AUSSIES IN GLORY

‘MICK’ FIELDHOUSE 1926-1963

Top. Andrew Powell with his Sea Fury.

Middle L-R: Alan Cordell and Peter Wyatt.

Bottom: Martin Scott. ✈

Andrew Powell’s Flight Leader over Korea was Commissioned Pilot Derek ‘Mick’ Fieldhouse RN. A teenage Mick joined the Royal Navy and recorded his first flight during September 1944 in a Boeing Cadet. As World War Two drew to a close flying training slowed and Mick did not graduate from the Operational Flying School at Lossiemouth until March 1948. Falling in love with more than just flying, twenty-two year old Mick married twenty year old Betty Robinson on July 31st, 1948. Having lost her brother, FlightSergeant (N) Richard Robinson of 178 (Lancaster) Squadron, over Poland in 1944 Betty was only too aware of the inherent dangers of service flying.

In mid-1950 when Triumph and her 13th Carrier Air Group arrived on station at the start of the Korean War Mick was flying a Seafire FR.47 with 800 Squadron. On completion of this three month deployment Mick left the squadron and converted to Sea Furies. Joining 804 Squadron of the 14th CAG he embarked on Glory for her first Korean deployment, of nine war patrols, between April and September 1951.

After a restful Australian Christmas and New Year ashore for the squadron at Albatross/Naval Air Station Nowra Glory sailed for Korea in January 1952. When the relatively inexperienced Andrew Powell joined Glory from Sydney in Hong Kong for her second deployment of five war patrols Mick welcomed him as a wingman to his flight.

Commissioned Pilot D.F. Fieldhouse received a Mention-in-Despatches for his flying over Korea. Promoted Lieutenant in July 1952, his outstanding flying skills were recognised when he was selected for the No.14 Empire Test Pilots Course in 1955. On graduation he became a test pilot with the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down, eventually amassing an incredible seventy-seven types from a Fieseler Storch to a Victor bomber in his logbook. Conducting carrier trials in January 1959 with the