HMS Illustrious enters Portsmouth for the last timephotos by Bryan Moffat

Tuesday 22nd July 2014 - HMS Illustrious comes home to
Portsmouth for the last time

Unlike the grey day when HMS Ark Royal came home with her life cut short
it was a brilliant sunshine day in a fitting tribute to a great ship
that had properly seen her career through to the end. She had started to
have cracks in her hull and needed constant repair so it was her time to go.
The people of Portsmouth salute you old girl.

Click on a thumbnail for a larger photo . . .



Panoramic photo of the large crowds that came to say farewell	A tug fires its water cannon	HMS Illustrious now flanked by water cannon firing tugs

HMS Illustrious now flanked by water cannon firing tugs	HMS Illustrious now flanked by water cannon firing tugs	HMS Illustrious fires her saluting cannon for the last time

Just off Victoria Pier now	Nearing The Round Tower where so many of us have wathed her before	Passing The Round Tower for the final time. Music is coming from her.

Two Apache Longbow attack helicopters salute her	HMS Illustrious in Portsmouth harbour now as helicopters pass overhead	A BAe Hawk T1 makes it's salute

A Hawker Sea Fury makes it's salute	A Hawker Sea Fury makes it's salute	A Merlin makes it's salute

	A Merlin makes it's salute