LEUT Keith Elwood "Nails" Clarkson DFM (Distinguished Flying Medal) was killed in action on November 5, 1951 while flying a Sea Fury in Korea, aged 29.

He was a senior pilot at 805 Squadron at HMAS Albatross and was a highly experienced ex-Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilot.

To mark the occasion a special exhibition has been mounted at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at HMAS Albatross, including a stunning portrait by renowned military artist William 'Will' Longstaff, whose work, Menin Gate at Midnight (1927), hung in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra since 1941.

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The portrait of the proud young aviator, had been commissioned by Clarkson's family, and had been displayed in the Ward Room at HMAS Albatross since 1954.

With the now "Oasis Room" undergoing an upgrade, the painting was loaned to the museum.

Acting Fleet Air Arm Museum manager and collection curator Ailsa Chittick said being able to use the portrait as the centre part of the exhibition was exciting.

The exhibition includes various photos of LEUT Clarkson, and of course his medals, including the Distinguished Flying Medal, which were donated by his family to the museum in 2018.

Also on display is Clarkson's personal diary, which includes an entry detailing his lucky escape when his Spitfire was gunned down over Tunisia on April 2, 1943, as well as RAAF training at Temora among other things.

Clarkson had served with distinction with the RAAF in the Second World War.

During 1945, many of the RAAF flyers were invited to volunteer for the fledgling RAN Fleet Air Arm. Following training by the Royal Navy, he was commissioned as Lieutenant before being posted to 805 Squadron at Albatross, coinciding with the establishment of the RAN Fleet Air Arm in 1948.

He was eventually posted to HMAS Sydeny's Carrier Air Group, sent to Korea in 1951.

Although killed just three short years after joining the Fleet Air Arm, Clarkson is regarded as one of the most significant early figures of the FAA.

The exhibition has been assembled and curated by volunteer Pauline Kitto, and will welcome its first viewing on December 1 when the Fleet Air Arm Museum will reopen to the public after the COVID restrictions.

"We are so lucky to have so many items of Lieutenant Clarkson's in our archives," Ms Chittick said.

"It is fantastic to be able to acknowledge this significant anniversary."

LEUT Clarkson was part of three Albatross squadrons, 808 and 805 who both flew Sea Furies and 817 who flew Fireflies on Sydney during the war effort.

While 11 other FAA members were killed in earlier training accidents, Clarkson was the first to be killed in action.

Along with Sub Lieutenants RR Sinclair and RJ Coleman, also flying Sea Furies from 805 Squadron, they were the only three naval aviators lost in the conflict.

Clarkson's and Coleman's bodies were never recovered and both are still listed as missing in action.

Anyone who has driven into the HMAS Albatross naval base will have also noticed the large playing field on the right hand side, Clarkson Oval, which was also named in his honour.

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