|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cranston Fine Arts  Aviation Art and Artists World War Two Aircraft More Aircraft Initials N to S  Swordfish |
[UP] - Nakajima - Nate - Nick - P-11c - Pete - Petlyakov Pe-2 - Piaggio P.108 - Sally - Sea Otter - Seafire - Shiden-Kai - Skua - Skytrain - SM79 - SM81 - Stearman - Stirling - Sturmovik - Sunderland - Superfortress - Swordfish |
| Navigation | |
| Page 1 of 2 | Page 1 .. Next |
| Swordfish Aviation Prints |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Navigation | |
| Page 1 of 2 | Page 1 .. Next |
| Text for the above items : |
Raid on Taranto by Anthony Saunders The balance of maritime power in the Mediterranean was transformed at a stroke by the British air attack which disabled three Italian battleships in a few minutes. The target was the core of Mussolinis fleet, tucked away in Taranto Harbour, in southern Italy. The attack, codenamed Operation Judgement, took place in bright moonlight by twenty-one Swordfish from the British carrier HMS Illustrious. In the confined space of the harbour, their torpedoes had a devastating impact, at least nine torpedoes struck their targets. In all, seven ships were severely damaged, including the battleship Caio Duilio (left), Littorio (right) and Conte Di Cavour. |
The Channel Dash - Swordfish Attack by Jason Askew. (P) The German ships Prinz Eugen, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau are attacked by Swordfish torpedo bombers during The Channel Dash. None of the aircraft would return to base on this mission. |
Out of Alex by David Pentland. A swordfish from HMS Warspite on patrol off the coast of Egypt, near the port of Alexandria. |
Operation Judgement by Philip West. The attack on Taranto was the first major victory for naval air power in the world and blueprint for the strike on Pearl Harbor. The Fleet Air Arm played an active part in the fight against the Axis forces in the Mediterranean. Their greatest achievement was the strike against the Italian Fleet at Taranto, 11 November 1940 by four Fleet Air Arm squadrons and 40 or so men who carried out this daring raid. In this picture we see the Swordfish flown by Lt. FMA Torrense-Spence and Lt. AWF Sutton, having just released its torpedo. |
Against All Odds - Attack on the Scharnhorst by Ivan Berryman. Swordfish of 825 Sqn led by Lt-Cdr Esmonde begin their heroic attack on the battlescruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen as they make their way up the English Channel from Brest during Operation Cerberus on 12th February 1942. Although all the aircraft were lost and no significant damage was done to the German fleet, all the pilots were decorated for their bravery and Lt-Cdr Esmonde received the first Fleet Air Arm VC to be awarded, albeit posthumously. |
Sink the Bismarck by Geoff Lea. Shows the action on 26th May 1941 by Swordfish from HMS Ark Royal on the German battleship Bismarck. Fresh from her triumphant encounter with HMS Hood, Bismarck was struck by Swordfishs torpedo which jammed her rudder and was finished off by the home fleet on 27th May 1941. |
Last Man Away by Ivan Berryman. The remarkable Fairey Swordfish served with distinction throughout WWII, despite being nothing short of an anachronism. Its dated appearance belied a solid, workmanlike airframe that provided a stable platform from which to launch torpedoes against enemy shipping, the venerable 'Stringbag' sending a greater tonnage of Axis shipping to the bottom than any other allied aircraft in the Second World War. A Mk.II is shown taking off from HMS Ark Royal early in 1941. |
Attack on the Scharnhorst by Ivan Berryman. Swordfish of 825 Sqn led by Lt-Cdr Esmonde begin their heroic attack on the battlescruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen as they make their way up the English Channel from Brest during Operation Cerberus on 12th February 1942. Although all the aircraft were lost and no significant damage was done to the German fleet, all the pilots were decorated for their bravery and Lt-Cdr Esmonde received the first Fleet Air Arm VC to be awarded, albeit posthumously. The painting depicts the first wave of Swordfish attacking the Scharnhorst with Gneisenau taking avoiding action in the distance. A German torpedo boat has turned to confront the attacking aircraft. |
