Royal Navy engineers have paid tribute to a group of Second World War heroes.

On May 18, personnel from HMS Sultan and the Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival Equipment School (RNAESS) attended the Telegraphist Air Gunners Association’s (TAGA) annual memorial service.

TAGA represents the Telegraphist Air Gunners (TAGs) who served in Fleet Air Arm aircraft from 1922 to 1950, providing Morse code communications and manning rear guns.

The branch trained 3,000 TAGs, with 507 lost in action or due to flying accidents, and 69 becoming prisoners of war.

Wreaths laid in Lee-on-Solent to remember Fleet Air Arm heroesWreaths laid in Lee-on-Solent to remember Fleet Air Arm heroes (Image: Supplied) Many TAGs who served during the war returned to civilian life by 1945-46, but their contributions were widely recognised, with numerous medals and commendations.

TAGs served on a variety of vessels, including 77 different aircraft carriers and several battleships and cruisers.

RNAESS, which has operated out of Daedalus Building since the mid-1990s, continues to honour their legacy, awarding the TAGA Trophy annually to the Air Engineering Technician who achieves the highest academic score over a full training year.

After a service at St Faith’s Church, HMS Sultan personnel laid wreaths at the Fleet Air Arm Memorial in Lee-on-Solent.

The Sultan personnel included Lt Matthew Dunn RN, WO1 Ian Morcom, and trainees AETs Issac Sutton and AET William Vinney.