Category: Fleet Air Arm

BRISTOW, Alan. Alan Bristow: Helicopter Pioneer. The Autobiography. 384p., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2010. ISBN: 1848842082.

He was sixteen the day war broke out. Despite winning a place at Cambridge he decided to cut short his schooling and join the Merchant Navy.  After twice having his ship sunk under him he applied and was accepted for pilot training with the FAA which he undertook in Canada.  At the conclusion of the course he was one of a group of 4 selected to train as helicopter pilots (in the R4 Hoverfly).  The war ended before he had the opportunity to fly on operations and he was demobilised in 1946.  Most of the book covers his hugely successful post-war career.

A good general survey.

Wallace joined the FAA in 1940 and after training joined 831 Squadron with Indomitable in September 1941. After action against the Japanese and a brief spell in Kenya she went to the Mediterranean but was damaged in the Pedestal convoy action. The author returned to the UK and joined 18 Squadron of the RAF, which promptly moved to Algiers. He was badly wounded in December 1942 and returned to the UK. After a period as an instructor he joined 812 Squadron flying Barracudas in June 1944. The Squadron operated from Vengeance, which was based in the Mediterranean.

Wellham joined the RAF in 1936 and transferred to the FAA in 1939. He was appointed to 824 Squadron in Eagle and served on the China Station and in the Mediterranean, memorably taking part in the attack on Taranto. He left her for a series of temporary appointments before becoming Commander (Flying) on Biter in the North Atlantic. In August 1944 he transferred to Empress in the same role. He saw out the war with her in the Pacific.

Wilson was on Glorious in 1939 then helped cover the BEF withdrawal. In 1941 he joined 804 Squadron working on CAM ships and successively survived the sinking of Patia, Michael E., and Springbank. In 1942 he took over as CO of 834 Squadron on Archer. He next worked on developing MAC ship tactics and after sailing with them joined the staff of FO Carrier Training at Largs.

A general account, profusely illustrated.

An enjoyable if slight history of "the great headline stories," much of it recalled through the memories of participants.

The author had an active career, serving in Ark Royal in 1940–41, including the Bismarck hunt; in Victorious and Formidable in 1941–42, in Icelandic waters and with the Eastern Fleet respectively. In 1942–43 he served on liaison and training duties in the Mediterranean and took part in the Salerno landings. After a spell in India he returned to the UK as a squadron commander. An enjoyable gossipy book which reads like a letter to an old friend.

Aims to be a comprehensive review. Starting with a brief history, it continues with a full war diary of all of the major operations. Looks at the food, accommodation, training, activities and uniform as well as the mens' character. Gives a view of the aircraft, squadrons, naval air stations and aircraft carriers, battleships and cruisers involved. The book ends with a review of what is available at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton.

First-hand accounts of flying the FAA's most famous World War II aeroplane.

A long overdue biography of the naval ace who flew with Bader in the Battle of Britain. Later he joined 880 Squadron and operated against Norway and in WS convoy support from Furious. In late 1941 the squadron joined Indomitable, working up in the Clyde and West Indies before joining the Eastern Fleet for the attack on Madagascar, then taking part in the Pedestal convoy. He next returned to Yeovilton as a flying instructor. In late 1943 he was posted to 15th Fighter Wing as Wing Leader based on Illustrious, which joined the Eastern Fleet. He was killed in a tragiclanding accident at China Bay in Ceylon in April 1944. The book questions the blame officially attached to him.

A biographical dictionary which usefully records the careers of the little known handful of FAA pilots who were loaned to Fighter Command for the Battle of Britain. A supplementary volume was published in 1992 (ISBN: 0947893253).

He joined the FAA in 1939. He volunteered for CAM ships but soon transferred to 807 Squadron on Ark Royal. After her sinking, the squadron moved to Argus and campaigned in the Mediterranean before returning to the UK to re-equip with Seafires. In 1944 he was part of the Naval Mission to the US. Most of the book is concerned with his record breaking flights in the Fairey Delta in 1952. Reprinted by Grub Street in 2000 (ISBN: 1902304438).

BURKETT, Molly. Once Upon A Wartime VI. 96p., illus. Grantham: Barny Books, 1998. ISBN: 0948204699.

Wartime recollections. Pat Kingsmill was a FAA pilot and describes being shot down during the Channel Dash. Another chapter describes the experience of a merchant seaman sunk in convoy HX229.

COOPER, W. H. Life in the Fleet Air Arm 1944-1947.80p., illus. [n.p., author, n.d.].

Reminiscences of a Ldg.Hand/PO fitter who served initially in the Orkneys, then sailed to New York in the Queen Mary where he awaited draft before moving to Brunswick, Maine for the formation of 1851 Squadron.  The squadron embarked in Thane for passage to UK and disembarked in Belfast before Thane was torpedoed in the approaches to the Clyde.  The author was on board and describes this incident.  The squadron re-embarked in Venerable and sailed for the war in the Far East as part of the 11th Carrier Group.  Venerable arrived too late to participate in the war before VJ-day but was involved in mopping-up operations in Hong Kong.

