RN fleet air arm ww2

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Fleet Air Arm maintenance ratings removing the engine from a Fairey Fulmar naval aircraft with the aid of a block and tackle against the background of jungle at RNAS Puttalam, china Bay

Tirptiz raid 1944, A Fairey Barracuda makes a bad landing and hits the crash barrier at speed. Bits of the propellor can be seen flying in the air.

HMS INDOMITABLE
Raid on Padang 1944, Air Mechanic Fred Mitchell, of Lurgan, Armagh, Northern Ireland, cleaning out the barrels of the machine guns of a Hellcat fighter the evening before the attack.

HMS INDOMITABLE
Raid on padang1944
Air Mechanics bombing up a Fairey Barracuda on the flight deck.

Tirpitz raid 1944
The Flight Commander, Commander (F) P H Bramwell, wearing a fur lined coat, directing operations from the bridge of HMS FORMIDABLE

Some of the pilots of 1841 and 1842 Fighter Squadron that took part in the raid on TIRPITZ and enemy shipping.
HMS FORMIDABLE

Tirptiz raid 1944
A Fairey Barracuda on fire from enemy flak lands on FORMIDABLE and the fire is put out by the crash party.

1944 HMS FORMIDABLE
A Chance-Vought Corsair fighter bomber taking off to attack enemy radio stations in Norway. Note the prop wash.

1944 HMS FORMIDABLE
A Chance-Vought Corsair fighter fitted with a bomb taking off for a dive bombing raid on the TIRPITZ. The bomb is fitted beside the spare petrol tank.

 

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Cleverly decorated cowling hood of a Wildcat fighter plane standing ready on an Eastern Fleet Station 'drome.

 

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Second bombers over the almost smoke hidden TIRPITZ.

"AT 30,000 FEET": SEAFIRES BRING HIGH ALTITUDE FLYING TO THE NAVY. 20 TO 23 JULY 1943, AT THE HEIGHTH OXYGEN CHAMBER AT FLEET AIR ARM STATION, MACHNIHANISH. THE ACQUISITION BY THE NAVY OF SEAFIRE FIGHTERS MEANS THAT HIGH ALTITUDE FLYING NOW COMES WITHIN THE SPHERE OF FLEET AIR ARM PILOTS. BECAUSE THESE ALTITUDES PUT SEVERE STRAINS ON THE PILOTS, SPECIAL TESTS ARE CARRIED OUT IN SEALED PRESSURE CHAMBERS TO FIND OUT IF A FLEET AIR ARM PILOT IS SUITABLE FOR HIGH ALTITUDE WORK. INSIDE THE CHAMBER FOUR PILOTS ARE TAKEN TO THE PRESSURE EQUIVALENT OF 30,000 FEET AND TASKS WITH AND WITHOUT OXYGEN ARE PERFORMED.
The Fleet Air Arm fighter pilots enter a portable pressure chamber for high altitude tests. In a few minutes they will be "taken up" wearing oxygen masks to 35,000 feet when one of the pilots will be invited to turn off his oxygen

The Fleet Air Arm fighter pilots at 35,000 feet in the portable pressure chamber. They are breathing oxygen and feel no effects.

The Deck Landing Control Officer of a carrier signalling an aircraft in during deck landing training at China Bay

1944 First strike Barracudas silhouetted against the snow above the smoking TIRPITZ

 

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Tirpitz raid 1944 A Chance-Vought Corsair fighter lands back on the FORMIDABLE with its tail elevator shot away by enemy flak.

A Chance-Vought Corsair fighter lands back on the FORMIDABLE with its tail elevator shot away by enemy flak.

HMS INDOMITABLE
1944 raid on padang Sub Lieut (A) Edwin Hawkins, of Cambridge, the pilot of a Hellcat fighter, waiting to take off.

HMS FORMIDABLE 1944

Some of the maintenance and armament crews of HMS FORMIDABLE 1944

Tirpitz raid 1944
Barracudas and Corsairs ranged on the deck of HMS FORMIDABLE before the strikes began

Barracudas being bombed up for a strike on the TIRPITZ and enemy positions.

Tirpitz raid 1944
Crews of Barracudas and Corsairs leaving the operations room after handing in reports of the strike.

Orkneys, One of the Unit's "Havocs" being thawed out ready for its next job. The snow is being swept off its wings while warm air is pumped round the engine through huge pipes to ensure quick starting.

 

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RNAS Crail Scotland
Torpedo officer giving instruction to a class of Naval ratings who have joined the Fleet Air Arm, in the parts of a torpedo.

