At age 15 I was engaged by Fairey Aviation as an Indentured Apprentice for 6 years, while most training was within the Fairey Heaton Chapel factory where manufacture was for Firefly Mk 4 and later 7 and 8 together with Gannet sub assemblies, I eventually transferred to Fairey Flight Sheds at Ringway Airport now known as Manchester Airport during my time their an occasion occurred where I was instructed to remove the instrument cluster from the old Fairey Swordfish that had been left in a sorry state in the corner of Flight Shed 2, such a thrill to be working how ever limited on this historic aircraft, sadly later I was informed the airframe less engine had been allocated to the airport fire brigade for fire activities, presumable the aircraft was eventually destroyed?
Frank Parker, e-mail, 23.06.2014 20:58
Fairey Aviation had one at White Waltham in the 1950's. I remember it being flown at a R.Ae.S garden party there. It was taxying along with a person chasing it on a penny-farthing bicycle. One he had caught up he was hauled into the rear cockpit and the aircraft lifted off almost immediately. It then did a slow pass in front of the crowd with a pair of legs waving around upside down in the back! Is this the same aircraft that is now at Yeovilton?
Redherringz, e-mail, 24.01.2014 20:13
The Swordfish used to fly over our house, one day they flew over when we were in the fields, I told my boys to wave, they did and the swordfish did a circuit and came back, the crew saluting! I have a photograph or two somewhere in b&w.
Ralph Morrison, e-mail, 01.11.2013 19:09
Where & how exactly did the bombardier sit? When flying, did he face the front, the rear, or was he placed sideways?
Hans Aili, e-mail, 06.01.2013 12:47
There are (to my knowledge) two excellent autobiographical works by former Swordfish pilots: John Kilbracken, Bring back my Stringbag, Swordship Pilot at War 1940-1945, Pen & Sword Paperback, rev. ed. London 1996 and Charles Lamb, War in a Stringbag, Cassel Military Paperbacks, London 1987.
Lamb was on board RN carrier HMS Courageous when she was torpedoed in September 1939; he flew Swordfishes in the Mediterranean.
John Godley (later Lord Kilbracken) was an Anglo-Irish nobleman, and flew Swordfishes from MAC ship HMS Nairana in North Atlantic convoys (both Canada and Murmansk).
Both authors are very informative and interesting, and entertaining.
John C., e-mail, 20.10.2012 21:41
I just found a 1/48 scale fairy swordfish with floats. No. 529 Serial No. L2742. The kit made in CZECH REPUBLIC Super Parts and good Decals.
Tony Wong, e-mail, 01.10.2012 15:36
I had the privilege of stepping into the cockpit of a Fairey Swordfish that was on display and was given a brief introduction of the aircraft by Lt.Cdr Paddy, RNAS at the recent Goodwood Revival at West Sussex, England. I first read about the Swordfish in a RN recruitment brochure I received from Whitehall, London back in 1965. As a young lad, I had wanted to join the Royal Navy but I did not have the means to travel to Great Britain then, but the dream lived on and that led me to join the RMNVR in 1984 until I retired as a Commander. Though I have been fascinated by aircrafts of the modern world, the performance, achievements and service records of this wonderful aircraft gives an everlasting impression of a great invention. It would be great to have an opportunity to fly in a Swordfish one fine day.
Tony Wong, e-mail, 01.10.2012 15:31
I had the privilege of stepping into the cockpit of a Fairey Swordfish that was on display and was given a brief introduction of the aircraft by Lt.Cdr Paddy, RNAS at the recent Goodwood Revival at West Sussex, England. I first read about the Swordfish in a RN recruitment brochure I received from Whitehall, London back in 1965. As a young lad, I had wanted to join the Royal Navy but I did not have the means to travel to Great Britain then, but the dream lived on and that led me to join the RMNVR in 1984 until I retired as a Commander. Though I have been fascinated by aircrafts of the modern world, the performance, achievements and service records of this wonderful aircraft gives an everlasting impression of a great invention. It would be great to have an opportunity to fly in a Swordfish one fine day.
John Coleman, e-mail, 25.09.2012 14:37
If you want to see a real, live, beautifully restored Swordfish go to Vintage Wings of Canada at the Gatineau [formerly Hull] Airport. It's presently in engine o/h but should be flying again soon.
