Speaker: Dr Nick Blackman

By the start of WWII, the Fairey Swordfish was already regarded as obsolete, with a large number already in service it was nonetheless put to good use. The crew of three were not afforded too much comfort, there being no heater and the fabric covering and open cockpit affording little shelter from the cold in winter. Swordfish actually sank 21 submarines over the course of the war, most whilst escorting Arctic convoys to north Russia. The aircraft was incredibly versatile and has the distinction of being one of the few aircraft that remained in operational service throughout the WWII, and was responsible for the highest tonnage of enemy shipping sunk by any allied aircraft type. Dr Nick Blackman is an independent aerospace engineering and business consultant, and a part-time naval aviation historian with the Navy Wings charity. He served for 36 years as an Air Engineer Officer in the Fleet Air Arm and retired as a Captain Royal Navy in 2017. Dr Blackman completed his PhD with King’s College London in 2023, with a thesis on British naval helicopter history.