1944 ST MERRYN ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION
Fleet Air Arm officers showing Liskeard (Cornwall) ATC cadets the controls of a Viking I glider at the school

1941, ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION CRAIL, SCOTLAND.
Pupil Royal Naval Air Station pilots arriving at detail shed for practice torpedo dropping flight.

1941, ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION CRAIL, SCOTLAND.
The pilots sign the instructional sheet after landing.

1941, ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION CRAIL, SCOTLAND.
When the target is reached, the torpedo is dropped, as seen here from an accompanying plane.

1941, ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION CRAIL, SCOTLAND.
A torpedo being secured to a Fairey Swordfish for a practice flight.

padang raid 1944
Returned pilots and observers having breakfast after the operation. Holding the glass is Sub Lieut (A) Trevor Heaney, RNVR, of Haslemere, Surrey, he is an observer in one of the Barracudas which dive-bombed the Indaroeng Cement Works.

 

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Azores An informal photograph of naval aircraft pilots of HMS FENCER.

A torpedo being removed from torpedo shed prior to being fixed on a plane for a training flight.
1941, ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION CRAIL, SCOTLAND.

1944 ST MERRYN ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION
Flight Lieutenant Prince Birabangse, well known in peacetime as the racing motorist B Bira, but now Chief instructor at the school, shows a cadet how to handle the controls of an elementary glider. From left to right: Sub Lieut (A) W A Murray, RNVR, an instructor; Lieut Cdr (A) K Garston-Jones, RNVR, Chief Liaison Officer to the ATC for HMS VULTURE; Squadron Leader Sir John Mclesworth St Aubyn; Air Commodore W Sawrey; Flight Lieut Prince Biribangse, Capt W P McCarthy, RN, Commanding Officer HMS VULTURE; Flying Officer J Wills, Commanding Officer of Liskeard, Cornwall ATC, cadets and Lieut M H Powell, of the Home Guard. The Wren Officer is Second Officer K B Morris, of HMS VULTURE.

ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION KATAKURUNDA, CEYLON.
Palm tree background for Naval armourers as they fit flares to a Fleet Air Arm aircraft in readiness for a night search of enemy submarines.

Two air apprentices (A), Air Frames Section, repairing a float.
1943, ROYAL AIR TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT, NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME.

ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION KATAKURUNDA, CEYLON.
Wren J Reynolds of Hove and Wren H E Smith, of Little London near Basingstoke, about to go aboard an Avenger for air experience to help them to carry out their duties as W/T operators more comprehensively.

An elephant is employed to salvage the wreckage of an aircraft.
ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION KATAKURUNDA, CEYLON

In the tropics the Blacksmith's job calls for great physical fitness and stamina. Here a Blacksmith, stripped to the waist, is rounding off a car axle.
ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION KATAKURUNDA, CEYLON.

A cup of tea and a piece of jam tart are popular at "stand easy" no matter in what part of the world.
ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION KATAKURUNDA, CEYLON.

 

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NEW AMERICAN TORPEDO-BOMBER THE "TARPON" IN SERVICE WITH THE FLEET AIR ARM. 21 TO 23 OCTOBER 1943, HMS SPARROWHAWK, ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION HATSTON. THE GRUMMAN 'TARPON' (AMERICAN NAME AVENGER WAS USED FROM 1944) SUPPLIED UNDER THE LEND-LEASE AGREEMENT, SERVING WITH THE FLEET AIR ARM.

The Grumman Avenger was the most important attack aircraft in use with the Fleet Air Arm during the last eighteen months of the Second World War, making its main contribution to the war effort in the Far East, although it was also used in significant numbers over Home Waters and off Norway.
Although the Royal Navy had built a number of impressive modern fleet carriers, its aircraft were less impressive. The main torpedo bomber at the start of the war was the biplane Fairey Swordfish. Its replacement, the biplane Albacore, was a disappointment, and the Barracuda didn't enter service until January 1943. In the meantime the Fleet Air Arm needed a more modern torpedo bomber, and the Avenger was effectively the only option.
The first TBF-1 Avengers to reach Britain were given the designation Tarpon I. The Tarpon name was retained until January 1944 when the FAA adopted the American name, so the Tarpon I became the Avenger I, the Tarpon II the Avenger II and the Tarpon III the Avenger III. It is normally stated that this change was made to avoid confusion, but the summary of Naval Operations produced for the War Cabinet covering this period states that the change was made 'in deference to the wishes of the American manufacturers'

British aircraft were modified by Blackburn Aircraft. The second cockpit seat was retained on all British Avengers, although it was moved forward to a position just behind the pilot. The plan was to operate the aircraft with a four-man crew. The pilot and observer were stationed in the cockpit, while the radar operator and bomb aimer/ turret gunner shared the rear compartment, with the bomb aimer moving into the turret when needed. This plan was soon abandoned and three man-crews became the norm.
The stinger machine gun was removed (the War Cabinet summary of naval operations for the first quarter of 1945 reports this change as it was just then being introduced, and also suggests that the turrets were being removed) and was replaced with an F.24 camera. The large oval front windows in the rear compartment were replaced with a bulged sighting window which greatly improved the view. A hinge was added to the radio mast to allow it to fit into the hangers of the armoured carriers, which had less head room than their US equivalents. British gun sights, radios and oxygen equipment were also added.

