ROC by Loda

Puzzle explanation

The theme was the constitutional incident on January 4, 1642 when King Charles I breached privilege and entered Parliament to arrest five MPs. Forewarned, the five left early and the king declared “I see all the birds are flown”, spelt out, with “King Charles I”, by the corrected misprints; see the table below. All birds were removed from theme answers, also shown in that table. To represent the flight of the birds, scray, egret, ariel, goose and raven were to be replaced by a simple curved line-drawing to depict a bird in flight; other curved drawings were accepted. The title is an abbreviation for Royal Observer Corps and the name of a fabled (ie, unseen) bird.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Correction Answer Explanation
Across
1   INDETER(MINA)TENESS (IT + S(ome) + D(izziness) + MEN ARE INTENSE) *
9 W(I)llow OSIERY R after (OS + IE) + Y
10 ri(S)e REVOLT (LOVE in TR) <
12 Ass(E)rting DECLARING CLEAR * in DING
14 po(E)t GERE GEE about R(acing)
15 VI(A) THRU THE RUG – (E + G = eg)
17 wo(L)d MOOR M’ + ROO <
18   S(TERN)ITE IT after STERN + (spin)E
20   (KA)MSIN SICK MAN * – C(hamomile)
22   (HAWK)-EYED (W + KEY + ED) after (H + (tr)A(il))
23   (JACK)-SLAVES JACK + LAVE in SS
26   JUNIOR (BANTAM)WEIGHTS J + IN OUR * + BAN + (W + EIGHT) in TAMS
27 (L)ong TIRADE DE after (A + RIT) <
32 sof(T) OOSE GOOSE – G
35 (H)im SVEN Every third letter
36 k(E)no RENO ONER <; Reno renowned for gambling
37   KNEE-(TREMBLER) KNEE + T’ + RAMBLER, E for A
39   CORN(COB) CO + R + N(ew) + CO(tton) + B(ud)
40 Clu(B) IRON (NO + RI) <
42 w(I)res SPREADERS SP + READERS
43 (R)ise EROTIC RICE * about OT
44 An(D)y IRVINE Two definitions; reference Andy Irvine, now retired as player: see Chambers Biographical Dictionary
45   LAND(SCAPE)-PAINTINGS LAND + SCAPE + PAIN + STING, S to end
Down
1 do(S)e IODISE I + ODE about IS
2 I(A)n’s DICHTS (C(ondimen)T + DISH) *
3 Hu(R)t TRAUMA U in (A MART) <
4 b(E)ast EYRA EY(e) + RA
5 (F)ix TENON ON after NET <
6   NO(SE-RIN)G NO + SERING(a)
7 Wai(L) ELEGY ELY about EG
8   SLEND(ERNE)SS SENDER about L + NESS
11   (MACAW)-TREE MACE about WATER *
13 h(O)ckey GOAL O in GAL
16 (W)orm REDIA AIDER <
17 so(N) MIDWIVE Middle of WIVE is IV = four
19 ban(K)er’s IJUI Hidden
21 f(I)rm SURE SU(tu)RE
23 (N)ot SELE Hidden, reversed
24 Sna(G)s AGGRO AG + GROT – T
25 (C)ollar ETON NOTE <
26   J(ANI)TORIAL (I + ORAL) after (JAN + IT)
28   DE(CROW)NS (SCORNED + W) *
29 (H)and UNCART CAN RUT *
30 p(A)per HEREIN HIN about ERE
31   (DOVE)-HOUSES SUE SHOVED * about O(pen)
33 g(R)umpy OGRE ERGO <
34 c(L)ipped SHORN ’S + HORN
35 Fin(e) SEPIA APE IS *; cut = hurt, as anagram indicator
38 (S)low REIN (pictu)RE + IN
41 h(I)nt NOD NOD(e)
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