Swordfish Attack at Taranto by Robert Taylor. On November 11, 1940 a group of 21 slow, outdated Swordfish biplanes attacked and crippled the Italian Fleet in the heavily defended port of Taranto. One of the most daring raids of World War II captured in this print for posterity. |
To Sink the Bismarck by Gerald Coulson. It is 7.15pm on 25th May 1941. The place, North Atlantic. The mission to find and sink the massive German warship Bismarck. The weather was very bad and worsening noticeably with storm force winds, rain squalls and increasingly heavy seas. With seemingly impossible flying conditions, Ark Royal launched its second strike of the day of fifteen swordfish, four each from 810 and 818 squadrons and seven from 820 squadron. Coming under intense fire the pilots came in very low and close and dropped their torpedo on the target. Eventually the Bismarck's fate was sealed by the guns of the Home Fleet. |
Channel Dash Heroes by Philip West. The Straits of Dover, 12th February 1942. Sub Lieutenant Edgar Lee helps his badly wounded pilot, Sub Lieutenant Brian Rose from the cockpit of their downed Swordfish, before it sinks into the depths of the English Channel following their brave attack on the mighty German fleet. Six Royal Navy Swordfish aircraft manned by 18 aircrew attacked the German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen, with their accompanying flotilla of destroyers and motor torpedo boats and top cover provided by deadly fighter aircraft of the Luftwaffe. But only five Swordfish crew survived. |
Viceless Lady by Ivan Berryman. (GS) A Fairey Swordfish launches from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Eagle in 1939. HMS Eagle would later fall victim to German U-boat U-73 on 11th August 1942. |
Operation Cerberus - The Channel Dash by Philip West. The Channel Dash (officially known as Operation Cerberus) was one of three operations during the Second World War for which the Swordfish was to become the most famous. Heavily outgunned in the Straits of Dover on this day in February 1942 by the German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen, with their accompanying flotilla of destroyers and motor torpedo boats, and with top cover provided by deadly fighter aircraft of the Luftwaffe, all six Fleet Air Arm Swordfish were shot down. Only five of the eighteen aircrew survived. Here we see the Swordfish flown by Sub. Lt. Kingsmill and Sub. Lt. Samples with PO Bunce in the rear, fighting for their lives with his machine gun. |
Fairey Swordfish Mk I W5984 H. by M A Kinnear. Aircraft History: W5984 was built by Blackburn Aircraft Ltd at Sherburn-in-Elmet near Leeds and was delivered to 825 Squadron 1st January 1942. The aircraft was crewed by Lieutenant Commander E Esmonde DSO (Pilot) Lieutenant W H Williams (Observer) and Leading Airman W J Clinton (Telegraphist/ Air Gunner) Sadly on 12th February 1942, W5984 was shot down over the English Channel whilst leading Operation Fuller, the attack against the German ships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen. All three crew were killed. Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde VC DSO: Born 1st March 1909 in Ireland, Esmonde joined the Royal Air Force in 1928 as a fighter pilot. He left the RAF in 1933 and joined Imperial Airways, flying passengers, mail and freight to Australia and the Far East. In January 1939 he was offered a commission in the Fleet Air Arm as a Lieutenant Commander of 825 squadron. On 23rd May 1941, Esmonde led his squadron on a search for the Bismarck. After locating the target, he led 825 into the attack. Flying through heavy anti-aircraft fire, one of 825s torpedoes hit the Bismarck amidships. For his courage and skill Esmonde was awarded the DSO. On 12th February 1942, 825 took off from RAF Manston to attack the German ships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen, in the English Channel. Despite heavy anti aircraft fire, and ferocious attacks by enemy fighters, the six Swordfish bravely pressed home their attack, but all 6 were shot down. Out of a total of 18 aircrew only five survived, four of whom were wounded. Esmondes aircraft was seen crashing in flames into the sea. His body was later found washed ashore at the mouth of the River Medway, April 1942. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. |