Steve Homer, e-mail, 27.11.2011 02:55
I just completed reading “At War in a Stringbag” by Commander Charles Lamb DSC DSO (1914 – 1981). His autobiographical description of WWII in the Mediterranean, Swordfish operations, and internment by the Vichy French regime is a story worthy of Patrick O’Brien’s Jack Aubrey. Among other information he relates is that the swordfish’s nick name “stringbag” referred to a shopping bag and described its capability to carry a wide variety of weapons including bombs, torpedoes, mines, flares and eventually radar and rockets (I had always thought that it was a description of the aircraft's construction.) The Swordfish truly deserves to be held in the same esteem as the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster.
jim dunlop, e-mail, 26.10.2011 20:53
i recently came across a tag's log book.it includes an entry for torpedo attack on the bismark.
Jim, e-mail, 20.10.2011 23:07
The S
The Stringbean is avialable as a simi-finished radio controled kit in 1/6th scale from Troy Built Models in Sarasota Florida
trinbean is avialable
john dougherty, e-mail, 13.08.2011 19:58
saw one at Harriman airport, N ADAMS, ma 01247 PROBABLY SOMETIME NEAR 1960
ALSO, aDLAI sTEVENSON ARRIVED THERE ONE DAY IN HIS CAMPAIGN IN AN OLD fORD TRIMOTOR,,,,CORRUGATED FUSELAGE AND ALL
AN OLD WINNIE MAE TYPE STINSON ? OWNED BY rc sPRAGUYE, PRES OF sPRAGUE eLECTRIC
A P-51 OWNED BY A HOBBYIST WHO FINALLY FLEW IT INTO A VT HILLSIDE...END OF STORY
A STEARMAN TRAINER OWNED BY A bENNINGTON vt HOBBYIST..
Barry, 27.07.2011 17:27
As noted above the majority of production was done by Blackburn, building 1,699 of the total production of 2,391. The Swordfish did have a remarkable career apart from the disabling of the Bismark and the destruction of the Italian Fleet at Taranto (not only 3 battleships, a cruiser, a destroyer and other warships)it's battle honours were many. For example a small group based in Malta sunk 50,000 tons of shipping every month in 1941 to 1943. Of course the Royal Navy had to find something new and whilst the imported Grumman Avenger was a notable aircraft, why oh why did they ever buy the Barracuda?
Ben Beekman, e-mail, 13.03.2011 03:41
According to what I believe to be an accurate account, Admiral Richardson, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in 1940, informed President Roosevelt of the danger in basing the fleet at Pearl Harbor. Up until then the fleet's home base was San Diego but Roosevelt sought to intimidate and threaten the truculent Japanese. Richardson knew what could happen and protested against the move. He foresaw the Japanese attack coming from northwest of Pearl but apparently his warnings only irritated Roosevelt who replaced him with the more tractable Admiral Kimmel. It wasn't long before Richardson's prediction was proved accurate. However, the question remains: Did Roosevelt move the fleet to Hawaii just to impress the Japanese with his sincerity or did he inwardly agree with Richardson that by doing so an attack was inevitable? An attack, he knew, that would draw us into a war that we were bound to win and which would virtually guarantee unequalled government spending, full employment,rapid growth of our then stagnant economy, an awakening of our latent industrial capacity, a merchant marine second to none, and a military and technical superiority that would raise our worldly status to the very pinnacle of world power. He must also have been considering his political chances for a third term in office, counting on the American people to re-elect a sitting president during war-time. At the time of Pearl Harbor Roosevelt was one year into his second term and the law required him to step down when the 1944 elections came around. To the patrician and confident Roosevelt, his popularity as a wartime leader would assure him of winning both the nomination and the election in November of 1944. This question is still hotly debated today. What was Roosevelt's real motive in rebasing the fleet to Hawaii? What's your guess?
Dick Greenwood, e-mail, 08.10.2010 15:48
The airplane that demonstrated the feasibility of Pearl Harbor to the Japanese. Unfortunately our man Roosevelt was a little slow to take note. Quite amazing how the Brits made 10 year old technology persevere. Campobello, South Carolina, USA
John Eden, e-mail, 21.09.2010 04:50
In 1980 a number of former Canadian Naval Airmen found a derelict swordfish in a junkyard in Southern Ontario. It was recovered to Toronto where over the next 10 yars it was restored to original condition and rolled out at on 25 July 1980 to public viewing. The Canadian government awarded wach menber of the 12 man crew the "Medalian of Excellence" in recognition of the many years of dedicated service to this project. The aircraft was stripped down during the month of August and on 9 August 1990 the String bag was airlifted to CFB Shearwater in Nova Scotia. After another 4 years of work the aircraft was declared airwothy and in early April 1994 the aircraft was successfully flown. In total the restoration crew put in approximately 28,000 manhours of labour and received a number of other awards for their outstanding effort to preserve Canadian Naval History. The venreable old Swordfish now rests at the Shearwater Aviation Museum at Dartmouth NS. Canada a tribute to the brave men who flew the "Stringbag" in every theatre of operation during WWII. Incidentally this aircraft sunk more enemy tonnage than any other aircraft and was the only aircrft to see service throughout the entire war.
