Perhaps you have great memories of ‘Lusty’ as she was affectionately known? Maybe you served on her or were involved in the Falklands War? Did you have family on board?
Royal Navy HMS Illustrious was a light aircraft carrier and an Invincible-class ship that was launched on the 14th December 1978.
She would carry up to 22 helicopters. She saw 32 years' service and was formally decommissioned on 28 August 2014.
MORE RETRO: Second World War pictures from The News archive | History of HMS Collingwood in pictures
It was a sad end to a magnificent ship, she left Portsmouth under tow bound for Turkey on 7 December 2016 to be scrapped in Turkey.
She arrived at the LEYAL Ship Recycling Group’s yard, after being sold by the government for about £2m at the time.
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She would carry up to 22 helicopters. She saw 32 years' service and was formally decommissioned on 28 August 2014.
![14th Dec 2004. After a long refit period the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious returns to her home port of Portsmouth.Picture shows Natalie Watson very happy to return to her home port.LA(PHOT)Owen KingFRPU](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgzNzExZDM0LTYwMTUtNDE2MC04NGZlLWRmYzA0YTliZGIyZTpkOTFkNmNlNC05OTFjLTQyMTctYmU1Ny00M2UzMTIwZTA1MWY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Memories of HMS Illustrious
14th Dec 2004. After a long refit period the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious returns to her home port of Portsmouth.Picture shows Natalie Watson very happy to return to her home port.LA(PHOT)Owen KingFRPU Photo: The News archive
![2001. Preparations take place in the hanger of HMS Illustrious before she is deployed to Oman. Picture: Luke MacGregor 014600-1](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmVhNjM4OGI3LWMwZWQtNDk1OC05YWM3LTgzMzczYTEzMTcxNjozNzdlODNjYi0zY2I0LTQyM2YtOTU0OS1kYjMwZTc1ZWM0Y2M=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. Memories of HMS Illustrious
2001. Preparations take place in the hanger of HMS Illustrious before she is deployed to Oman. Picture: Luke MacGregor 014600-1 Photo: The News archive
!['Lusty' in New York.HMS Illustrious in New York harbour with the Twin Towers in the background, February 1984.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgwZWM0MDJkLWRjNGQtNGM2YS04MTkwLWE5YzJlZWFjMTZiZDo2NWFiMzhmYi0zMjllLTRiNDUtOTkzMi0zNzUwNDg4NGQ0MzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. Memories of HMS Illustrious
'Lusty' in New York.HMS Illustrious in New York harbour with the Twin Towers in the background, February 1984. Photo: The News archive
![HMS Illustrious leaving Rosyth to begin contractor's sea trials following her refit.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ0MjI0MjYzLTMxZmItNGUyNi1iODVjLWUwMzNhODJjMjUwYjpiN2NlOWJmMy03YjNhLTQyZGMtOTY4Yi03NDM1ZjVlN2M4YTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
8. Memories of HMS Illustrious
HMS Illustrious leaving Rosyth to begin contractor's sea trials following her refit. Photo: The News archive