Brian Allen's career began as a naval Aviation Cadet aboard HMS Indefatigable. Starting on the T22 Vampire he moved through Firefly, Gannet, Avenger (yes, Avenger), Whirlwind and Wasp. During this time, in postings around the globe, he was involved in the U.K.'s atomic bomb testing in Operation Grapple and survived several ditchings and forced landings. This book offers an insight into the very different transitional immediate post war years.

• Publisher  : ‎ Pen & Sword Aviation; 1st Edition (18 Mar. 2010)
• Language ‏: ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏: ‎ 9781848841895
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.51 x 1.91 x 24.77 cm

...Memoirs of the RNAS in the first World War.

Technology has changed at a frightening pace since aircraft first took to the skies. During WW1 not only did the technology change, but also the way in which aircraft were used as all sides learned to understand the potential of this powerful new influence on the battlefield.  'Philip Bartlett's account is a unique and fascinating record of a pilot's life in the dawn of aerial warfare and, as history, of the first use of the bomber in war, strangely, by the Navy's aircraft.'

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Military; Reprint edition (17 Oct. 2013)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 159 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9781783461813
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.51 x 1.91 x 24.13 cm

The Commandos were created by Winston Churchill in 1940 as a 'butcher and bolt' raiding unit to destroy vital targets in German occupied Europe. Recruits for this 'special service' were all volunteers, drawn from the British Army, and later from the Royal Marines and other Allied armies. Commando training was extremely demanding - men had to be physically fit and show initiative, mental toughness and adaptability. The training courses were designed to cultivate these qualities and to simulate real battle experiences, which included the use of live ammunition. Commandos learned a diverse range of skills at dedicated training centres in the remote Scottish Highlands.

This pocket-book draws on authentic training manuals, lecture notes, course literature and other material from the commando schools to give a real insight into this highly specialised fighting unit - demonstrating how commandos were taught to live, fight and move on offensive operations, initially as raiding parties, and later as skilled assault infantry. Sections of the book cover survival and fieldcraft skills; night operations; assaulting obstacles; use of equipment - such as the COPPS canoe for beach reconnaissance and sabotage; and weapons training, including the Thompson submachine gun, the Bren gun, and the famous emblem of the commandos - the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife.

 Hardback‏: ‎ 128 pages

Since the end of World War 2 the primary role of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm has been airborne power projection; the ability rapidly to respond to any trouble spot across the globe and to protect the interests of the United Kingdom and its partner nations. The principal tools in that response were the strike aircraft which took the offensive to the aggressor. Although from 2010 to 2020 fixed-wing carrier aviation was not part of the Fleet Air Arm, with the advent of the navys two new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, that capability has been restored. This renewed focus has not only seen the return of flying high performance aircraft from a carrier, but also the regeneration of the necessary skills, and courage, needed to cope with the extremes of weather and the nature of air operations in a very high-risk environment. However the lessons of the past have not been forgotten, and so many of those previous experiences are related within these pages true stories of the last 76 years from aircrew, maintainers, aircraft handlers and many other supporting staff both men and women. Following on from the success of volume one, this second volume covers every fixed-wing aircraft type flown from carriers in the strike, anti-submarine warfare and the vital airborne early warning roles; from Scimitars to Hunters, Buccaneers to Skyraider's & many more, plus an extensive fleet of land-based aircraft. As with the first volume, involvement in operations such as Suez, the Beira Patrol, the Falklands, Belize, Bosnia and elsewhere is included. Despite the intensity and all-to-frequent tragedy of operations, the esprit de corps, and the ability to find the necessary release through laughter, shine through. Here are the words of the men and women themselves, profusely illustrated in black and white and colour. 

About the author:

Steve Bond has spent nearly 50 years in aviation. He served in the RAF as an aircraft propulsion technician and was part of the Eurofighter Typhoon project team. He later joined City University London where he developed and ran the world’s first MSc Air Safety Management (ASM) programme, lecturing on the subject all over the world. He has a PhD in ASM, is a chartered engineer, and a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Now a full-time author he was recently elected Freeman of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots in recognition of his contribution to aviation.

