February 1973: HMS Ark Royal R-09 seen from USS Forrestal CVA-59. Aircraft from Forrestal can be seen on the flight deck of Ark Royal.

February 1973: A Blackburn Buccaneer from HMS Ark Royal R-09 seen on the flight deck of USS Forrestal CVA-59.

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother seen on HMS Ark Royal R-09 in 1975.

February 23, 1976: HMS Ark Royal R-09 in the north Atlantic off the Azores. This photo was taken while retuning to the Ark having completed a casualty evacuation of an acute appendicitis case from the USS Submarine Bergall, the unfortunate casualty having been washed off the sub's casing during the helicopter lift. He was quickly recovered by the diver from the helo and didn't seem any the worse for his experience when we delivered him to the US hospital in the Azores. This photo was used by a well known maritime artist. Robert Taylor, who advertised his version of it (minus helo and ground crew on the waist catapult) for sale in some UK newspapers (The Daily Telegraph for one) in March 1979.

Ark Royal R-09 seen at Devonport, England in 1978.

Ark Royal R-09 seen at Devonport, England in 1979.

September 22, 1980: The tugs Robust A-366 and Roysterer A-502 (starboard side) and a third unidentified tug (port side) towing the Ark Royal R-09 out of Plymouth, England for Cairnryan, Scotland to be scrapped.

(Photo by Vic Fowler, courtesy of Chris Stevens)