy and fixed undercarriage.

Close up left view of the GAL.47 on the ground, showing its relatively large, heavily glazed cockpit.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Short Shetland (1944) was initially intended for very long range reconnaissance, but its role was later changed to unarmed transport. Flight testing had mixed results and the first prototype was lost to a fire in 1946; a second aircraft was completed to civilian standards but secured no orders.

Camouflaged Short Shetland at medium altitude over a coastal area. It’s a large slab-sided, deep-hulled flying boat with 4 radial engines. There are covers in the nose and tail where turrets could be installed.

Civilian Shetland in natural metal finish and carrying a civilian registration , viewed from below. It’s looking rather the worse for wear, with heavy weathering.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Miles M.39B (1943) was a 5/8 scale prototype designed to prove the feasibility of tandem wing aircraft, with potential to develop a high speed bomber for the RAF. Despite its unconventional appearance, the M.39B reportedly had no handling issues, but the project was cancelled shortly afterwards.

Camouflaged Miles M.39B in flight at medium altitude over countryside. A small aircraft with twin engines, it has a small wing mounted below the cockpit, just behind the nosecone. The main wing, mounted further aft and swept backwards, has oval winglets on the tips. A single vertical stabiliser is mounted on the tailcone.

M.39B on a grass airfield on its tricycle undercarriage, with trees in the background.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Boulton Paul P.92/2 (1941) was a half size prototype for a heavy turret fighter armed with 4x20mm cannon. The project was cancelled in May 1940 to focus on Defiant production, but despite this the aircraft was completed. The P.92/2 handled well in testing and continued flying until 1945.

Camouflaged P.92/2 on a concrete airfield dispersal, with countryside and trees in the background. It’s a small twin-inline engined aircraft with a shoulder-mounted wing and fixed ‘trousered’ main undercarriage.

P.92/2 in flight at low altitude over fields. Clearly visible is a large circular ‘hump’ over the wing centre section where a dummy turret would have been mounted.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Avro 671 Rota (1934) was a two-seater autogyro, a licence-built version of the Cierva C.30. Initially evaluated as an army co-operation aircraft, soon after war broke out the type was diverted for use by 1448 Flight (later 529 Sqn) for radar calibration work. Rotas served until October 1945.

Silver-doped Avro Rota in a prewar image, viewed from below. It’s a small aircraft with an exposed radial engine forward and a 3-bladed rotor assembly mounted on struts above tandem open cockpits. Its stalky main undercarriage is mounted on struts to the fuselage sides. There are small dorsal and ventral tailfins, while the horizontal stabiliser turns upward at the tips.

Camouflaged Rota on a grass airfield, its exposed engine and 2-bladed propeller prominent.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Folland Fo.108 (1940) was developed specifically as an engine testbed. A hefty beast, it carried 2 crew behind the pilot to monitor each powerplant’s performance. 5 of the 12 Fo.108s built were lost to engine failures. Engines fitted included the Napier Sabre, RR Griffon and Bristol Centaurus.

Folland Fo.108 fitted with a Napier Sabre engine with 4-bladed propeller and radiators in the wing roots. It’s an agricultural-looking aircraft, with thick straight-edged wings and ‘trousered’ main undercarriage.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Miles M.30 X-Minor (1942) was developed to explore the possibilities of a blended wing and fuselage in creating an aerodynamically ‘cleaner’ design. The ultimate intention was to produce a larger prototype for a proposed multi-engined transport or airliner, but this never came to fruition.

View from behind and above of the M.30 on a concrete dispersal, demonstrating the smooth blending of the wing/fuselage junction.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Hafner Rotabuggy (1943) was developed to provide transport for airborne troops. Combining a Jeep with a rotor kite, it was to be towed behind an aircraft before being released over the drop zone. The Rotabuggy was difficult to control and rendered unnecessary by the Hadrian and Horsa gliders.

Rotabuggy flying just above the ground at an airfield. A small, boxy, fuselage is mounted on the rear of a Jeep, with twin tailfins at the rear. On top of the contraption are lengthy rotor blades. Towing gear is mounted on the front of the Jeep.

Rotabuggy parked on a concrete pad in front of a long, low wooden building. The rotor blades are tilted backwards and a skid supports the tail. A Perspex windscreen enclosed the ‘cockpit’.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Hawker Hotspur (1938) was developed from the Henley light bomber. As well as a 4-gun turret, it was also intended to carry a single forward-firing gun. The prototype showed promise, but lost out in competition to the Boulton Paul Defiant to enter production and was used for aerodynamic testing.

