Few aircraft encompass as many contradictions as the Fairey Swordfish - the legendary 'Stringbag' naval torpedo bomber was approaching antiquation at the start of the war yet struck mortal blows against some of the most powerful battleships in the Axis fleets. Naval Aviation historian Matthew Willis explores how modern technology such as radar kept the Swordfish effective in the early years of the war and enabled it to find and hit the Italian fleet at Taranto, and the Bismarck in the Atlantic, in circumstances where no other aircraft could have succeeded.When it was finally superseded in its main role with the Fleet, the Swordfish fulfilled vital roles protecting convoys from the U-boat menace. The story of the Swordfish's service across the majority of theatres in WW2, from the hunt for the Graf Spee to the beaches of Normandy, is told here with never-before-published accounts from veteran aircrews. Includes 100+ historic photographs and unique images of the Royal Navy Historic Flight's preserved aircraft.

Renowned naval aviation author Matthew Willis tells the story of the Supermarine Seafire – a navalized version of the famous Spitfire adapted for use on aircraft carriers. Some 2646 examples were built and saw action with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm from November 1942 until after the Korean War in the early 1950s. It was involved in combat during the Allied landings in North Africa (Operation Torch), the Allied invasions of Sicily and Italy, the D-Day landings, and Operation Dragoon in southern France. With the Pacific fleet, the Seafire proved capable of intercepting and destroying the feared Japanese kamikaze attack aircraft.

This is a narrative account of the operations of the Fairey Swordfish throughout World War Two. The most famous of these was the attack on the Italian fleet at Taranto, crippling three battleships and damaging several other ships as well as the seaplane base and an oil storage depot. The Swordfish played a prominent part in the Battle of Matapan and in the sinking of the Bismarck. Less happily, Swordfish were used in the unsuccessful and ill-prepared raid on the Germans at Petsamo and in the abortive attack on the battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau during the Channel Dash in 1942.

Robert le Page flew with the Fleet Air Arm from 1940 to 1945, mostly in 816 Squadron flying carrier-based Fairey Swordfish. He saw action mine-laying off Cherbourg, hunting U-boats, escorting convoys in the North Atlantic and Arctic seas and covering D-Day. Much of his early war years were aboard HMS Dasher and he was lucky to be ashore when the carrier mysteriously exploded and sank in the Clyde. This decimated 816 Squadron which was eventually re-equipped and then worked up to operational readiness to fly from HMS Tracker. His story is full of insights into wartime naval flying. For example when they were tasked with finding and attacking German E Boats they found that in a headwind these powerful boats could outdistance the Stringbag. They devised a plan which was to glide as quietly as possible on their approach to the quarry and power up the engine only seconds before they attacked a plan that was unfortunately unsuccessful. Once when landing in rough weather his aircraft was waved to go round again. With throttle wide open the Swordfish struggled back into the air, but alas the tailhook snagged the top wire of the barrier protecting other parked aircraft. The author remembered staring down from the stalling aircraft to see a terror stricken fitter gazing up at him. Fortunately all survived.

Affectionately known as the 'Stringbag' by its crews, the Fairey Swordfish is one of World War Two's most iconic and recognizable biplane aircraft. Introduced in to Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm service in 1936, the aircraft wasn't operationally retired until May 1945, and despite its obsolescent and antiquated looks, outlived several 'more modern' types intended to replace it, remaining in front-line service through to the end of the war in Europe. A British 'classic', and well timed to coincide with the recently released 1/72 scale kit from Airfix, this is another illustration and photos publication.

Affectionately known as the ‘Stringbag’ by its crews, the Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber was obsolete by 1939, but it still achieved some spectacular successes during the Second World War, including the famous crippling of the German battleship Bismarck in 1941. The centrepiece of this manual is Swordfish Mk II, LS326, operated by the Royal Navy Historic Flight from RNAS Yeovilton. The author and Haynes have been given unique access to this rare aircraft, which is one of only two airworthy examples in the world.

A Fleet Air Arm pilot tells his dramatic story of flying the Bomba and Taranto raids, in the Red Sea, the South Atlantic and East Indies with its detailed and experienced grasp of FAA exploits around the globe and riveting descriptions of action and danger. In 1938 the Fleet Air Arm became an integral part of the Royal Navy and Wellham, having been commissioned in the RAF in 1936, transferred to the Fleet Air Arm in 1939. When Mussolini threw in his lot with Hitler, the author flew one of three 'Stringbags' (Fairey Swordfish) from HMS Eagle which raided the Italian base in Bomba, sinking four ships with three torpedoes, demonstrating the crucial role of air power in modern naval warfare. Wellham was chosen to take part in the second strike on Taranto from HMS Illustrious. Braving a barrage of AA fire, he flew his badly damaged Swordfish into the harbor, fired his torpedo at the battleship Vittoria Veneto and escaped alive. The victory at Taranto humbled forever the great capital ships of the world. Appointed 'Wings' or Commander (Flying) in the escort carriers Biter and then Empress, Wellham braved storms and U-boats in the Atlantic before being sent to the 'Forgotten Fleet' in the Far East for the final struggles with Japan.