HMS Glorious by Ivan Berryman. HMS Glorious flying off a Fairey Swordfish at sunset with HMS Ardent off to Starboard. |
Sea Wings by Ivan Berryman. A pair of Fairey Swordfish Mk1s of 812 Sqn peel away above the pride of the Royal Navy, HMS Ark Royal, during a pre-war exercise in British waters. L9781 is nearest with L7672 in the background |
Safe Return by Ivan Berryman. The pilot of a Fairey Swordfish MKII guides his aircraft towards the landing ramp of HMS Victorious following a sortie in the Mediterranean Sea 1940 |
Swordfish Strike on U-451 by Jason Askew. (P) U-451 was sunk on 21st December 1941 near Tangiers, in position 35.55N, 06.08W, by depth charges from a British Swordfish aircraft (Sqdn. 812/A). There was just one survivor from the crew of 45. |
HMS Courageous by Randall Wilson. Two Stringbags (Fairey Swordfish) pass across the bow of HMS Courageous as she staggers from torpedo strikes launched from a German U-Boat in the Irish Sea. On 17th September 1939 HMS Courageous was struck by two torpedoes from the German submarine U-29 about 190 nautical miles south-west of Dursey Head, Ireland. HMS Courageous sank in less than 16 minutes with the loss of 519 lives, including her commander Captain W T Makeig-Jones. Her total complement was 1,260 officers and ratings and two squadrons of Fairey Swordfish aircraft (48 planes). The sinking of the HMS Courageous was the first U-boat offensive against the Royal Navy, and more importantly, Schuhart's victory prompted the Admiralty to withdraw all three remaining carriers from the Western Approaches. |
Sink the Bismarck by Stan Stokes. Commissioned on August 24, 1940, the German battleship Bismarck was the epitome of naval power. The great ship was 823 feet in length, had a beam of 118 feet, and a displacement of 50,000 tons. After nine months of sea trials the Bismarck embarked on its first mission accompanied by the cruiser Prinz Eugen on May 19, 1941. The Bismarcks mission was to destroy and disrupt convoys carrying war relief supplies to Britain from North America. On May 20th the Bismarck was spotted and reported to British intelligence as it passed through the narrow straits between Denmark and Sweden. The British presumed correctly that the Bismarck was headed for the North Atlantic, but by which route? Dividing its naval forces in an attempt to intercept the mighty German battleship, four ships were sent to patrol the Denmark strait, including the newly commissioned battleship Prince of Wales, and the H.M.S. Hood, a heavily armed battle cruiser, pride of the British fleet. On may 23rd the Bismarck was spotted by the H.M.S. Norfolk and the H.M.S. Suffolk. The Bismarck opened fire on the Norfolk, which was out gunned by the German ship, but fortunately was able to elude the Bismarck because of heavy fog and mist. With its position identified British Naval authorities ordered several other ships to the area including the H.M.S. Ark Royal, one of two aircraft carriers dispatched. On May 24th the Bismarck was engaged again. The H.M.S. Hood took a direct hit and exploded with the loss of all but three of its large crew. The Bismarck took two hits from the Prince of Wales during this battle, one of which had the effect of reducing the huge ships effective fuel capacity, and hence range. Later that evening a torpedo plane attack was launched at the German battleship, which sustained one hit with little damage. On May 25th the Bismarck separated from the Prinz Eugen, and set a course for the French coast in hopes of making repairs. On May 26th the Bismarck was located again by a British reconnaissance aircraft. In an attempt to prevent the ship from reaching the safety of Luftwaffe air cover, a second torpedo plane attack was launched from the Ark Royal. Utilizing Fairy Swordfish bi-plane torpedo