Navy Wings

Maggie and Bryan the Navy Wings merchandise team will be at Cotswold Revival this weekend. Come and say hello and take a look at our shop, lots of super aviation items and gift ideas. You can also shop online at navywings.org.uk

Have you booked your ticket for the Navy Wings Charity Photographic Night Shoot Event on 25th October 2018? Fleet Air Arm icons The Sea Harrier, Phantom, Swordfish, Sea Fury will be in attendance along with the latest guest, The Westland Wasp HAS.1 G-BYCX. Book here https://www.threshold.aero/e…/navy-wing s-night-photocall-iii

New in the Navy Wings Flight Store. Sea Vixen, Swordfish and Sea Fury cushions.
https://navywingsflightstore.org/…/airc raft-icon-cushions-s…

Rare item for auction on the Navy Wings Ebay site. Money raised from the items for sale on the Ebay, Amazon & Flight Store sho, directly contribute towards keeping the aircraft in the skies.
A Sea Vixen auto throttle test set http://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e12000.m43. l1123/7…

World War Two Swordfish Veterans re-united with the Swordfish at the Navy Wings Heritage hangar. Pictured with the current Swordfish Crew.
Please help the Charity to keep these wonderful historic aircraft in the skies as a focus of remembrance to those that have served. Sign up or donate here navywings.org.uk Please Share.

Today, the Charity Navy Wings welcomes twelve Fleet Air Arm Swordfish Veterans to the Navy Wings Heritage Hangar and will be re-united with the oldest flying Swordfish in the world. Read more about the veterans here https://www.navywings.org.uk/news…/swor dfishheritageday2018/

Navy Wings is a charity that keeps heritage naval aircraft in the skies. On Friday 21st September a very special Swordfish Heritage day event is being held in the Navy Wings Heritage Hangar. We are looking forward to armchair chats with the Swordfish veterans who will be reunited with the Swordfish.
Swordfish pilot John Fay will be in attendance on the day. John trained as a naval pilot in the UK and Canada and flew the Swordfish and Avenger. In 1940-1941 he served with 832 Squadron embarked in HMS Victorious in the Arctic and Mediterranean. In 1942 he served with 841 squadron. John also flew the Swordfish for the service trials unit in order to test the aircraft to bring new technology into service. navywings.org.uk

On Friday the Navy Wings Heritage Hangar at RNAS Yeovilton, welcomes World War Two Swordfish pilot Sub Lt John Bowden.
John flew the Swordfish during the Arctic Convoys after joining the Fleet Air Arm in 1942 and training in the UK and Canada. Flying the Swordfish with 811 Squadron from HMS Vindex, a Nairana Class escort carrier operating as part of a hunter killer group on the Arctic Convoys and was awarded the Arctic star and holds three Russian Commemorative medals. A member of the 'Goldfish Club' John once found himself immersed after a landing mishap. In 1945 he converted to the Barracuda before joining 753 Squadron. In total John accumulated over 140 hours flying Swordfish. navywings.org.uk

Navy Wings will be welcoming eleven World War Two Swordfish veterans on Friday and will be featuring the brave veterans who will be attending on this page.
David Barrel, Swordfish Pilot during the Battle of the Atlantic joined the Fleet Air Arm in 1942 and flew a variety of aircraft including the Swordfish & Barracuda. A member of the 'Goldfish Club' he suffered engine failure at 200 feet and ditched in the North Sea with a live torpedo fitted. David later went on to join 813 Squadron to fly Firebrands, his reasoning being: "They decided I had, had plenty of hazardous experiences so may as well have a few more'' David is here on the right of this image. navywings.org.uk

Swordfish versus the German U boats at the Battle of the Atlantic. Over 40 Naval Squadrons flew some of the most hazardous missions imaginable during a six year campaign between 1939 and 1945. The Swordfish flew from Merchant Aircraft carriers providing air cover. Without this protection provided by the Fleet Air Arm many convoys would not have reached the British Isles with vital supplies. Friday, Navy Wings welcomes Swordfish Veterans who provided air cover for the Arctic Convoys delivering vital supplies to Russia, a mission Churchill described as the ‘worst journey in the world’. Read more https://www.navywings.org.uk/…/batt…/ battle-of-the-atlantic/

Celebrating the Swordfish Battle Honours. May, 1941 at the eleventh hour two attacks by Swordfish aircraft brought Germany's largest and most powerful Battleship to bay. The second attack jammed Bismarck's rudders, leaving her out of control in heavy seas. The brave determination of the Swordfish crews stopped the Bismarch, enabling H Force to destroy the major threat she posed to allied shipping. This Friday, Navy Wings re-unites WW2 veterans with the only flying Swordfish in the world. The Swordfish needs your help to keep her flying. Please consider signing up as a supporter or donating today at navywings.org.uk

Navy Wings is looking forward to reuniting Swordfish Veterans with the only flying Swordfish in the world at the Navy Wings heritage hangar this Friday. In celebration we are looking at the Swordfish Battle honours this week, and start with 1940 when the Fleet Air Arm changed the course of history at the battle of Taranto. 20 swordfish launched from HMS Illustrious and attacked the Italian fleet. This innovative and brave attack unleashed the devastating effect of carrier air power. Help keep history alive by keeping the Swordfish in the skies by signing up as an official supporter navywings.org.uk

Flew or Fly Navy? We have the items for you at the Navy Wings Flight Store. See our full FAA range https://navywingsflightstore.org/collecti ons/fleet-air-arm

Next Friday 21st September, Navy Wings is reuniting World War 2 veterans with the only flying Swordfish in the world at the Navy Wings Heritage hangar. Fourteen Fleet Air Arm veterans who flew the Swordfish, Avengers and Barracudas and Fireflies during World War 2 will be attending the heritage day. This is a rare opportunity for guests to hear their first hand accounts of flying from the decks of the carriers. Only ten seats left. Don't miss out and book your ticket today https://www.navywings.org.uk/news…/swor dfishheritageday2018/

Update from Navy Wings Associate Aircraft the Wessex

The Tondern Raid



First successful shipborne aerial attack on a shore installation



The Tondern Raid marks its centenary on 19 July, the world’s first successful carrier strike. During the first two years of WW1, with the ever-present Zeppelin menace, both in reconnoitre of the Grand Fleet and the bombing of English populous areas, there was an urgent need for a fleet carrier.