Front right 3/4 view of a Hotspur, its metal cowling glistening in the sunlight. The aircraft features a prominent chin-mounted radiator scoop.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Handley Page HP.75 Manx (1943) was designed to examine the feasibility of flying wing aircraft. The program suffered numerous delays due to the company’s focus on the Halifax bomber and the Manx saw limited flying time. Performance was considered poor, though overall the concept was proven.

Camouflaged HP Manx on a concrete taxiway, photographed from the right from an elevated position. The somewhat stubby fuselage has cockpits fore and aft, with a small tailfin but no horizontal stabiliser. The swept back wings have vertical stabilisers on the tips. The two ‘pusher’ propeller engines are mounted close to the fuselage on a straight wing centre section.

Rear view of the Manx, showing its rotund fuselage and the 2-bladed propellers on the small engines.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Airspeed AS.45 Cambridge (1941) was developed in response to a specification for an advanced trainer in case of a (never realised) shortage of existing types. The AS.45 had performance and handling issues which were never rectified due to Airspeed’s focus on its Oxford trainer and Horsa glider.

Airspeed Cambridge in sunny conditions on a grass airfield, casting a clear shadow on the ground. It’s a single radial-engined aircraft with a tandem cockpit, the canopy of which has no rear view for the back seat passenger.

Front right 3/4 of a Cambridge, displaying its long cockpit canopy, radial engine and 3-bladed propeller.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Baynes Bat (1943) was a 1/3 scale prototype for a projected 100ft wingspan glider which could be fitted to tanks and towed behind aircraft for battlefield delivery. Test flights were successful, but the concept was abandoned as conventional heavy transport gliders like the Hamilcar arrived.

Poor quality photograph of a camouflaged tailless flying wing glider with wingtip winglets, a bubble canopy cockpit and a central underwing pod with a landing skid. It’s at low altitude over what appears to be a recently harvested cornfield.

Photograph of the Baynes Bat on a concrete airfield dispersal, resting on its central landing skid. A man standing by the right wingtip shows the small scale of the glider. A Vickers Wellington bomber, possibly the tow aircraft, is behind.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The Blackburn B20 (1940), also pictured above, was an unconventional flying boat/floatplane design which used a retractable lower hull to act as a central float. Initial test flights were promising, but the sole prototype crashed shortly after attaining an unofficial speed of 345mph.

Frontal view of the Blackburn B20 on calm water, left wing slightly down and supported by its stabilising float.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Here’s a thread of some of the more unusual or obscure aircraft to fly in Britain during the Second World War. Some were only intended as experimental or proof of concept designs, while others never progressed beyond the prototype stage.

Front left 3/4 view of a camouflaged Blackburn B20 flying boat/floatplane with RAF markings on temporary wheels outside a hangar. An unconventional design, its lower hull is separate from the fuselage, acting as a central float; in this picture, it’s shown extended on hydraulic struts. A twin engined design, it also features retractable wingtip floats.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Whoever wrote that is undoubtedly a Viz reader…

Title panel from Viz comic strip ‘Finbarr Saunders and his Double Entendres’, showing the character saying “Fnarr! Fnarr!” as he examines a large pear.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Polyanthus, Lagan, St. Croix and, later, Itchen, were all victims of the first deployment by U-Boats of the new TV/‘GNAT’ acoustic torpedo. Also during this action, HMS Escapade was severely damaged when one of her Hedgehog mortars exploded prematurely, killing 16 crew. 📷 IWM A19364/60/61/65

View from the quayside of the badly damaged foredeck of a destroyer, showing crumpled wreckage behind ‘A’ gun and a buckled and scorched bridge.

View from above the bridge, the front of which has been smashed inwards, leaving a mass of twisted metal.

View from the bridge of the destroyer’s ’B’ gun mounting, now empty with only some wreckage remaining.

View of naval officers inspecting the damage to the destroyer’s foredeck.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Just finished the audiobook of this, covering the activities of the trawlers, drifters and other small craft of the Royal Naval Patrol Service during the Second World War. It’s an often neglected area, particularly the vital role these vessels played in minesweeping. Recommended! #NavalHistory

Cover image for the book ‘Churchill’s Pirates’ by Will Iredale. It features a group of six grinning seamen in an impressive variety of nautical clothing, grouped in front of a twin machine gun. Two of the men, crouching in front, are brandishing stripped Lewis guns.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

For years, certainly while I was buying them in the 80s, the packaging famously carried this misprint. Now sadly corrected to Focke Wulf, but I’m not sure how long ago that was done.