bombers, two hits were achieved. The first was amidships and caused virtually no damage. The second hit was astern, and resulted in the jamming of the Bismarcks rudder. Unable to maneuver, the great German battleship had little choice that to continue steaming for the French coast. Four more British warships lay in its path including the H.M.S. Rodney, the H.M.S. King George V, the H.M.S. Dorsetshire, and the H.M.S. Norfolk. On the morning of May 27th an enormous sea battle took place, with the unmaneuverable Bismarck taking more than 1,000 direct hits. After losing its fire control system, the Bismarck became a defenseless target. At approximately 10:00 AM Bismarcks Captain gave the orders to scuttle the enormous ship, and about 40 minutes later the great vessel slipped quietly beneath the surface of the Atlantic. |
Swordfish Attack on U-652 by Jason Askew. (P) On 2nd June 1942 U-652 was scuttled after sustaining heavy damage from an attack by Swordfish aircraft. All the crew of the submarine were safe as she was sunk by torpedoes from U-81. |
| Swordfish Pilot and aircrew signature details |
Lt Cmdr George R Blackburn Our estimated value of this signature : £20 | Lt Cmdr George R Blackburn Learned to fly as a civilian pilot before WW2 at Marshall's Flying School, Cambridge, where he obtained a Private Pilots Licence. The RAF turned him down for flying at the outbreak of WW2 owing to defective eyesight. The Royal Navy accepted him with corrected vision. He served in the Army as a Private from 1940-1941 and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) from 1941-1946. Whilst in the FAA he was in the following squadrons: 813 & 836 TBR/TSR/AIL Swordfish A/C (Operational Squadrons) and 752, 780, 793 and 785 Training and Non-Operational Squadrons. George flew throughout the war in the UK, Trinidad, Canada, Gibratar/Mediterrcan, North Africa and Atlantic convoys. He finished as Commanding Officer Aircraft Ferry Squadron. He continued flying after the war in the RAFVR. from 19491952 and the RNYWRNR from 1952-1958. After this George continued flying as a civilian pilot. |
Eric Bond Our estimated value of this signature : £20 | Eric Bond Joined the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm in August 1940. He served on the aircraft carriers HMS Furious, Ark Royal and Illustrious in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. In February 1942 he was drafted to Gibraltar to fly in Skua, Fulmar and Swordfish aircraft for exercise attacks on the Fleet and Gibraltar fortress. He was then transferred to North Africa (Oran) for four months, then back operationally to Gibraltar with 833 Squadron. Eric's next move was back to the UK with the carrier HMS Stalker and then he qualified at the School of Air Combat. He left the Royal Navy in October 1945. In 1950 Eric joined the RNVR and served as CPO (A) aircrew and joined 1840 & 1842 Channel Air Division, flying in Firefly, Gannet and helicopter aircraft. On the disbandonment of R~ squadrons, Eric served as Chief Radio Supervisor involving duties at Whitehall and Faslane. He left the R~ in 1971, having served 26 1/2years. |
  Sub Lieut (A) Stanley T Brand RNVR Our estimated value of this signature : £60 | Sub Lieut (A) Stanley T Brand RNVR Although in a reserved occupation volunteered on his 18th birthday to train as pilot in the Fleet Air Arm. He flew open cockpit biplane Swordfish aircraft from Merchant Aircraft Carriers called 'Macships'. These were 8000 ton grain ships or oil tankers fitted with a flight deck, carrying their usual cargo and manned by a Merchant Navy Master and crew. They sailed in convoy back and forth across the North Atlantic in all the extreme weather conditions experiened on that ocean. The oil tankers lacked a hangar, so maintenance was carried out on open deck exposing the aircraft, ground crew and aircrew to the fury of the sea, ice and gales. By keeping U-boats submerged instead of allowing them free range on the surface, in 24 months only two merchant ships were sunk by the enemy in convoys protected by Macships. This was in spite of there being greater numbers and more efficient U-boats at sea in this period than at the time of our greatest losses in the Battle of the Atlantic. |
