I was trained to be a design engineer back in the late 80s (86-88), on pencil and paper no less. Computers were on the way, but the course I was on was the last year to do things the old way. I had a knack for it though, I used to finish the day's lesson and exercise in half the time allotted and then was often 'drafted' to be a teaching assistant and help the other students (it was a general engineering course, and only two of us in it were actually draftsmen at heart). Really enjoyed it but because of the swift rise in computing in the industry my skill set was practically obsolete when I left college, and the recession of the 80s meant there were no vacancies or apprenticeships available either. Hence I ended up doing many other jobs instead before settling into a 25 year career as a 'Transport and Logistics Executive'. That's Truck Driver to the rest of you. I still think like an engineer, I still approach problems with a cold calm analytical frame of mind and almost subconsciously start gathering facts surrounding the situation. I value the training greatly to this day.
Regarding HMS Victorious service as 'USS Robin', it was a time in the Pacific War when the USN was effectively down to one carrier (USS Saratoga). Enterprise was in dock for major repairs, Wasp, Hornet and Yorktown had been sunk and the first of the Essex class were still up to six months from completion. Possibly difficult to believe nowadays, but the US Government begged the UK for the loan of one Fleet Carrier to cover the gap (in case Saratoga was lost too) and we obliged with HMS Victorious, which was sent across the pond to receive some modifications at Norfolk (including new galleries for 20mm AA guns, replacing the extended roundown/ramp at the stern to extend the flight deck, two extra arrestor wires and at at least one Coke bottle dispenser. Seriously. The crew were issued with US Navy style Uniforms (denim shirts and trousers for the Ratings and the Khaki uniforms for the officers, all with RN rank and other badges), which were adopted by the RN afterwards as no. 8 working dress. after two months at Norfolk she re embarked her air group which had re equipped with 2 sqns of Wildcats and one of Avengers (all painted with USN markings), and headed through the panama canal for Pearl Harbour. She received an overall dark blue camo scheme in common with many USN ships as well as a third 'elevator' amidships, which was just a lighter painted square on the flight deck to confuse any Japanese pilots. It was thought it would encourage them to aim their bombs there... right in the middle of the armoured flight deck!
She was partnered up with the 'Sara' and it was decided to swap some aircraft over, the Avengers of 832NAS went to Saratoga whilst some of Sara's Wildcats went to Vic to fill her up. Vic was to act as a fighter carrier whilst Sara covered the strike role. The arrangement worked well, particularly as at the time, the RN carriers were considered to have superior fighter control facilities and techniques which the USN were keen to observe and copy, which they did. After several months working together successfully, Enterprise was ready to recommission and the first few Essex class were working up too, so Victorious was released to return to the Atlantic and Med, so ending the career of 'USS Robin'.
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In the last picture are the Wildcat pilots of VF-3 aboard Victorious, and this serves as an excellent foreshadowing of future combined RN/USMC operations aboard the QECs.