Pack shot of a Power-Prop Flying Glider toy aircraft, with the erroneous caption ‘Eocke Wulf Ta 152H’.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Supermarine Stranraer (1934) equipped 3 British-based squadrons when war broke out, flying patrols over the North Sea. These were often flown with a fuel tank under one wing and bombs under the other. Patrols ceased in 1941, with some Stranraers used as trainers into 1942. 📷 IWM CH 2551 🧵19/19

Camouflaged Stranraer of 240 Squadron touching down on Loch Ryan, Ayrshire. The aircraft is a large biplane flying boat with stabilising outrigger floats. It has a shoulder mounted lower wing, with the two radial engines mounted on the upper wing. There are twin tailfins.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Short Singapore (1926) was showing its age when war broke out and, though some were used for training, only two frontline squadrons were still operating the type. These flew local patrols but the aircraft were replaced before seeing combat, some passing to the RNZAF on Fiji. 📷 IWM CH 2556 🧵18/19

Camouflaged Singapore of 4 (Coastal) Training Unit based at Stranraer in flight at medium altitude over the Irish Sea. The aircraft is a large biplane flying boat with stabilising outrigger floats. Its four inline engines, two tractor and two pusher, are fitted in tandem pairs between the wings, which are connected by hefty struts. There is an unusual triple tailfin assembly.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Saro Londons (1934) still equipped three RAF Sqns in 1939. They flew patrols over the North Sea, Mediterranean and Atlantic, sometimes fitted with an additional fuel tank. Due to issues with their intended replacement, the Lerwick, some Londons remained in service until 1941. 📷 IWM CH 1922 🧵17/19

Saro London of 240 Sqn, based at Sullom Voe in the Shetlands, flying at medium altitude over the sea. A large biplane flying boat with stabilising outrigger floats, the aircraft has a shoulder mounted lower wing, with the twin radial engines mounted on the leading edge of the upper wing. The two wings are connected by hefty struts. There are single guns in the nose, dorsal and rear positions, the latter between the twin tailfins. A rather bulky dorsal fuel tank sits behind the cockpit.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Blackburn Shark (1933) entered service with the FAA shortly before the Fairey Swordfish. The type served only briefly before being moved to training and target tug duties until 1942. However, aircraft based at Singapore were also pressed into combat against the Japanese. 📷 IWM ATP 8562D 🧵16/19

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Fairey Seal (1930) was the Fleet Air Arm’s counterpart to the Gordon. Only 4 aircraft remained with the FAA in Sept 1939, flying training missions; these were retired in 1943. However, some Seals were also used by the RAF for coastal patrols around Ceylon until 1942. 📷 naval-aviation.com 🧵15/19

Fairey Seal flying over the sea, pictured from another aircraft. Largely in silver-doped finish, it has a black anti-glare panel on the upper fuselage and prominent squadron markings. A large biplane with fixed undercarriage and an uncowled radial engine, it has a long open cockpit from which the 3 occupants are looking at the camera.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Fairey Seafox floatplane (1936) was designed to be launched by from Royal Navy cruisers. In December 1939, a Seafox from HMS Ajax acted as a gunfire spotter during the Battle of the River Plate. The type served on Armed Merchant Cruisers and from some shore bases until 1943. 📷 IWM A 6653 🧵14/19

Seafox on the catapult of Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Canton in October 1941. The picture shows the aircraft at the point of launch, viewed by multiple naval officers and ratings in white tropical kit. It’s a small inline-engined biplane with two open cockpits and twin floats.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Hawker Hector army co-operation aircraft (1936) was still in use with several Auxiliary Air Force units when war broke out. During the Dunkirk evacuation, Hectors of 613 Sqn attacked German positions around Calais and also dropped supplies. Some later served as glider tugs. 📷 key.aero 🧵13/19

Camouflaged Hawker Hector on a grass airfield. It’s a two-seater open cockpit biplane with an inline engine and fixed undercarriage.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Hawker Hardy (1934) was another ‘tropicalised’ variant of the Hawker Hart, intended for the general purpose role. Some were still in service in 1939, seeing combat against the Italians in East Africa in 1940/41. A few thereafter continued in use as communications aircraft. 📷 IWM HU 85558 🧵12/19