 CPO Donald Bunce CGM Our estimated value of this signature : £15 Died : 2008 | CPO Donald Bunce CGM Joined FAA in January 1940 and trained as a Telegraphist Air Gunner (TAG). Don was drafted to 825 Squadron and then transferred to HMS Victorious at Scapa Flow, joining HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales. Torpedo attack on Bismarck same day as HMS Hood was sunk. His Squadron later transferred to HMS Ark Royal for Malta Convoys etc until she was torpedoed and sunk. The Squadron reformed at Lee-on-Solent and sent to Manston, Kent where they prepared for the night attack on Scharnhorst, Gneisehau and Prinz Eugen. This turned into a daylight raid on 12th February 1942 and all the aircraft were shot down, with only five survivors – four officers and CPO Bunce himself. From then on Don transferred to training squadrons. He was demobbed in January 1946. He died on 29th September 2008. |
  Lieut (A) N C Gillis RNVR. Our estimated value of this signature : £25 | Lieut (A) N C Gillis RNVR. Volunteered for training as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm in 1940. After training he was posted to join HMS Indomitable and sent to the Far East. The posting did not materialise and after some months in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) and Nairobi, Kenya, joined 810 Squadron in HMS Illustrious. 810 was a Swordfish squadron and remained so until HMS Illustrious returned to UK. The squadron then reformed with Barracuda aircraft and rejoined the Illustrious. After a short spell with the Home Fleet the Illustrious was despatched to serve with the Mediterranean Fleet, subsequently returning to the Home Fleet. 810 Squadron served in the ship during this time and was retained in the ship when she retuned to the Eastern Fleet and was actively engaged in the Burma campaign. During joint operations with the US carrier Saratoga, Lt Gillis was mentioned in Despatches during the operation at Sabang in Malaysia. Having overspent his time in an operational squadron he was returned to UK where he served as Dive-Bombing Instructor at RNAS Crail, then converted onto twin-engine aircraft and flew in a Mosquito squadron until demobilised in 1946. |
Commander Patrick Bernard Pat Jackson RN Our estimated value of this signature : £40 Died : 2004 | Commander Patrick Bernard Pat Jackson RN HMS Victorious - 825 Squadron FAA. Pilot H. Born 25th May 1917, Pat Jackson became a Fleet Air Arm Pilot and on the 6th of August 1940 joined 825 Squadron onbaord HMS Furious until February 1941. He transferred to HMS Victorious where on the 24th of May 1941, Jackson along with his crew A/S-Lt. David Anthony Berrill, RN and LA F. G. Sparkes participated in the attack on the Bismarck in Swordfish 5H:V4337 along with another 8 Swordfish from 825 squadron. On the 5th of July 1941 Jackson transferred to 768 Squadron at HMS Condor (air station at Arbroath) and on the 15th of March 1942, Patrick Bernard Jackson became Commanding Officer of 768 Squadron. He moved to HMS Daedalus (RN air station at Lee-on-Solonet) in February 1943 and again transferred in March 1943 to HMS Saker (as part of the British Admiralty Delegation, Washington, DC) until March 1944. when he became Lieutenant Commander (Flying), HMS Searcher (escort carrier) until July 1945. Sadly Commander Patrick Bernard Jackson passed away on the 2nd of October 2004. |
Vice-Admiral Sir Hugh Dick Janvrin KCB CB DSO Royal Navy Our estimated value of this signature : £60 Died : 1993 | Vice-Admiral Sir Hugh Dick Janvrin KCB CB DSO Royal Navy 'Dick' Janvrin joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet in 1929, working his way up the service before joining the fleet Air Arm before the war. He became a qualified FAA Observer, flying Swordfish. He was in the front line of some of the most daring Swordfish missions, including the legendary attack at Taranto, where he flew as Observer with 815 Squadron on the lead Pathfinder aircraft. After the war 'Dick' Janvrin commanded several warships, including HMS Broadsword, and the aircraft carrier HMS victorious. He died on 15th January 1993. A Clipped Signature is Available |
