WH991 First flew on the 4th February 1953 and was delivered to the Royal Navy at Gosport 20 days later. It joined HMS Illustrious ships flight on the 20th April. it was believed to have been damaged on the 1st May factory by road for repairs. By the 27th October it was flying again and was delivered to the helicopter holding unit at Gosport on November 25th, joining 705 sqdn (Fleet Air Arm) on the 14th January 1954. It arrived at Donbristle (HMS Merlin) in Scotland on the 29th April and thereafter joined the ships flight on HMS Centaur on the 18th December 1954.

It was known to be at HMS Daedalus (Lee-On-Solent shore base) from May 16th 1956 for a series of modification before being issued to the station flight at HMS Gannet (Eglington Northern Ireland) on the 14th June. It was subsequently converted to an HR5 and work completed by the 1st May 1958.

On march 9th 1959 WH991 was transferred by ship to Trinidad in the Caribbean for trials work on board the survey ship HMS Vidal. Photographs of the time show that the upper surfaces were painted in a light colour to reflect the sun and reduce the heat in the cabin. At this time it carried the number 969 on the fuselage.

WH991 at Tobago (Photo Colin Brett)

It was back in the UK by July 1960.. It served with 700H sqdn (FAA) at Yeovilton (HMS Heron) from the 2nd May 1961 and was involved in trials with the Indian Navy carrier INS Vikrant, which we expect would have been the Indian Navy's first experience of helicopter operations. It rejoined 705 squadron at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) and is reported to be the last Dragonfly to fly with the squadron. It may have ended up with the station flight at Culdrose before going into store there in 1964.

Having moved to Fleetlands RN aircraft yard in 1967, WH991 was struck of charge by the Royal Navy in June 1970 and sold to W.Sparke of Taunton, It was soon lined up at Blackbushe with several others during the 70's and reportedly sold to a third party in Cyprus. It appears to have been damaged at London docks and instead found it's way to the Tattershall Collection in Lincolnshire. It later went to Melbourne Autos at Storwood where it was purchased by Ray McElwain in July 1994 in an almost scrap condition.