From the private album of my father James Sellars RM.  This aircraft was ditched in the Pacific by the HMS Illustrious which was serving in support of American Landings at Iwo Jima.

HMS Illustrious ditches an Avenger

Taken from personal album of Canadian Jim Sellars, serving in the Royal Marines on board HMS Illustrious

A hard landing on HMS Illustrious 1944

From the personal album of the late Jim Sellars, Royal Marines.  My dear old dad is the Marine fourth from the right in the center row.  The name of each man is on the strap across each man's chest.  It would be interesting to hear from the decendents of any of these men.  My dads best friend and best man at his wedding is Marine John Hill front row third from right.  John Hill was from Manchester.  My father was from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.