The Admiralty ordered that the newly completed battle-cruiser HMS Furious, be converted into an aircraft-carrier – this was the first attempt to construct a Fleet Carrier. The ships two big 18-inch guns were removed and in their place a flying-off deck forward and a flying-off deck aft. After trials it proved that the aft deck was too dangerous for aircraft to land on as the mid-ship superstructure produced irregular airflows across the deck. Therefore, the returning aircraft had to ditch and recovered by supporting destroyers. Furious was recommissioned on 15 March 1918, and her embarked Sopwith Camels 2F.1 were used on anti-Zeppelin patrols in the North Sea. The Camels were fitted with inflatable floats and wheels that could be jettisoned for ditching.



A plan was drawn up to attack the Zeppelin sheds at Tondern in Southern Jutland, which up until 1920 was part of Germany, now a Danish town called Tønder. After an aborted attempted due to weather, in the early hours of 19 July 1918, seven Camels took off from Furious 80 miles from Tondern. The attack was in two waves, one Camel had to return with engine problems, but the remaining six dropped their 2 x 50lb bombs on the three Zeppelin sheds. The raid was a success, two Zeppelins L54 and L60 were destroyed in the shed named Toska, and a dirigible balloon destroyed in shed named Tobias.



Two Camels made it back to the Fleet, three landed in Denmark with insufficient fuel for the return journey and the sixth was lost at sea trying to return. The CO of the operation, Wing Commander Richard Bell Davies VC quoted as saying “The Tondern raid did a great deal more than eliminate one airship base, it finally removed the belief held by many senior officers that attacks by shipborne aircraft on shore or harbour targets were no good.”



Although at the time the RAF had taken over ‘lock stock and barrel’ the Navy’s air component, as part of their formation on 1 April 1918, the Air Ministry had no say in the operation and did not interfere with the planned attack, it was a purely Naval operation. Another Royal Navy first.

I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for the Fleet Air Arm. :-)

Great day out for The British Legion from Wincanton. Thanks everyone. "Keep them Flying high!

Good to learn about

Friendly people. A very welcoming charity beautiful aircraft and not to mention the Sea Fury has to be one of the best displays currently flying in the UK.

Fly Navy! ‘nuff said! I can’t make 40 Characters without padding it out!

Fleet Air Arm 73/79 as an Aircraft Handler. Very Best Years Of My Life . People say you should never have regrets . But it was a mistake coming out of the Royal Navy when I did .

The Tondern Raid



First successful shipborne aerial attack on a shore installation



The Tondern Raid marks its centenary on 19 July, the world’s first successful carrier strike. During the first two years of WW1, with the ever-present Zeppelin menace, both in reconnoitre of the Grand Fleet and the bombing of English populous areas, there was an urgent need for a fleet carrier.



The Admiralty ordered that the newly completed battle-cruiser HMS Furious, be converted into an aircraft-carrier – this was the first attempt to construct a Fleet Carrier. The ships two big 18-inch guns were removed and in their place a flying-off deck forward and a flying-off deck aft. After trials it proved that the aft deck was too dangerous for aircraft to land on as the mid-ship superstructure produced irregular airflows across the deck. Therefore, the returning aircraft had to ditch and recovered by supporting destroyers. Furious was recommissioned on 15 March 1918, and her embarked Sopwith Camels 2F.1 were used on anti-Zeppelin patrols in the North Sea. The Camels were fitted with inflatable floats and wheels that could be jettisoned for ditching.



A plan was drawn up to attack the Zeppelin sheds at Tondern in Southern Jutland, which up until 1920 was part of Germany, now a Danish town called Tønder. After an aborted attempted due to weather, in the early hours of 19 July 1918, seven Camels took off from Furious 80 miles from Tondern. The attack was in two waves, one Camel had to return with engine problems, but the remaining six dropped their 2 x 50lb bombs on the three Zeppelin sheds. The raid was a success, two Zeppelins L54 and L60 were destroyed in the shed named Toska, and a dirigible balloon destroyed in shed named Tobias.



Two Camels made it back to the Fleet, three landed in Denmark with insufficient fuel for the return journey and the sixth was lost at sea trying to return. The CO of the operation, Wing Commander Richard Bell Davies VC quoted as saying “The Tondern raid did a great deal more than eliminate one airship base, it finally removed the belief held by many senior officers that attacks by shipborne aircraft on shore or harbour targets were no good.”



Although at the time the RAF had taken over ‘lock stock and barrel’ the Navy’s air component, as part of their formation on 1 April 1918, the Air Ministry had no say in the operation and did not interfere with the planned attack, it was a purely Naval operation. Another Royal Navy first.

I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for the Fleet Air Arm. :-)

Great day out for The British Legion from Wincanton. Thanks everyone. "Keep them Flying high!

Good to learn about

Friendly people. A very welcoming charity beautiful aircraft and not to mention the Sea Fury has to be one of the best displays currently flying in the UK.

Fly Navy! ‘nuff said! I can’t make 40 Characters without padding it out!

Fleet Air Arm 73/79 as an Aircraft Handler. Very Best Years Of My Life . People say you should never have regrets . But it was a mistake coming out of the Royal Navy when I did .