Eugene Valdes, e-mail, 10.02.2010 20:46
I would like to buy a kit to make a Fairey Swordfish 1934 airplane model. Do you know where I can find it?
matsy (dont laugh_), e-mail, 22.11.2009 18:35
ive seen this awesome plane i think it was a fantastic marine bomber espeicially when used against the Bismark in 1941 they were carried on the ww2 aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal which is sweet thnx
ron allen, e-mail, 14.12.2008 19:38
Hi again,further to my comments left on discovering this site I have given the subject some more thought (40 years on)The Fairey Swordfish was 5A, The Test Pilots name was Mc something I think and the CPO (CAF A/E) was Caffrey I think.It would be lovely to hear anything about the lads, I have since read all about 5A LS326,I never knew its history!!! A second aircraft of mine, Wessex 3 XM328 1969 737 sqadron & HMS Antrim is also preserved in a museum in Somerset, type in Wessex XM328 and check out its history,you can also buy a model of it, cool! Cheers
ron allen, e-mail, 12.12.2008 14:59
As a young NAM(A/E)Naval Air mechanic (airframes and engines)stationed at "Heron Flight" RNAS Yeovilton 1967-68 I was selected to join a small crew of four to rebuild the Pegasus radial engine and prepare the old "Fairey Swordfish " laying in the corner of the hanger.The crew consisted of "HMS HERON"s Test Pilot, a LT CDR (I only knew him as "Sir" of course)though he was very friendly and an engineer,CPO (A/E)McCaffrey, LAM (A/E)Steve Redwing and myself.Sir would come and go in between test flights on Sea Vixens,Venoms,Hunters and almost anything else that came into Yeovilton and needed repair and test prior to leaving;He would take away parts for repair and assist on rebuild.CPO McCaffrey was the Co-ordinator and kept the A700 log book up together as well as hands on work. Steve Redwing and I did all the basic mechanics with Steve being more qualified than me with my QM & QS status. Once all the work was completed we ground tested before test flying with Sir flying of course,the CPO as observer and Steve Redwing rear gunner/radio operator. The aircraft landed and we set to work on refuel and checks, then "Sir" fitted me up with biggles style leather cap and gloves, goggles, Biggles flying jacket with harness,overalls and boots and gave me the following instructions...You are to raise and lower deckhook on my instructions, stand and shoot the crowds with the machine gun and should we encounter a problem, on my command, you remove the parachute from its stowage (left side of cockpit) connect to harness,stand up and jump!!! I never had to jump, we took off very quickly, just lifted, and it was an experience that I did not then realise just how lucky I was to have.Cheers
susan beese, e-mail, 17.07.2008 22:28
my father roy nichols (bristol) was a tag on the old swordfish,always called it the string bag,he told us of lifting a plate for protection (i assume.)does this make any sence to you he would have served from about 1942 onwards after seeing the swordfih at rnas yeovilton mueseum we could not see a plate that would have droped down could you shed some light for us please many thanks sue (daughter)
Lee M Ward, e-mail, 26.04.2007 13:08
Cruising speed was 85knots. The Swordfish was the most efficient (at its job) combat aircraft I flew during WW2. It was also the most delightful. It flew like a bird. It leaped off the ground at take-off, carried a huge load, responded to the controls quickly and smoothly, and landed on a carrier gently. Why they ever tried to replace it I can't imagine - Taranto alone, justified every penny spent on it. They never produced anything better.
Where do the publishers get their speed information from? All the figures are rubbish; certainly fictitious!
Kelli Holmes, e-mail, 04.03.2007 03:58
I am currently the only female in the world doing the fabric restoration on a Swordfish for static display. I feel so privileged to be doing this work on such an incredible piece of history. I am in awe of the size of this aircraft and find it hard to grasp that it could ever possibly fly.