N.B. Only sales here will contribute to keeping heritage aircraft flying

This title explores the scope of women's activities in aviation, from the time of the Wright Brothers to the present day. After highlighting the earliest female aviators, as well as the trailblazers of the inter-war period such as Amy Johnson and Amelia Earhart, the book goes on to examine the experience of women in aviation during the Second World War, including the American Women Airforce Service Pilots and those flying with the Air Transport Auxiliary. The post-war years are also covered and the title emphasizes the growth in women's participation in civil and military spheres of aviation -- by the last decades of the twentieth century, women had progressed even further, undertaking many of the jobs previously reserved for men, including space flight and combat flying. From the earliest women to obtain pilot's licenses to the female astronauts of the modern day, this is a concise introduction to the development of American and British women's roles in aviation.

Taken from the Archives of the Fleet Air Arm Museum, these reminiscences add the personal element to the historical data and illustrate the tremendously changing circumstances of the Fleet Air Arm from formation to Cold War.  'What emerges from these pages is a particular spirit, peculiar to the Fleet Air Arm and reflecting its somewhat hybrid nature; a spirit derived from a high level of professional competence combined with a certain irreverence towards authority'.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Aviation; Illustrated edition (18 April 2013)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9781781590928
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.03 x 2.87 x 24.16 cm

Once the Fleet Air Arm took delivery of modern performance aircraft its pilot's made an impression in all theatres of war. This well researched book gives details of pilot's, battles, aircraft, ships and campaigns and highlights the contribution of the Fleet Air Arm in WWII.

Paperback.

The Wildcat has been a popular aircraft type with modellers and has recently been the subject of several new tooling's in all scales, especially in 1/72nd and 1/48th. This latest book will go some way towards unpicking the different variants and detail differences that apply to the type.

This twenty-second book in this much-acclaimed series has 208 pages packed with vital information that no active modeller and Wildcat enthusiast should be without.

The F4F Wildcat contains:

• 55+ pages of technical information
• 45+ pages of walk-around images and technical diagrams
• 25+ pages of camouflage and markings
• 25+ pages of model builds and modelling information
• 200+ photographs including wartime images
• Colour side views by Richard J. Caruana
• 3D isometric views of all variants by Juraj Jankovic
• Specially commissioned extensive full kit builds by Steve A. Evans & Libor Jekl
• Specially commissioned front cover artwork by Jerry Boucher
• Set of 1/48th scale plans

Rare signed copies of the Fairey Rotodyne publication.

The Fairey Rotodyne was a large British compound helicopter designed and built by the Fairey Aviation Company and intended for commercial and military applications. It was considered to be one of the iconic aviation projects of the 1950s/60s and a bright future was planned for the aircraft. Widely accepted to be a revolutionary design, it was economically viable, fast and capable of vertical take-off and landing from city centre heliports.

However, despite the proven feasibility of this bold concept, the Rotodyne project was terminated in 1962 due to escalating development costs and unresolved technical issues. This book seeks to fill a gap in aviation literature on the history of the Rotodyne, an aircraft ahead of its time. Winner of Hampshire Libraries Special Collections Award 2010.

This book, by Rotodyne expert David Gibbings, seeks to fill a gap in aviation literature and offers a long-awaited full, illustrated, and in-depth history of the Rotodyne, many of whose features are still valued by organisations such as Nasa, highly in demand and used to this day.

'The Royal Navy called them auxiliary carriers. To the crews of endangered merchantmen in the Atlantic and Arctic they were heaven sent protection. To the men who manned them they were Combustible, Vulnerable and Expendable.'

David Wragg reveals the full story of these ships' crucial role and contribution.

 Hardback.

Like Achilles, the story of the Bismarck is of a light that shone like the brightest star, but was quickly extinguished. Story of the hunt for Bismarck is fascinating as Britain mustered all available resources to counter the threat to her vital shipping lanes. Well researched and illustrated this book is a great read about a great adventure.

Paperback.

A century of global change has been matched and mirrored by changes in the world of naval flying.  This book not only looks at the range of aircraft used (from balloons and airships to stealth and battle space command) but further details major campaigns such as Taranto, Pearl Harbour, the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of Midway, the Korean campaign, the Falklands campaign and more.  Sure to appeal to any aviation enthusiasts, this is a testament to the people who the aircraft into a new century.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Maritime (30 Jun. 2013)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.88 x 1.91 x 23.5 cm

This dramatic image created a strong reaction when we first published it.

So often Remembrance imagery is centred around 'Flanders field' and the relationship to those who lost their lives at sea is lost. We thought that we would remedy that with this powerful sunset image of three Swordfish flying over an expanse of poppies on the 'wind harrowed meadows of the sea'.