Vic formation of nine Hawker Hardy aircraft from 30 Squadron over the River Euphrates, winding through an arid landscape, in 1937. The silver-doped biplanes have two crewmen in open cockpits, fixed undercarriage and inline engines.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Gloster Gauntlet (1933) was still in service with a single British-based squadron when war broke out, with some used for Met. flights into 1943. Others served in Africa against the Italians in 1940, largely for ground attack but also scoring the type’s only aerial victory. 📷 IWM HU 18171 🧵11/19

Three Gauntlets of 19 Squadron based at RAF Duxford in V-formation at altitude against a backdrop of threatening clouds, with countryside visible below. The silver-doped aircraft are open cockpit biplane fighters with a radial engine and fixed undercarriage.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Vickers Vildebeest torpedo bomber (1928) was obsolete by 1939, yet 100 were still in service. Some British-based aircraft flew convoy patrols until 1940. Two squadrons based in Malaya fought a rearguard action against Japanese shipping in 1941/42, suffering heavy losses. 📷 IWM H(AM) 361 🧵10/19

Uncamouflaged Vildebeest of 36 Squadron RAF in flight over Singapore. The image shows the aircraft at medium altitude over a built up coastal area, with numerous boats and ships visible below. The Vildebeest is a large biplane with fixed, ‘spatted’ undercarriage, and an uncowled single radial engine. The pilot is visible in an open cockpit. A torpedo hangs beneath the fuselage, in a nose-down position.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Handley Page Harrow (1936) was used as a bomber for only 2 years. Serving as a transport throughout the war, some remained in use until 1945. The Harrow’s most unusual role was in the Long Aerial Mine program, an unsuccessful scheme to bring down Luftwaffe bombers at night. 📷 IWM CH 20608 🧵9/19

‘Harrow Transport ambulance aircraft, K6984 BJ-E, of No. 271 Squadron RAF Detachment parked at Hendon, Middlesex. The type was also known unofficially as the Sparrow. To the right is a de Havilland Flamingo, and in the background a Douglas Dakota, both of No. 24 Squadron RAF.’ The image was taken on a grass airfield in murky weather conditions. The Harrow, in the foreground, is a monoplane with twin radial engines and fixed, ‘spatted’ undercarriage. It has a long, boxy fuselage lined with large windows which ends in twin tailfins. The aircraft is unarmed.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Handley Page Heyford (1930) was popular in service despite its ungainly appearance. It was surprisingly agile, rugged and easy to maintain. Retired as bombers in 1939, 40 Heyfords continued as bombing/gunnery trainers until 1940. At least two served as glider tugs in 1941. 📷 IWM ATP 7352C 🧵8/19

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Boulton Paul Overstrand bomber (1933) was chiefly notable as being the world’s first aircraft fitted with a fully enclosed, powered gun turret. Though obsolete as a bomber by 1939, some were still in use as gunnery trainers and the type wasn’t officially retired until 1941. 📷 IWM HU 3658 🧵7/19

Boulton Paul Overstrands at King George V's Jubilee Review at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, July 1935. The image shows a number of large, silver-doped biplanes on a grass airfield, each with groundcrew in attendance. The aircraft have two radial engines with 4-bladed propellers. A rudimentary cylindrical glazed turret is mounted on the nose of the slab-sided fuselage, above and behind which is the cockpit.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Bristol Bombay (1935) was another bomber/transport, designed to operate from rough airstrips. Able to carry 8x 250lb bombs, it was used against Italian forces in Africa in 1940-41. Bombays served until 1944 as cargo transports, troop carriers and casualty evacuation aircraft. 📷 IWM CM 786 🧵6/19

Pictured from below against a clear sky, a camouflaged Bombay of 216 Squadron, based at Heliopolis in Egypt, flies over the Western Desert. It’s a large aircraft with two radial engines, a slab-like parasol wing and long fuselage tapering to twin tailfins. Between the stalky but sturdy-looking fixed undercarriage, eight bomb racks are fixed in two banks of four. There are gun turrets fore and aft.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Vickers Valentia (1934) was designed primarily as a transport, with additional bombing capability. Based largely in the Middle East and North Africa, some were used as night bombers against Italian forces in 1940 and over Iraq in 1941. A few remained in service until 1944. 📷 IWM CM 773 🧵5/19