Commander Charles Lamb DSO DSC Royal Navy Our estimated value of this signature : £65 Died : 1981 | Commander Charles Lamb DSO DSC Royal Navy Charles Lamb was born on 11 April 1914 in Bolton, Lancashire. He joined the merchant navy in 1930, and the Royal Naval Reserve in March 1933, serving aboard HMS Rodney, and competing on several occasions as a boxer. Commander Charles Lamb was to become a legend in the Royal Navy during World War II. He was one of the small bands of men who flew the slow cumbersome Swordfish bi-plane nicknamed 'Stringbags', all but declared obsolete before the war, but whose heroic actions changed the course of the war. Charles Lamb was the last to land on HMS Courageous before she was sunk in September 1939 and flew in the thick of the action, from mine-laying and U-boat hunting over northern Europe, harrying E-boats at Dunkirk, to being one of the two Swordfish Pathfinder pilots with 815 Squadron FAA at the Battle of Taranto. He joined 842 Naval Air Squadron then 781 Naval Air Squadron before serving on the carriers HMS Implacable and HMS Indefatigable from 1944 - 1945. Sadly, Charles Lamb died 28th May 1981. A Clipped Signature is Available |
  Lt Cdr Edgar Lee DSO Our estimated value of this signature : £25 Died : 2009 | Lt Cdr Edgar Lee DSO Joined the Royal Navy in May 1940, two days before his nineteenth birthday and after initial training began a flying course in Trinidad in September 1940. He qualified as Observer in April 1941 and was commissioned as Midshipman (A) RNVR. Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant (A) RNVR at the age of 20 in May 1941 and appointed to 825 Squadron in HMS Ark Royal in June 1941, flying operationally with 825 Squadron in Swordfish TBR until the Ark Royal was sunk in November 1941. Edgar returned to England and the squadron reformed at Lee-on-Solent - again in Swordfish in late December 1941, still under the command of Lt Commander E Esmonde DSO, RM. He took part in the Channel attack on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau on 12th February 1942. All the aircraft were shot down, with only five survivors; Edgar and his pilot were rescued from a dingy by MTB. He joined the new 825 Squadron in March 1942 and flew in that squadron until July 1942, then sent for re-posting to RNAS St Merryn on Flying Control duties. At the end of February 1943, Edgar was seconded to 106 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, flying in Lancaster, under the command of Wing Commander Guy Gibson, DSO DFC RAF. Six Naval Observers were seconded to 5 Group Bomber Command, three were lost and three returned to naval duties at the end of July 1943. Edgar was promoted to Lieutnant (A) RNVR in November 1943. Instructing in Canada, August 1943 to November 1944 and returned to England to qualify as a Signals Officer in August 1945. From Staff Signals Officer to Rear Admiral reserve Aircraft from September 1945 until demob in July 1947. Edgar rejoined the reserve in 1956 and was promoted to Lt Cdr RNR in November 1961 serving in most NATO and National exercises until 1981 and as Acting Commander RNR in exercises from 1969 until retirement at 60 in 1981. Sadly Lieutenant-Commander Edgar Lee died on October 29th, 2009, aged 88. Edgar Lee was the last surviving member of those gallant aircrew of 825 Squadron Fleet Air Arm that in February 1942 made the attack in Swordfish torpedo bombers on the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau accompanied by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. |
Lieutenant Commander Peter Meadway Royal Navy Our estimated value of this signature : £30 Died : 2006 | Lieutenant Commander Peter Meadway Royal Navy Peter Meadway joined the Royal Navy in 1939, and was posted as Observer to 825 Squadron FAA flying Swordfish from HMS Furious. Transferring to 810 Squadron FAA on HMS Ark Royal he took part in the successful torpedo attacks on the German Battleship Bismarck on the night of 26th/27th May 1941, and was witness to her sinking the following day. Peter Meadway passed away on 2nd March 2006. |
