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Swordfish

Swordfish preserved in the Malta Aviation Museum

The Swordfish found itself outdated at the outbreak of World War II. The new breed of fighter could easily catch & shoot down this slow biplane.
For all that, this aircraft was a well built design & was well able of giving a good account mainly as a torpedo carrier. They were employed against Italian convoys trying to supply
axis armies in north Africa. This was Rommel's main supply route & it was vital to sink as many ships as possible to prevent an advance towards Egypt.
The famous raid on Taranto was carried out by Swordfish carrying torpedo's straight into the Italian fleet at anchor with devastating results on many ships.
HMS Eagle was the first aircraft carrier & 17 of these aircraft were stationed on her.

Axis Shipping sunk

August 1941 43,000 tons

Convoys & Aircraft Flown Off
Total Swordfish supplied between 1940 - 1942 - 41 flown off carriers with 39 landing Malta.

Operation ? - Shortly after Italy declared war - HMS Argus 12 Swordfish of 830 Naval Squadron.
Operation Excess - 6th January 1941 - HMS Ark Royal 6 Swordfish were crated & delivered to Gibraltar. One was unserviceable but 5 were flown off in Operation Excess & landed in Malta.
Operation Railway I - 26th June 1941 - HMS Ark Royal Furious took 64 Hurricanes & 9 Swordfish to Gibraltar from the Clyde on the 22nd June. Ark Royal took these to Malta.
Operation Substance - 25th July 1941 - HMS Ark Royal 6 Swordfish. All arrived safely.
Operation Callboy - 18th October 1941 - HMS Ark Royal 828 Naval Squadron. 11 (originally 12) Albacores & 2 Swordfish flown off. Only 1 Swordfish made it to Malta.
Operation Bowery - 9th May 1942 - USS Wasp Wasp flew off 6 Swordfish for Malta on the 10th loaded with personnel & spare parts.

 

Running up. August 1936
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

The first Swordfish. August 1936
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Lt. Watson's machine. March 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Flt. Lt. Elliot's machine. March 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

F.O. Mill's machine. February 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

On the accelerator. March 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Landing on carrier. February 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Landing on carrier from cockpit. January 1936
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Lt. Vardon's machine. February 1937
In John Wintons book, (page59), this aircraft crashed in Feb 1937 killing Lt
Vardon and TAG Bert Overall. Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

The fateful aircraft.
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

 

Stowed away. February 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Scotty's machine. January 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Taking off. January 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Swordfish squadron over HMS Nest
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Hooked. January 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

The CO's first night deck landing. July 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

The CO's machine. January 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Waiting to Land. January 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Refuelling Swordfish. March 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Tight formation. February 1937
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Photo courtesy of Cheryl Beasley

Swordfish over shooting the runway
Photo courtesy of Cheryl Beasley

Swordfish docking at Kalafrana.
Photo supplied by John A.Lester

Swordfish fitted with torpedo

Swordfish recovery at Kalafrana.
Photo supplied by John A.Lester