| ID | Description | Categories | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1622 | NEALE, John. The Incredible Stringbag & Me. [vi], 161p., illus. Hailsham: J&KH, 1997. ISBN: 1900511924.
He joined the RN in 1938 as a Midshipman and trained as an Observer in the FAA. He joined 815 Sqdn and flew minelaying operations off the Dutch coast before joining Illustrious as she commissioned. He fought throughout her Mediterranean campaign, including Matapan and Taranto. After she was damaged he fought in the Western Desert, Greece and Crete. From late 1942 he spent a spell in the UK on night shipping strikes in the Channel with 841 Sqdn and the following year moved to be Air Staff Officer on MAC ships, but then saw out the war on a Signals course. His was an action-packed and much decorated wartime career. |
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| 1623 | NICHOLL, G. W. R. The Supermarine Walrus: The Story of a Unique Aircraft. xi, 211p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Foulis, 1966.
This improbable looking aircraft saw gallant service in many roles throughout the war, most notably in the early years, and this is engagingly described. |
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| 1624 | O'CONNOR, Garry. Ralph Richardson: An Actor's Life. 260p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Hodder & Stoughton; New York: Atheneum, 1982. ISBN: 0340270411.
A well-received biography which includes a chapter on his relatively quiet war in the FAA, where he earned the nickname "Pranger." |
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| 1625 | ORMES, Ian, & ORMES, Ralph. The Sky Masters. 224p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Kimber, 1976. ISBN: 0718302842.
Five brief biographies. They include Frederick Rice. "Ben" Rice sank U 64 from his Swordfish at the Second Battle of Narvik. He was based on Warspite and went with her to the Mediterranean and the Matapan and other actions. In 1942 he returned to the UK as a communications pilot. |
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| 1626 | OTT, Frank. Air Power at Sea in the Second World War. 144p., illus. Yeovilton: Society of Friends of the Fleet Air Arm Museum, 2005.
Accounts of the major carrier actions are interspersed with a lively series of reminiscences. |
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| 1627 | OUGH, John. Crumbs! [viii], 170p., illus. Burnstown, Ont: General Store Publishing, 1999. ISBN: 1894263022.
An autobiography. He joined the FAA in 1943 and trained in Canada then flew Seafires in the Pacific. |
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| 1628 | PHILLIPS, Richard. Naught For Your Comfort. 239p., illus., index. Grayshott: Corsair 1V, 1997. ISBN: 0953228908.
An autobiography covering his service with 888 and 1850 Squadrons. |
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| 1629 | POPHAM, Hugh. Into Wind: A History of British Naval Flying. xvi, 307p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Hamilton, 1969. ISBN: 0241017718. Over one-third of this excellently produced history outlines the role of the FAA in WWII. |
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| 1630 | POPHAM, Hugh. Sea Flight: A Fleet Air Arm Pilot’s Story. 200p. London: Kimber, 1954. After training, the author joined Indomitable in late 1941. A work-up in the West Indies was followed by a move to the Indian Ocean, the invasion of Madagascar and the PEDESTAL convoy in the Mediterranean. A mid-air collision then led to a period in plaster. In July 1943 he joined Illustrious for the invasion of Italy; this was followed by training as a deck landing officer and spells on Campania and Striker before moving to the Admiralty. A very well written account. |
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| 1631 | POUNTNEY, Cyril. Uncle's War in the Fleet Air Arm. 155p., illus. Penzance: United Writers, 1986. ISBN: 0901976997.
The rambling reminiscences of a Swordfish pilot, known as Uncle because of his age. He volunteered in 1939, served in the UK until 1941, when his squadron went to Ark Royal. After her sinking he went to the replacement pool in Ceylon where he was shot down by a Japanese fighter. This was followed by a spell in the Naval Air Repair Yard in Nairobi, Army cooperation in Madagascar, and then in 1944 a posting to the Air Accident Prevention Section at the Admiralty. |
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| 1632 | RAWLINGS, John D. R. Pictorial History of the Fleet Air Arm. 208p., illus. London: Ian Allan, 1973. ISBN: 0711004366.