  Lieutenant Commander John William Jock Moffat RN Our estimated value of this signature : £70 Died : 2016 | Lieutenant Commander John William Jock Moffat RN John Moffat was born in Kelso in 1919 and at the outbreak of WWII, was sent to Sydenham, Belfast where a training school, set up by Short Brothers, was based. John learnt to fly in a Miles Magister. During 1939, he was sent to No.1 Flying Training School at Netheravon and here he was taught to fly advanced open-cockpit aircraft such as Hawker Hinds and Audaxes. Commissioned into the RNVR as a sub-lieutenant he was moved to Eastlee (now Southampton Airport) to the Naval Fighter School, learning fighter techniques in Blackburn Skuas and Rocs and the well-known Gloster Gladiator. In 1940, John was moved to Sanderling, the Royal Naval air station at Abbotsinch (now known as Glasgow Airport). In 1941, on board HMS Ark Royal stationed at Gibraltar, they were ordered to assist in the hunt for Bismarck and Prinz Eugen. The aircraft headed first to HMS Sheffield who gave them signals by Aldis Lamp on the position of the Bismarck. John Moffat served on HMS Ark Royal, HMS Argus, HMS Furious and HMS Formidable, and served with 759 Sqn, 818 Sqn, 820 Sqn and 824 Sqn. He died on 11th December 2016. |
 Commander Sidney Hal Jim Suthers DSC DFC RN Our estimated value of this signature : £35 Died : 2007 | Commander Sidney Hal Jim Suthers DSC DFC RN Joined the Air Branch of the Royal Navy in January 1939 and gained his pilot's wings in July 1940. Joined 824 Naval Air Squadron operating Swordfish from HMS Eagle in January 1941. Operations in Red Sea, Indian Ocean, South Atlantic and Mediterranean until September 1942. Instructional duties thereafter until the end of World War II. Post war he converted to helicopters commanding 705 and 848 (Malaya) Naval Air Squadrons. Sadly, Jim Suthers passed away on 22nd February 2007. |
  Captain Alan William Frank Sutton CBE DSC* RN Our estimated value of this signature : £35 Died : 2008 | Captain Alan William Frank Sutton CBE DSC* RN Joined the navy as a Special Entry Cadet in 1930 and trained for one year in HMS Erebus, Devonport and then served in Battle Cruisers, Cruisers and Destroyers, before specialising as Naval Air Observer in 1937. He served in Swordfish Squadrons in Glorious and Illustrious and took part in the raid on Taranto, Italy on 11th November 1940 being in the leading aircraft of the last sub-flight of Torpedo attack aircraft, piloted by Lieut FMA Torrens- Spence. Their target was the fine modern battleship Littorio and Captain Sutton was awarded the DSC for this action. On 10th January 1941, Illustrious was badly damaged by German dive-bombers and went to the United States for repairs. Her aircrew remained ashore in Egypt and after a time Captain Sutton became the Senior Observer of 815 Squadron, operating from Greece against Italian shipping in the Adriatic in March and April 1941. The Germans invaded Greece in April 1941 and Alan was moved to Crete and served at the airfield at Maleme, Crete was in turn invaded by the Germans and Maleme was captured by airborne forces on 20th and 21st May when Alan found himself the Senior surviving officer from the airfield and formed a unit of Naval and RAF personnel who fought on the left flank of the New Zealand Brigade which was trying to retake the airfield. They were defeated and Alan escaped with a group of British, New Zealand and Australian personnel over the White Mountains to the south coast. Alan reached Sphakia where the defeated allied forces were being evacuated by the navy and became the beachmaster for the evacuation. He was awarded a Bar to the DSC he had received for Taranto for his actions in Crete. He was also twice mentioned in dispatches for operations in the Mediterranean in 1940/41. Subsequent to these operations in the Med, Alan was Staff Officer (Air) to the Admiral commanding the Eastern task force (Algiers) in operation Torch, the taking of Algeria and Morocco from the Vichy French in 1942. Then he was Air Staff Officer of the Escort Carrier Ravager in the Battle of the Atlantic, and finished the war in 1944/45 as an Acting Commander, being the operations