The notecard includes the following poem.

Remember the Poppies of the Sea

No grave to mark the man. No cross, alone or serried ranked. No poignant blooms to salute the loss or the love or the tragedy of fading memories.

On steel steed and white horsed plain they did their duty. They fought and gave and gave their all and, when all was done, they took the sea's embrace.

Somewhere, a gypsy ripple monument roams tirelessly still. A metamorphic headstone. Improperly anonymous. Incongruously humble.

Named and nameless, warriors all. Now fathoms deep, at peace on pillows of softest sand, their drifting spirits but gentle shadows, dancing forever with sunbeams.

At the going down of the sun, and in the mourning, remember the poppies that grow on the wind harrowed meadows of the sea.

DL/Compliment slip size

This dramatic image created a strong reaction when we first published it.

So often Remembrance imagery is centred around 'Flanders field' and the relationship to those who lost their lives at sea is lost. We thought that we would remedy that with this powerful sunset image of three Swordfish flying over an expanse of poppies on the 'wind harrowed meadows of the sea'.

The print includes the following poem.

Remember the Poppies of the Sea

No grave to mark the man. No cross, alone or serried ranked. No poignant blooms to salute the loss or the love or the tragedy of fading memories.

On steel steed and white horsed plain they did their duty. They fought and gave and gave their all and, when all was done, they took the sea's embrace.

Somewhere, a gypsy ripple monument roams tirelessly still. A metamorphic headstone. Improperly anonymous. Incongruously humble.

Named and nameless, warriors all. Now fathoms deep, at peace on pillows of softest sand, their drifting spirits but gentle shadows, dancing forever with sunbeams.

At the going down of the sun, and in the mourning, remember the poppies that grow on the wind harrowed meadows of the sea.

A3 print.

250gsm

If the poem is not required, it can be removed and framed without.

As an operation, from the British perspective, the Channel Dash lacked any form of successful outcome. As an illustration of respect for duty and absolute courage in the face of insuperable odds, it stands as a beacon that would be hard to surpass. 

Eighteen men in six flimsy aircraft against three capital ships, numerous destroyers and E boats  all under a massive Luftwaffe umbrella. All six aircraft were shot down and only five aircrew survived.

This dramatic commemorative depiction by famed artist Philip West captures the moments after 825G has ditched and Observer Sub Lt Edgar Lee is helping his wounded pilot, Sub Lt Brian Rose, into their dinghy. Sadly, TAG Leading Airman Ambrose Johnson did not survive.

Originally a Limited Edition of just 100, we have just a few of these evocative prints available, all signed by Edgar Lee.

Supplied as a print. The frame in the image is for illustration purposes only.

What were the thoughts and feelings of my grandfather as an Artificer Engineer down in the Engine Room as on1 November 1914, in the half light of evening, HMS Glasgow raced towards the Magellan Straits escaping from the one sided Battle of Coronel. The author, despite intensive research will never know. 

This lack of knowledge of his grandfathers career led the author to writing a record of 'what grandad did in the war' for his own three grandchildren. The record morphed into a tale of events, amusing and sometimes frightening, that occurred during a 32 career between 1960 and 1992. This period saw the Fleet Air Arm helicopter fleet go from piston to jet power and from 'kick the tyres - light the fires' to the advanced electronic suites that equip todays highly professional Fleet Air Arm aviators. In 1960 helicopter aircrew were as dedicated and professional, but a lack of sophistication in the aids available sometimes meant results were dependent upon experience and gut feeling.  

There are many aviation books which cover specific topics or events, but few which span a Fleet Air Arm Observer's career. This book aims to fill that gap.

Historical context has been included in many of the events which the author took part, from Iraq first threatening Kuwait in 1960, the Borneo Confrontation, through to the Falklands campaign in 1982. Service in the Fleet Air Arm not only involved flying, but also non-flying appointments ashore and afloat. As this book demonstrates there was satisfaction and a lot of fun to be had in what may be described as more mundane jobs.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grosvenor House Publishing Limited (18 Nov. 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 234 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9781839758119
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 1.63 x 22.86 cm

A series of wonderful reminiscences taken from aircrew and maintainers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. These are the personal details that fill in the gaps of the historical timeline. We know what happened, but this tells us what it was like to be part of it.

