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

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.

Paperback

A study of the uniforms and equipment of a military force that had only existed for a handful of years and was already developing at an exponential rate.

This was learning absolutely from square 1!

Paperback.

The de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk (or Chippie) is a tandem, two-seat, single-engine primary trainer aircraft designed and developed by de Havilland (Canada). It was developed shortly after WWII and sold in large numbers during the immediate post-war years, often used as a replacement for the de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane. Introduced in 1946 it was finally retired in the UK in 1996.

It was much loved by the generations of trainee pilots who cut their teeth on this very capable, reliable and pilot friendly aircraft.

This specific aircraft, WK608, beautifully rendered here by Joe Roberts, currently resides in the Navy Wings hangar. It is part of the Navy Wings 'tail dragger' training process and makes regular appearances at airshows around the UK.

Poster: A3

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

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.

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.

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.

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

...True Tales from the Operator's of Britain's First Jet Fighter - From 1944 to Date

By interviewing over forty veterans, author Steve Bond has written an incredibly detailed insight into this iconic aircraft, which is supported by anecdotes and accounts from those who knew it best.

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.

In Fast Jets on the Front Line, Alan Munro reflects on his time in the RAF and the Cold War jets which he flew. It is Alan’s time on the Phantoms that is the main crux of this book. He discusses how the withdrawal of Lightnings from the air force changed the Phantom’s role from attack to defence and the impact this had on Phantom squadrons like 29 Squadron which he flew on. His book is illustrated throughout with photographs from the author’s private collection and is a must for fans of the Cold War era fighters.

Hardback

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. 

'Captain Alan William Frank Sutton's enthralling biography starts when, as a young midshipman, he was in command of a picket boat returning a potentially mutinous crew to the battle-cruiser HMS Repulse....and ends in the open cockpit of a Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber during the legendary attack on the Italian Fleet at Taranto.'

Hardback.

This is the good, the bad and the ugly of the history of RNAS/RAF/FAA.  Set during a period across two world wars, the book highlights a series of triumphs and tragedies which shape the history of British Naval Aviation.  Adlam presents a highly entertaining and controversial study which is sure to appeal to a wide variety of aviation enthusiasts.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Aviation (24 Sept. 2014)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.51 x 2.54 x 24.13 cm

Aerial attack by Zeppelin was a daunting spectre in Britain as the prospect of war came closer. After hostilities commenced the Royal Naval Air Service had the responsibility of attacking the Zeppelins in their hangars where they were most vulnerable. This was Britain's first strategic bombing campaign.

Paperback.

...The Story and Diaries of Captain JM McCleery RNAS/RAF.

Guy Warner has been given access to McCleery's wartime diary, his letters home, other memorabilia and three remarkable albums with hundreds of photos taken by Jack and others of the events described in the book. His intention is to edit Jack's diary and letters to provide an introduction and conclusion and to annotate the text with explanatory details of important events, people, places, ships and aircraft.

Hardcover

Many people don't realise that the Fleet Air Arm were in the thick of the fighting in Afghanistan.

'Day and night, the Fleet Air Arm crews were on constant alert, ready to scramble their heavily armed Harrier jets at a moment's notice in support of the men on the ground.'

This book 'offers an unprecedented, heart-stopping insight into the realities of modern air warfare'.

Paperback.

To aerial icons met in combat in the Pacific war. Two design philosophies designed for different purposes and theatres. Two sets of performance niches. Filled with first hand accounts, technical detail and images, this is an essential read about two legendary knights of the sky.

Paperback.