The Avenger entered service on 1 January 1943 with No.832 Squadron, replacing its Fairey Albacores. The Barracuda followed on 10 January, replacing the Swordfish of No.827 Squadron. The Avenger was clearly the superior aircraft with a higher top speed, better rate of climb and longer range. It would eventually equip seventeen frontline FAA squadrons, significantly more than the Barracuda, even though more of the latter aircraft were available.

The Pacific (1943)
No.832 Squadron had collected its aircraft at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, on 1 January 1943, while HMS Victorious was undergoing a refit in the US. These were US standard TBF-1s rather than modified British Avenger Is. The carrier then sailed through the Panama Canal to join the US Navy in operations in the Solomon Islands in June and July 1943. During this period the squadron operated from the Victorious and the USS Saratoga, but a feared attack from the Japanese fleet didn't materialise, and No.832 Squadron saw little action.

Atlantic and Arctic
The Avenger was never as important an anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the British as for the Americans. In the US Navy it was the main attack aircraft on escort carriers operating in the Atlantic, but the Fleet Air Arm preferred to use the Swordfish from the small flight decks of the escort carriers. Despite this the Avenger was the Fleet Air Arm's second most successful U-boat killer, claiming all or part of four victories (well behind the Swordfish with 15 full and 10 shared victories).
Three quarters of the Avenger's victories were scored by No.846 Squadron. Her first successes came during April 1944, while embarked on HMS Tracker and escorting the Arctic convoy RA-58. On 1 April her Avengers helped HMS Beagle sink U-355, while on 3 April the Avengers shared the credit for the sinking of U-288 with Swordfish from No.819 Squadron. Finally, on 4 May 1945 the squadron's Avengers sank U-711 and her depot ship during an attack on the U-boat base at Kilbotn in Norway.
Atlantic and Arctic
The Avenger was never as important an anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the British as for the Americans. In the US Navy it was the main attack aircraft on escort carriers operating in the Atlantic, but the Fleet Air Arm preferred to use the Swordfish from the small flight decks of the escort carriers. Despite this the Avenger was the Fleet Air Arm's second most successful U-boat killer, claiming all or part of four victories (well behind the Swordfish with 15 full and 10 shared victories).
Three quarters of the Avenger's victories were scored by No.846 Squadron. Her first successes came during April 1944, while embarked on HMS Tracker and escorting the Arctic convoy RA-58. On 1 April her Avengers helped HMS Beagle sink U-355, while on 3 April the Avengers shared the credit for the sinking of U-288 with Swordfish from No.819 Squadron. Finally, on 4 May 1945 the squadron's Avengers sank U-711 and her depot ship during an attack on the U-boat base at Kilbotn in Norway.

 

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Far East 1944-45
The Avenger was the most important attack aircraft with the East Indies Fleet and British Pacific Fleet during the Royal Navy's return to the Far East in 1944 and 1945.

The Fairey Barracuda took part in one of the earliest attacks, the raid on Sabang on 19 April 1944. Its already limited performance was considered unacceptable in the conditions in the Far East, and by the end of 1944 it had been decided to use the Avenger as the main strike aircraft. HMS Illustrious had already embarked two squadrons of Avengers - Nos.832 and 851 - picking them up after her return to Ceylon from Sabang, and on 17 May Avengers from Nos.832 and 845 took part in the attack on the fuel store and dockyard at Soerabaya, but this was a false dawn, and the Avengers spent the next six months shore-based or on escort carriers. During this period Avengers from No.832 Squadron on HMS Begum and 851 Squadron on HMS Shah took part in the destruction of U-198, attacking the submarine on 12 August, during a very long chase.

By the end of 1944 the British fleets in the Far East had been greatly strengthened. HMS Indefatigable arrived off Colombo on 10 December 1944 with the Avengers of No.820 Squadron, and by 20 December Indomitable was also in the area. On that day 28 Avengers, 16 Hellcats and 16 Corsairs from Indomitable and Illustrious attempted to attack the oil refinery at Pangkalan Brandan, but bad weather meant that they had to divert to a secondary target at Belawan Deli instead.

