A woman was killed and twenty other persons received injuries at the launch of the 23,000-ton aircraft carrier Formidable in the shipyard of Messrs. Harland and Wolff, Ltd., Belfast, yesterday.
Half an hour before the time fixed for the launch the great vessel began to move down the launching slips, and the persons who were injured were struck by falling timbers.
There was much excitement among the spectators as the great ship slid down to the water, but waiting tugs soon took it in tow and brought it safely to the fitting-out wharf.
Sir Kingsley Wood, the Secretary of State for Air, and his wife, Lady Wood, who was to have performed the naming ceremony, and Lord Craigavon were among those who witnessed the accident.
It is understood that an investigation will be held into the mishap.
The Irish Times, August 18th, 1939.