‘A Vickers Valentia of No. 216 Squadron RAF based at Heliopolis, Egypt, at the landing ground at H4 pumping station on the Iraq Petroleum Company pipeline in Transjordan. Arab Legionnaires stand guard as personnel and supplies are unloaded at H4, which had become the RAF Advanced Headquarters for operations against the rebels in Iraq.’ The image shows a sizeable biplane with twin uncowled radial engines on a dirt airstrip. Windows line the fuselage, with a gun position above. Personnel are entering a side door, watched by soldiers in Arab dress with slung rifles. The aircraft is camouflaged.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Vickers Vincent light bomber (1932) served in the Middle East and Africa, over 80 still being in service in 1939. They were used against Italian and Iraqi forces as well as for coastal patrols The last RAF squadron operating Vincents relinquished their aircraft in Jan 1943. 📷 IWM CM 6855 🧵4/19

‘Vincent K4681 of the Aden Communications Flight, under guard at Mukeiras landing ground in Southern Arabia, while delivering supplies to the RAF rest camp there’. The image shows a Vincent on a desert airstrip, guarded by a single airman with a slung rifle. It’s a sizeable biplane with two open cockpits and a single uncowled radial engine. A large external fuel tank hangs between the fixed undercarriage, the wheels of which are covered against dust. It carries camouflage and post-1942 RAF markings.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Fairey Gordon (1931) light bomber and utility aircraft was used by both the RAF and FAA. Though mostly retired by 1939, a number were still in service in Egypt and Iraq. Eight Gordons present at RAF Habbaniya when it was besieged by Iraqi forces were used to drop 250lb bombs. 📷 IWM Q 98670 🧵3/19

Fairey Gordon two-seater biplane in flight at medium altitude over Sudan, 1930s. The image shows an arid area bisected by a river or irrigation canal, beside which is a small cultivated area. The aircraft, in silver doped fabric with a black section on top of the fuselage, has fixed undercarriage and an uncowled radial engine.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The Hawker Audax (1931), pictured prominently above, was a ‘tropicalised’ variant of the Hawker Hart light bomber. Some 400 were still in service in 1939, seeing operational use in East Africa and Iraq as well as second-line duties. The last Audaxes were retired in 1945. 📷 IWM CH 8725 🧵2/19

Hawker Audax at altitude over what the caption describes as ‘Jeuel Orwell’ (I can’t find anywhere by that name). The image shows a towering, arid mountain range under clear skies with puffy white clouds. In the foreground is a Hawker Audax 2-seat open cockpit biplane with RAF markings in silver-doped fabric. A long exhaust extends along the fuselage from its tightly-cowled inline engine. It has fixed undercarriage with a radiator between the supporting struts. A supply container hangs beneath the port wing.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

A number of lesser-known British aircraft types which played a part (however minor) in the Second World War have been somewhat lost to history. Several of these took part in the Anglo-Iraqi war of 1941, when Rashid Ali al-Gaylani staged a coup with German and Italian assistance. 📷 Frank Wooton 🧵1/19

Painting depicting Hawker Audax biplanes and Airspeed Oxford trainers attacking Iraqi ground columns in arid, mountainous terrain.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The pilot of this aircraft was 22 year old Hansherbert Landry, who had baled out nearby but landed hard under a damaged parachute and broke both legs. He also sustained facial injuries and was later discovered to have been shot through the buttocks. He died from blood poisoning on 23rd September.

Luftwaffe pilot in uniform and flying boots sitting in a deckchair in front of a Messerschmitt 109 fighter.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Some images of HMS Hogue after the collision here from naval-history.net

Image of a ship’s bow, crumpled and bent to port. A dotted line added to the photograph shows where it should have been!

Another image of damage to a ship’s bow, taken from further aft on the port side.

Image of the bow of a destroyer in port, taken from the dockside. It’s crumpled and bent to port just ahead of the forward turret.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Mysore (pictured here in 1961 during exercises with HMS Hermes) was formerly the Fiji-Class cruiser HMS Nigeria, sold to India in 1957. She went on to collide with the destroyer INS Rana in 1969 and frigate INS Beas in 1972. The somewhat accident-prone ship was decommissioned in 1985. 📷 IWM A 34422

Per the original caption: ‘The Indian cruiser MYSORE, wearing the flag of Flag Officer, Commanding Indian Fleet, Rear Admiral B S Sloman, alongside HMS HERMES during the transfer by jackstay of Indian officers to the British Carrier.’ The image shows the cruiser, mounting 9 main guns in triple turrets, steaming to starboard of a carrier with multiple aircraft and helicopters on deck. The sea is calm, with predominantly blue skies overhead.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Yes, it’s a fantastic book which I came across many years ago as a kid when becoming interested in the Second World War. It played a large part in my enduring interest in Dido-Class cruisers!