A brief 80-page history is followed by a selection of photographs. |
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| 1633 | RHODES, Christopher Stewart. Flying Kiwis: New Zealanders in the Fleet Air Arm 1939-1945. 381p., bibliog., illus. Kilmore East, Vic.: Christopher Rhodes, 2004. ISBN: 192089201X.
A biographical guide. |
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| 1634 | ROBERTSON, D. Those Magnificent Flying Machines: A Pilot's Autobiography. 160p., illus., index. London: Blandford, 1984. ISBN: 0713714026.
He learned to fly in 1928 then went to Canada. He joined the FAA in 1939 and after service in the Trials Unit joined 807 Squadron flying Fulmars. In December 1942 he joined 809 Squadron on Victorious. In 1943 he went to Boscombe Down as a test pilot. He was finally seconded to Supermarines where he worked on the development of the Seafire. |
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| 1635 | ROBERTSON, Don. The Urge to Fly: From Stick and String to Jet Age. viii, 199, [5]p., illus., index. London: Quiller, 1996.
The autobiography of a professional pilot. After a chequered youth, he joined the FAA in 1939 and by 1940 was in fighters. He joined the newly formed 807 Squadron and took a flight to join Pegasus in Belfast. She sailed as a kind of Q ship against Condors with several convoys in 1941 and with some success. He was soon back at Yeovilton but was posted to Duxford to join the Naval Air Fighter Development Unit. In December 1941 he joined 809 Squadron at Hatston and served with them on Victorious, covering Russian convoys. He returned to Vickers Armstrong to help in the development of the Seafire and after nine months there moved to Boscombe Down as a test pilot. The book finishes at the end of the war. A helpful but slightly vague account. First published in 1984 by Blandford as Those Magnificent Flying Machines |
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| 1636 | ROOKE, Derek Senogles. Almost into Wind: One Man's Firsthand Look at the Operation of the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy in World War II. v, A–D, 486p., illus. Germantown, Tenn.: Guild Bindery, 1993. ISBN: 1557930406.
An autobiography.. |
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| 1637 | ROTHERHAM, G. A. (Hank). It's Quite Safe Really. 304p., illus. Belleville: Hangar Books, [1985]. ISBN: 0920497071.
He was sunk on Courageous, served in the Admiralty, was at Dakar and Madagascar, commanded RNAS stations including the infamous Twatt, served in Ceylon and ended the war in command of Trouncer. |
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| 1638 | ROUND-DOWN. Wings of the Wind: Recollections of the Fleet Air Arm in World War II. viii, 90p., illus. Portsmouth: Auribus, 1988. ISBN: 0951254804.
A readable memoir. The author volunteered in 1941, aged 17. After training in the UK and Canada he flew Seafires to cover the D-Day landings, then sailed for the Far East in Ruler. He next served with the British Pacific Fleet in 1844 Squadron, flying PRU Hellcats from Indomitable and later Formidable. |
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| 1639 | RUTTER, Owen. The British Navy's Air Arm: The Official Story of the British Navy's Air Operations. 248p., illus. Washington: Infantry Journal, 1944.
Published in the UK by the Ministry of Information as Fleet Air Arm. |
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| 1640 | SADLER, George E. Swordfish Patrol. 132, [iv]p., frontis. Wrexham: Bridge Books, 1996. ISBN: 1872424538.
He joined up in February 1941. After training as a pilot in the UK and Canada he joined 833 Squadron as supernumerary at Machrahanish early in 1942, then joined 835 Squadron at Lee on Solent. The squadron went to Hatston and late in the year joined Activity - but almost at once were returned to Machrahanish. More short moves followed until December 1943 when the squadron joined Nairana. He saw active service with her for a year, but late in 1944 went to a monoplane conversion course then became a flying instructor until demobbed. A good account of a war filled with much danger, much flying but little action. |
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| 1641 | SAYER, Les, & BALL, Vernon. Tag on a Stringbag. xi, 340p., bibliog., illus., index. Borth: Aspen, 1994. ISBN: 1899386009.
An oral anecdotal set of memories from Torpedo Air Gunners. |
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