Hardback.

The plane had barely come of age by 1914. People were trying to grasp how best to use the new technology in general, but particularly in conjunction with all the difficulties and challenges implicit in deploying aircraft in a maritime role. Few, if any, people realised that the aircraft carrier would become the dominant weapon of the worlds oceans within just a few decades. This book details the rapid progress of technology and innovation through detailed commentary and dozens of photographs and illustrations.

Paperback.

...including Jock Moffat and Bruce Vibert.

The Fairey Swordfish achieved legendary status in WWII and this evocative picture includes W5856 and LS326 in the snow with St Bartholomew's church (regarded as 'the Fleet Air Arm Church') at Yeovilton in the background.

This limited edition print (just 200) has the original signatures of two renowned WWII veterans and four pilots from the, sadly now defunct, Royal Navy Historic Flight. Both these aircraft reside in our Navy Wings hangar and with your ongoing support we hope to be flying them at public events for years to come.

This is your opportunity to own a piece of history that will look superb in any home.

Supplied with a certificate of authenticity.

Fairey Swordfish pilot – Lieutenant Commander Jock Moffat

Swordfish pilot Lt Cdr John ‘Jock’ Moffat was part of the attack that crippled the Bismarck on that fateful day in 1941.

Fairey Swordfish pilot - Lieutenant Commander Bruce Vibert DSC

The majority of Lt Cdr Vibert’s wartime career was spent in the cockpit of a Fairey Swordfish in the Battle of the Atlantic (where he sank U674) and on the Arctic convoys.

Commander Adrian Orchard OBE

Cdr Adrian Orchard was a Harrier Pilot, Deputy Commander of the British Harrier Force, CO at RNAS Culdrose and author of the bestselling ‘Joint Force Harrier’. He joined the Royal Navy Historic Flight as a Fairey Swordfish pilot.

Lieutenant Commander John Beattie

Lt Cdr John Beattie has flown myriad aircraft in his long flying career including Swordfish, Firefly and Sea Fury as a display pilot. John was CO of the Royal Navy Historic Flight and is still a very active flier on both fixed and rotary wing aircraft

Lieutenant Commander Mike Abbey

Lt Cdr Mike Abbey was originally a helicopter pilot in Lynx and Wessex and was later CO of the Royal Navy Historic Flight in which he flew the Fairey Swordfish.

Commander – Dave McKay

Commander Dave McKay was a Sea Harrier pilot and both a Naval Air Squadron Commander and CO of the Royal Navy Historic Flight.

Artist – Terrence Lee

Terrence Lee is a highly regarded artist who specialises in marine subjects and worked for a period at RNAS Yeovilton

Fairey Swordfish

Fairey Swordfish LS326 and W5856 are both members of the Navy Wings Heritage Flight and veterans of active service in WWII

Approx 59cm x 42cm

N.B. This item is supplied as a print. The image where it is depicted with a frame is for illustrative purposes only.

On the 9th of August, 1952, S.Lt Brian 'Schmoo' Ellis, of 802 Naval Air Squadron was flying his Sea Fury FBII in a finger four formation over Pyongyang when his flight was bounced by several MiG 15's. 

The Sea Fury was a hugely powerful piston engine aircraft, but theoretically outclassed by the jets. However, jets are at a disadvantage when dogfighting. During the melee, S.Lt Ellis famously shot down one of the MiG's and his colleagues damaged two more before they broke away to find safety to the north.

This collection is comprised of 3 items, all signed by Brian 'Schmoo' Ellis

1) Witty Wings Sea Fury FBII VW238/107 model (these models are no longer commercially available)

2) Sea Fury - Airframe album crammed with information about this awesome aircraft

3) Hawker Aircraft Ltd - Sea Fury brochure and specifications.

In 1918 Britain was pre-eminent in the technology and tactics of deploying aircraft at sea. That lead was lost to Japan and the USA during the inter-war years as, subject to the will of the RAF, meagre resources were committed elsewhere. Where we hadn't languished during those wilderness years was in carrier strike doctrine. After regaining control of its flying assets in 1937, the Royal Navy had so much to prepare and so little time. 

A fascinating insight into a service doing the best with the least for almost two decades and yet a service that acquitted itself with distinction from the first day of WWII. Much is seen through the eyes of distinguished pilot Lt WP Lucy DSO RN.