John Wellham's Naval Wings begins with his service in 824 Squadron aboard HMS Eagle. Wellham flew in the Swordfish attack on Bomba in which three torpedoes sank four ships, an episode presented as evidence of air power's growing place in naval warfare. He was then selected for the second strike on Taranto from HMS Illustrious. The memoir continues through Atlantic and anti-submarine operations to the final campaign against Japan with the British Pacific Fleet. Together, these episodes follow the Swordfish beyond its most famous raid and carry one Fleet Air Arm career across several theatres.
Chapter · 10:49-15:12
Naval Wings: a Swordfish pilot's wider war
Naval Wings follows a Fleet Air Arm Swordfish pilot from Mediterranean strikes to the Atlantic and the war against Japan.