LS326 Fairey Swordfish Torpedo Bomber ready for take off
The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Affectionately known as the "Stringbag" by its crews, it was outdated by 1939, but achieved some spectacular successes during the war. On 11 November 1940, Swordfish torpedo bombers flying from the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious — made a very significant attack against the Italian navy during the Battle of Taranto, Italy, sinking or disabling three Italian battleships and a cruiser lying at anchor. In the aftermath, Taranto was visited by the Japanese naval attaché from Berlin, who later briefed the staff planning the attack on Pearl Harbour. The Swordfish though, is most famous for crippling of the Bismarck in May 1941. A Swordfish strike from HMS Ark Royal was vital in damaging the German battleship Bismarck, preventing its escape to France.
Size: 4724px × 3071px
Location: Airfield
Photo credit: © Kevin Clark / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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