officer of the Fleet Carrier, Implacable, operating against the Germans in Norway and against the Japanese in the Pacific. He was awarded nine months additional seniority for Meritorious War Service. Captain Sutton's post war career was as Deputy Director of the joint Anti-submarine School (RN and RAF) Londonderry, 1947-49; Commanding Officer of the Frigate Bigbury Bay 1951-53, including a spell in the Antarctic and as guard ship in the Falkland Islands; Officer in Charge, Observer and Air Signal School, RNAS Culdrose 1954-56. He was promoted to Captain and became the Chief Staff Officer of the Aircraft Carrier Squadron 1956-58, including operation Musketeer, the action to retake the Suez Canal. He was Captain (Air) Mediterranean and Commanding Officer RNAS Halfar, Malta 1960-62 and finished his Naval career as Director of the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich 1962-65. He was Naval ADC to the Queen 1964. On retirement from the Navy Alan was awarded the CBE (Military) for Distinguished Service. He was a graduate of the Naval Staff College, Joint Services Staff College and Imperial Defence College. Sadly passed away November 6th 2008. |
 Sub Lieut Bruce Vibert Our estimated value of this signature : £30 | Sub Lieut Bruce Vibert Volunteered for the Fleet Air Arm in May 1941 and helped to form 842 Squadron, the Royal Navy's last to be formed with the Fairey Swordfish in March 1943. Working mainly from the escort carrier HMS Fencer during the squadron's two-year existence, the role was anti-submarine, ranging from the occupation of the Azores to North Russia. Protection to the Home Fleet was also given during two operations against 'Tirpitz', sheltering in Northern Norway. The Squadron finally came under Coastal Command to work the Western Approaches and English Channel. It achieved several successes against the U-Boats. He later served in the Pacific as a deck landing control officer before, post war, joining the RCN and there becoming a helicopter pilot. Today he supports the RNHF as a speaker about the Swordfish. |
| Swordfish Squadron details |
No.202 Sqn RAF Country : UK Known Codes : , Y3, AX, JU, TJ, TQ, | No.202 Sqn RAF Semper vigilate - Be always vigilant |
No.810 Sqn FAA Country : UK | No.810 Sqn FAA Fleet Air Arm |
No.815 Sqn FAA Country : UK | No.815 Sqn FAA Fleet Air Arm |
No.818 Sqn FAA Country : UK | No.818 Sqn FAA Fleet Air Arm |
No.820 Sqn FAA Country : UK | No.820 Sqn FAA Fleet Air Arm |
No.823 Sqn FAA Country : UK | No.823 Sqn FAA |
No.824 Sqn FAA Country : UK | No.824 Sqn FAA Fleet Air Arm |
No.825 Sqn FAA Country : UK | No.825 Sqn FAA Fleet Air Arm 825 Squadron was formed 8th October 1934 as a reconnaissance squadron equipped with the Fairey IIIF. In July 1936, 825 re-equipped with the Fairey Swordfish Mk I bi-plane whilst on HMS Glorious. In May 1940, 825 disembarked to UK land bases, carrying out operations against U-Boats and E-Boats in the Calais area during Operation Dynamo - the Dunkirk evacuation. They joined HMS Furious in July, taking part in operations off Norway during September. In May 1941, 825 joined HMS Victorious and successfully located the German battleship Bismarck. Damage inflicted by the squadron enabled surface vessels to sink the battleship on 26th May. They transferred to HMS Ark Royal in June for Malta convoy protection duties. Following the sinking of HMS Ark Royal in November the squadron was reformed at Lee-on-Solent in January 1942. Six aircraft on detachment at RAF Manston attacked the German ships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen in the English Channel. No hits were made and all aircraft were lost. 825 was on convoy escort duty in the Arctic and Atlantic until its disbandment in April 1945. Since 1945, 825 has been reformed and disbanded several times. They reformed at RNAS Culdros in May 1982 seeing action in the Falkland Islands. 825 returned to the UK and was finally disbanded September 1982. Crews of the swordfish which attacked the Bismarck on May 24th, 1941 flown from HMS Victorious |
|
Contact Details |
Sign Up To Our Newsletter!
This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com
|
