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Fairey Swordfish I
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Fairey Swordfish I
Fairey Swordfish I of 820 Squadron over HMS Ark Royal, 1939
The Royal Air Force Museum is Britain's only national museum dedicated wholly to aviation
Media ID 639888
© Charles Brown Collection, Royal Air Force Museum
Aircraft Carriers Fleet Air Arm Interwar Royal Air Force Royal Navy Ships
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This evocative photograph captures the moment of takeoff for a Fairey Swordfish I aircraft from the flight deck of HMS Ark Royal, the Royal Navy's first purpose-built aircraft carrier, in 1939. The Swordfish, registration number N2S-1, is from 820 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm, the naval branch of the Royal Air Force. The Swordfish was a versatile biplane torpedo bomber, known for its distinctive gull-wing design and powerful Bristol Mercury engine. It was the backbone of the Fleet Air Arm during the early years of World War II, and its successes against the German warships Goebken and Scharnhorst helped establish the importance of naval aviation in modern warfare. The photograph showcases the challenging conditions faced by pilots and crew during takeoff from a moving aircraft carrier. The deck crew, dressed in their distinctive blue overalls, can be seen working diligently to secure the aircraft's tailhook and guide it safely off the deck. The Swordfish's propellers churn the waves, creating a plume of spray as the aircraft gains speed and lifts off. In the background, the silhouette of HMS Ark Royal can be seen, her funnel and mast dominating the scene. The carrier, launched in 1937, was the largest and most advanced warship in the world at the time, and her flight deck was the launchpad for numerous successful naval aviation missions during the early years of the war. This photograph is a testament to the bravery and skill of the pilots, crew, and ground personnel of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force during the interwar period, and the crucial role that aircraft carriers and naval aviation played in defending the United Kingdom during a time of great global turmoil.
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