Cover for the book ‘HMS Ulysses’ by Alistair Maclean, featuring dramatic artwork of a Dido-Class cruiser in heavy seas.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The ‘Bellona’ sub-class entered service in 1943. HMS Spartan was sunk off Anzio in 1944 by a Hs 293 glide bomb. HMS Diadem and HMS Bellona (L) were based in Britain. HMS Royalist (R) and HMS Black Prince ultimately joined the East Indies and Pacific Fleets respectively. 📷 IWM A 27570/A 9590 🧵16/16

View of the bow of HMS Bellona in rough weather during an Arctic convoy, February 1945. Waves are crashing over the deck and the forward turrets are trained to starboard to avoid shipping too much water. In the foreground is an unmanned quadruple Pom-pom.

HMS Royalist being launched at Greenock, May 1942. The ship is at the bottom of a slipway surrounded by scaffolding and cranes. Her superstructure is partially complete but she’s unarmed.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Due to a shortage of 5.25-inch turrets, HMS Charybdis (L) and HMS Scylla (R) were instead given 4 twin 4.5-inch mountings. Charybdis was sunk by German torpedo boats on 22nd Oct 1943, with 400 crew lost. Scylla was written off after striking a mine on 23rd June 1944. 📷 IWM FL 5201/A 15352 🧵15/16

Taken from an aircraft at low altitude, HMS Charybdis, wearing splinter camouflage, carves through calm waters. Her smaller gun turrets are evident.

Crewman on HMS Scylla, bundled against the cold, trudging through snow along the waist of the cruiser, against a murky grey backdrop. Ice clings to every surface.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

HMS Euryalus, the last cruiser built at Chatham Dockyard, sailed for the Med in Sept 1941. She spent much of her time escorting convoys, but in 1943 also helped cover the invasions of Sicily and Italy. After a refit, she sailed for the Pacific in December 1944. 📷 IWM A 8160/A 13496 🧵14/16

Viewed from the back of the bridge of HMS Euryalus, her six forward guns open fire to starboard against the Italian fleet during the Second Battle of Sirte, 22nd March 1942. Several officers and men wearing tin helmets are visible, while the image is blurred from the concussion of the guns. The battle was a cat-and-mouse affair where a British force of 4 light cruisers, an AA cruiser and 17 destroyers held off an Italian force of one battleship, two heavy cruisers and ten destroyers attempting to attack a convoy.

HMS Euryalus, under almost clear skies, passing through the Suez Canal near El-Kantara. In the foreground is an Egyptian minespotting post, with soldiers wearing legionnaire-style headgear.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

After a short period with the Home Fleet, HMS Sirius followed her sisters to the Med in Aug 1942. Taking part in several surface actions and bombardment missions, she was hit by a 250kg bomb off Kos in Oct 1943. Sirius later helped cover Operations OVERLORD and DRAGOON. 📷 IWM A 21017/A 24324 🧵13/16

HMS Sirius pictured from the battleship HMS Howe as Force ‘Z’ approached the Italian port of Taranto, September 1943. The image shows the camouflaged cruiser steaming through calm waters, with her crew lining the rails. Her guns are in various degrees of elevation. Two destroyers are visible in the background.

Royal Marines on ‘X’ gun deck of HMS Sirius, displaying some 2,000 empty 5.25-inch shell cases fired in support of troops on Sword Beach, Normandy. The image shows three uniformed men in berets grinning at the camera, surrounded by a huge number of cylindrical casings on the deck of the ship. A sailor on the left of the image looks on. Behind them, pointing forwards, is a twin-gun turret.

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Jamie McTrusty @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

HMS Cleopatra was sent to the Med in early 1942. Taking part in multiple operations, she was damaged by a Luftwaffe bomb and a 6-inch round from an Italian cruiser. In July 1943, she was torpedoed off Sicily. The resulting repairs and refit took over a year to complete. 📷 IWM A 7062/A 29616 🧵12/16

HMS Cleopatra moored in Scapa Flow, January 1942, during her working-up period. The image, taken from a small boat under clear skies, shows the cruiser with an elaborate camouflage scheme. Another cruiser is visible in the background.

Aerial view of HMS Cleopatra in choppy waters off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, November 1944, following her refit to repair torpedo damage suffered the previous year.

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