When war broke out the Royal Navy had only recovered control of its air arm some three months earlier, having lost the Royal Naval Air Service on the formation of the RAF in April 1918. As a consequence it still had many ties with the latter service, and RAF uniforms were much in evidence.
The expansion which was already under way gathered momentum, and many new first and second line squadrons began to appear, some of the latter forming overseas as home bases came under threat. New fleet carriers were under construction, the heavily-armoured 'illustrious' class being intended to replace the obsolescent types in service since the 1920s. Biplane carrier aircraft were gradually giving way to monoplanes, though the Swordfish was destined to remain in operational service until the end of the war.
Shortage of new fleet carriers led to expedients such as CAM-ships, which were merchant ships fitted with a catapult, and later MAC-ships, being grain ships or tankers able to operate a flight of Swordfish from a small flight deck. More ambitious conversions were the escort carriers, which could operate a whole squadron of fighters or TSR aircraft. By the time the war ended, the Fleet Air Arm had around 70 first line squadrons, many equipped with American-built aircraft. Just coming into service were several light fleet carriers, intended for operations against the Japanese.
Illustrated by over 200 photographs, many of which are published for the first time, 'Fleet Air Arm at War' tells the wartime story of that service from the many viewpoints of those who served in it.
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ISBN 0-7110-1084-6
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BOOK IS NOW OUT OF PRINT
First Published 1982 by
Ian Allen Ltd, Shepperton, Surrey, TW17 8AS, England
