Fleet Air Arm Legends: Supermarine Seafire

Author: Matthew Willis
Publisher: Tempest
ISBN: 1911658824
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 116

Book Description
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.

Air Combat Legends: Supermarine Spitfire, Messerschmitt Bf109

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Fighter planes
Languages : en
Pages : 264

Book Description

Fleet Air Arm Legends

Author: Matthew Willis
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781911658498
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Book Description
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and the Bismarck in the Atlantic, in circumstances where no other aircraft could have succeeded.When it was finally superseded in its main role with the Fleet, the Swordfish fulfilled vital roles protecting convoys from the U-boat menace.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.

Churchill's Navy

Author: Brian Lavery
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1844863387
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 290

Book Description
In this remarkable book, now reissued in paperback, Brian Lavery examines every aspect of the Royal Navy, both ashore and at sea, during the Second World War, and casts a lucid eye over the strengths and weaknesses of an organisation that was put under acute strain during the period, yet rose to the challenge with initiative and determination. Divided into twelve sections, the book delves into the structure of naval power from the Board of Admiralty and shore commands to officers and crews, their recruitment and training, daily life and discipline. The roles of the Reserves, Merchant Navy, Royal Marines and Wrens within this structure are also explained. Developments in ship design and technology, as well as advances in intelligence, sensors and armament are all discussed and set in context. The different divisions are dealt with one by one, including the Submarine Service, Fleet Air Arm, Coastal Forces, and Combined Operations. The text is complemented by over 300 illustrations and the personal accounts of those who served.

Fly Navy

Author: Charles Manning
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 0850527325
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 238

Book Description
This book tells the full story of flight from sea, discussing the dangers that naturally come with this seemingly unnatural mode of airbase, including the unfortunate losses of over 900 men during this period. It covers the development of new technology of the period and how changes in other areas such as the cold war and rise of nuclear power, meant that much of the abilities had to be changed and developed.

Flying to the Limit

Author: Peter Caygill
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 184415226X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 257

Book Description
Describes the design and testing of British fighter planes during World War II.

Spitfire

Author: Leo McKinstry
Publisher: John Murray
ISBN: 1848545037
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 626

Book Description
In June 1940, the German Army had brought the rest of Europe to its knees. 'Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world will move forward into broad, sunlit uplands,' said Churchill. The future of Europe depended on Britain. A self-confident Herman Goring thought that it would be only a matter of weeks before his planes had forced Britain to surrender. The courage, resourcefulness and brilliant organisation of the RAF were to prove him wrong. By late September 1940, the RAF had proved invincible, thanks to the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire. It exceeded anything that any other air force possessed. RJ Mitchell, a shy and almost painfully modest engineer, was the genius behind the Spitfire. On the 5th March 1936, following its successful maiden flight, a legend was born. Prize-winning historian Leo McKinstry's vivid history of the Spitfire brings together a rich cast of characters and first hand testimonies. It is a tale full of drama and heroism, of glory and tragedy, with the main protagonist the remarkable plane that played a crucial role in saving Britain.

Two-Man Air Force

Author: Philip Kaplan
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1844151778
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 192

Book Description
American volunteers Don Gentile (pronounced Jen-tilly) and John Godfrey flew together as leader and wingman respectively, with the USAAF 4th Fighter Group based at Debden near Cambridge in England. At the end of their missions with the 4th the two of them had accounted for over 58 enemy aircraft destroyed. Major Gentile had scored 22 air and 6 ground kills before he was returned to the USA to help raise money for the war effort. Major Godfrey was credited with 18 air and 12 ground kills before he was shot down and taken prisoner of war. This is the story of their amazing adventures and wartime partnership from their basic training in Canada and then onto England where they first flew the Supermarine Spitfire. It continues with their transfer to the USAAF 4th Fighter Group when the US entered the war and when the two were retrained to fly the P-47 Thunderbolt and eventually the superb P-51 Mustang. These two ace pilots loved life as much as flying - and as well as being hell-bent on destroying the enemy in the skies of Europe they also lived life to the full in their off-duty time in England.

The Fairey Barracuda

Author: Matthew Willis
Publisher: MMP
ISBN: 9788365281241
Category : Barracuda (Torpedo bomber)
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
The Fairey Barracuda was the first monoplane torpedo bomber operated by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. The Barracuda experienced a difficult birth and development during the Second World War, and this, added to a number of fatal crashes, led to a poor reputation which the aircraft would never truly shake. Despite this, the Barracuda proved highly successful in service, carrying out raids against the Tirpitz, and against Japanese forces in the East Indies that contributed greatly to the war effort. It also undertook a variety of less well known roles, and remained in Fleet Air Arm service into the 1950s. This new book by naval aviation historian Matthew Willis contains an extensive history and technical description of the Barracuda, drawing from a wide range of archive materials and accounts from the men who flew and operated the aircraft in service, together with over 100 photographs, many never before published. Scale plans and color profiles also included.

No 126 Wing RCAF

Author: Donald Nijboer
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472803779
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 294

Book Description
This is the story of the Royal Canadian Air Force's No 126 Wing, part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force. As the most successful fighter combat wing on the continent of Europe during World War 2, the highly mobile No 126 Wing was also one of the greatest fighting machines in history. The success of No 126 Wing began before the D-Day landings and through operations at Falaise Gap, Operation Market Garden, the winter offensive in the Ardennes, and crossing the Rhine into Germany. Donald Nijboer examines the wing's operations chapter by chapter, demonstrating how the five squadrons of Spitfires of No 126 Wing were self-sufficient in everything they did and how, after the Normandy landings, the ground forces could not move without this valuable support. Squadron and ace biographies and stunning artwork bring this fascinating book to life.