On 1 January 1945 the four fleet carriers in the Far East - Indomitable, Illustrious, Indefatigable and Victorious were officially allocated to the 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron of the British Pacific Fleet. While Admiral Fraser, the commander of that fleet, was at Pearl Harbor meeting his new American superiors (Nimitz and Spruance at this stage), Admiral Vian used the carriers for a second attack on Pangkalan Brandan.
This time 32 Avengers from four squadrons (820 on Indefatigable, 849 on Victorious, 854 on Illustrious and 857 on Indomitable) were involved, along with 12 Fireflies and 32 fighters. This raid was a great success, wrecking the crucial refineries on 4 January 1945 and helping to reduce the already limited oil supplies available to the Japanese. On 16 January the fleet carriers left to join the British Pacific Fleet.
This left the East Indies Fleet with Avengers on the escort carriers Emperor, Empress and Shah. These carriers took part in a series of attacks on the Andaman Islands, Burma and Sumatra during 1945, before supporting the eventual re-occupation of Malaya and Singapore.

The new element of the British Pacific Fleet carried out two major attacks on its way to Sydney and the Pacific Theatre. On 24 January 47 Avengers, 10 Fireflies and 48 fighters attacked the Pladjoe refinery, while another 24 fighters attacked nearby airfields. On 29 January 48 Avengers, 12 Fireflies and 40 fighters attacked the Soengi Gerong refinery, while again 24 fighters attacked nearby airfields. These two refineries produced 75% of Japan's aviation fuel, and the damage caused during these two raids caused a permanent reduction in the ability of Japanese aircraft to contribute to the war.

The main US fleet in the Pacific changed number depending on which admiral was in charge. Admirals Nimitz and Halsey alternated in command, with one at sea and the other planning the next set of operations. Under Nimitz it was the Fifth Fleet, with task force numbers in the 50s, under Halsey it was the Third Fleet, with task force numbers in the 30s. The British Pacific Fleet was thus Task Force 57 from March 1945 and Task Force 37 from July 1945. In March 1945 the British Pacific Fleet became Task Force 57 of the Fifth Fleet, operating alongside the American carriers of Task Force 58, this time under Admiral Spruance.
The British Pacific Fleet was involved in two main series of operations while operating with the US Navy. In the first Nos.820, 828, 848, 849, 854 and 857 Squadrons used their Avengers to attack Japanese airfields on Sakashima Gunto and Formosa while the main American fleets took part in the invasion of Okinawa.
In the second phase the British fleet, now Task Force 37, worked directly alongside the American Fleet during the final attacks on the Japanese Home Islands. On 16 June, on their way from replenishing up to Japan the Avengers of No.828 Squadron on Implacable and No.885 Squadron on Ruler attacked the isolated Japanese base at Truk.

On 24 July an Avenger from No.848 Squadron became the first British aircraft to bomb Japan. The fleet took part in the attacks on shipping, naval bases and airfields, with three carriers at first. The first period of operations began on 17 July and lasted for 25 days, although bad weather limited operations to only eight of them. Operations were interrupted by the atomic bombs of 6 August and 9 August, although TF 37 raided Honshu on 9 August. By this point the British fleet was running desperately short of supplies, and so a shrunken Task Force 38.5 was formed around Indefatigable and the battleship King George V. The fleet's final operations came on 15 August 1945, and involved a force of Avengers and Seafires.

After the end of the war the Avenger rapidly left British service. Under the terms of the Lend Lease agreement the British had either to return items to the US or pay for them. The Avengers weren't wanted by either side, and so many of them were simply dumped at sea. No.848 Squadron was the last to go, disbanding on 3 June 1946.

 

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Avenger gunner, Aviation Radioman Third Class Newman USN 1943-46

 

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NEW AMERICAN TORPEDO-BOMBER THE "TARPON" IN SERVICE WITH THE FLEET AIR ARM. 21 TO 23 OCTOBER 1943, HMS SPARROWHAWK

 

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1944, ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION KATUKURUNDA
Line of Avengers at the jungle-fringed station.

An Avenger being taken from its "hangar" in the jungle

1944, ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION KATUKURUNDA.
A happy group of Radar Wrens and pilots taken at HMS UKUSSA. These Wrens, normally working the Radar sets on the ground Stations are given a 'flip' whenever an occasion presents itself so that they can see what happens at the aircraft end of the Radar system. Thus gaining experience of both transmitting and receiving routine.

A salvage party at stand-easy, eating bananas having worked for hours in a swamp to render first aid to a crashed aircraft.

