"The Searcher"

by Mark Littlejohn


300 A1plus Limited Edition Prints


The Pacific Air War


Hellcat Fighter 1840 Sqn Fleet Air Arm H.M.S Speaker Sub. Lt. Eric Spearing R.N.V.R.


Sub. Lt. Eric Spearing flying Hellcat JX 705 from 1840 Sqn engaged in a search for an American Liberty ship, which had run aground on an unmarked coral reef in the South Pacific. The search took place on March 14th 1945, two aircraft being despatched to assist, the squadron were unable to locate the ship as the wrong co-ordinates had been sent, despite this the stricken vessel was eventually located and the crew rescued. However a message of thanks was later recieved thanking the ship for its help in the search. The Hellcat Sqn eventually transferred to H.M.S Indomitable and became 1839 Sqn where they worked in company with a Sqn of Avengers. H.M.S Speaker went to Japan after its surrender to bring home prisoners of war.


The White Ensign from H.M.S Speaker now hangs in the Speaker's room in the House of Commons. The picture shows Eric flying above the empty vastness of the Pacific Ocean, something that caused more trepidation in the pilots of all sides than perhaps actual combat, with little or no air sea rescue support available to them to be lost and low on fuel would inevitably mean their doom!