 

[Silver Surfer]

great stuff, brudda. thanx for taking the time to post it all.

 

[Silver Surfer]

great stuff, brudda. thanx for taking the time to post it all.

 

[dinomartino1]

The air vanes of a Fleet Air Arm Torpedo. These vanes which hold the torpedo straight in flight break off on hitting the water.

A Firefly, inspecting the "kill", flies over the large supply ship, now shrouded in smoke and steam
FLEET AIR ARM SHATTER ENEMY CONVOY. 27 NOVEMBER 1944, FROM ONE OF THE ATTACKING BARRACUDAS OF HMS IMPLACABLE DURING A FLEET AIR ARM STRIKE ON A SOUTHBOUND CONVOY OFF THE COAST OF NORWAY. SIGHTED BETWEEN MOSJOEN AND RORVIK, THE CONVOY CONSISTED OF A LADEN TROOP TRANSPORT AND TWO SUPPLY SHIPS ESCORTED BY AN ARMED TRAWLER.

Wrens assisting with Naval personnel to collect parachutes after alighting.

Lieut (A) N S Hanson, RNVR, of Carlisle, Commander of Naval Air Squadron 1833, one of the Fleet Air Arm pilots who took part in the Fleet Air Arm's raid on Surabaya, had a graphic story to tell when he returned to ship. He described how, after giving cover to the bombers, his formation of Corsairs hit two enemy ships and successfully attacked aircraft on Malang airport, one of the largest in Java.

Maintenance ratings of a squadron of the Fleet Air Arm, equipped with Grumman Avengers, overhaul one of their charges on the tarmac of an American Airfield in New England where air crews of the squadron are becoming accustomed to their new aircraft. Engine fitters and air frame riggers cluster round the "Office" discussing the layout of controls. An armourer sits on the wing unscrewing the inspection panel while other armourers "strip" the Avenger's .5 machine guns.

 

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FLEET AIR ARM. 8 AND 9 DECEMBER 1941, YELVERTON. FLEET AIR ARM PILOTS.

Fleet Air Arm pilot Sub Lieut J W Lowe, RN.

Fleet Air Arm pilot Lieut W Taylour, RN.

Fleet Air Arm pilot Lieut A J Sewell, RNVR.

Fleet Air Arm pilot Lieut Callingham, RN.

Fleet Air Arm pilot Lieut K Firth, RNVR.

Fleet Air Arm pilot Lieut A J Sewell, RNVR.

Fleet Air Arm pilot Lieut Gliphant, RN.

Fleet Air Arm pilot Lieut R Hay, RM

Fleet Air Arm pilot Lieut Gliphant, RN.

 

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CATAPULT TRAINING FOR FLEET AIR ARM PILOTS. HMS PEGASUS
Lectures are given with the aid of models and diagrams. Here Lieut Cdr Walker, RN, instructs furture Fleet Air Arm pilots.

 

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FLEET AIR ARM RADIO MECHANICS. 10 SEPTEMBER 1943, HMS ARIEL, FLEET AIR ARM TRAINING CENTRE.

Fleet Air Arm Wren Radio mechanics take over the aircraft for testing of communication equipment.

After "landing on" radio equipment is overhauled by Fleet Air Arm Radio mechanics.

Fleet Air Arm Wren Radio mechanics rig and test aerials on aircraft before a flight

The 200 horse power motor drives the twin propellers of this Fleet Air Arm torpedo at more than 800 revolution, giving a water speed of nearly 40 knots.

At a Fleet Air Arm Station (Puttalam) where an elephant is put to use pulling a Supermarine Walrus into place.

A Fleet Air Arm pilot entering a Chance-Vought Corsair.
27 OCTOBER 1943, RAF STATION WITTERING.

 

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DECEMBER 1943, NEW ENGLAND, USA. BRITISH FLEET AIR ARM SQUADRON TRAINING IN NEW ENGLAND.

A Naval pilot who likes the feel of his new Chance-Vought Corsair fighter and shows his pleasure. He and his fellow pilots are members of a new Fleet Air Arm squadron training in the US.

Bridge Session in Progress. Outside the weather is "down to the deck" and aircrews of Fleet Air Arm Torpedo Bomber Squadron in training at an American base, have time to relax.

Engine fitters of the Fleet Air Arm swing the airscrew of a Chance-Vought Corsair fighter, at an American base where naval pilots are training.

A Naval pilot carries out his cockpit drill before taking up his new Chance-Vought Corsair fighter on a test flight. He belongs to a squadron of the Fleet Air Arm forming up as a fighting unit in the United States.