COSH, Robert. Inside and Out: My Experiences in the Royal Navy (1939-46) and HM Prison Service (1948-81). Bognor Regis: Woodfield, 2005. ISBN: 190395391X.

His wartime experiences included surviving PEDESTAL, in the course of which his ship Eagle was torpedoed and sunk. He served with both 801 and 809 Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm and had a lively war in the UK, Egypt and the Mediterranean before his eventual demobilisation in 1946.

CULL, Brian. Gladiator Ace: Bill “Cherry” Vale, the RAF’s Forgotten Ace. 256p., bibliog., illus., index. Yeovil: Haynes, 2010.ISBN: 9781844256570.

Vale fought in North Africa, Greece and Crete and had thirty claimed kills. This sympathetic biography has peripheral material on naval and FAA involvement in these campaigns.

DEARLE, David. In the Shadow of the Commander. viii, 92p., illus., index. Lewes: Book Guild, 1997. ISBN: 1857761545.

A biography of the author's uncle, Commander Eric Winthropp Woodruff, using collated diaries and letters. He qualified as an Observer and served in both World Wars, retiring at the end of the latter.  Mostly about WW1.

BOYD, George. Boyd’s War: the Story of a Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve fighter during the Second World War. 127p., illus., index. Newtonards: Colourpoint, 2002. ISBN: 1898392064.

After his pilot training in Canada and Scotland, Boyd served as a naval gun spotter on D-Day and later served in the Pacific. He was present in Tokyo Bay when McArthur took the Japanese surrender. Well produced but rather bland.

BRAND, Stanley. Achtung! Swordfish!  Merchant Aircraft Carriers. 220p., illus. Leeds: AMS Educational, 2009. ISBN: 1860298052.

An autobiographical account of life as a Swordfish pilot on MAC ships. His war was full of danger if not action.

CAMERON, Ian. Wings of the Morning: The Story of the Fleet Air Arm in the Second World War. 288p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1962; New York: Morrow, 1963.

A good account of the major wartime actions of the service. Reprinted by White Lion in 1972 (ISBN:  0856176850).         

DAVIES, Richard Bell. Sailor in the Air: The Memoirs of Vice Admiral Richard Bell Davies. x, 245p., illus., index. London: Davies, 1967.

He joined the RN in 1901 and retired in 1941. Only the last eight pages are then concerned with Admiral Davies’ varied career in WWII. Although he retired in 1941, he almost immediately returned to service as a Convoy Commodore before being appointed to command the escort carrier Dasher.  After taking part in the TORCH landings he became Captain of the trials escort carrier Pretoria Castle and retired for the second time in October 1944. Reprinted by Seaforth in 2008.                               

DOE, Mervyn Spencer. A Rough Passage. viii, 199p. Durham, Pentland, 1999. ISBN: 1858217288.

Memoir of man who started life in an orphanage aged 4. He joined the RN and was recruited as a cook, serving in RNB Chatham before being drafted to HMS Cumberland, in which he served in the South Atlantic during the early part of the war. She was involved in the Graf Spee operation) and the abortive Dakar operation when Cumberland was hit (12 killed). He transferred to the FAA as an Engine Mechanic.  He was drafted to 776 Squadron, HMS Blackcap at Speke Airport, Liverpool and later to the staff of Max Horton ( C-in-C Western Approaches) to maintain personal aircraft..  Later 776 Squadron moved to HMS Ringtail Woodvale where he was advanced to Leading Air Mechanic.  After VE Day he was drafted to HMS Waxwing Dunfermline for HMS Colossus which was fitting out at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead for service in the British Pacific Fleet.  After the atom bombs were dropped his draft to Colossus was cancelled and he was sent to HMS Merlin, Donibristle i/c the maintenance of Fireflies and Corsairs.  He was demobbed in 1946.

Spencer was called up in 1942 and joined the FAA. Trained in the United States he joined the new 853 Squadron at the end of 1943. In the spring of 1944 they joined Arbiter at Vancouver. She returned to the UK in the summer and after time at Machrahanish the squadron joined Tracker and that autumn began to support Arctic convoys. After one round trip they transferred to Queen operating against Norwegian targets. The squadron was disbanded at the end of May 1945 and the crews dispersed.

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.

An oral anecdotal set of memories from Torpedo Air Gunners.

The short tragic career of Brownrigg, who died in a crash-landing in 1944, aged 20. A popular and Christian lad, this is a moving witness to his short life.

The autobiography of a pilot and test pilot in the FAA during WW2 and post war. He joined up in 1942 and trained in the USA. There are accounts of his time with various RN units including 879 squadron on board Attacker in the Mediterranean, as a POW and as Deck Landing Control Officer on Chaser in the BPF.

A first brief attempt to record the mainly wartime history of this group of men.

He joined up in 1939 and after training served mainly in the Mediterranean. The book contains much information on the exploits of other TAGs.

Biographies of seven pilots, one from each of the major combatants. The British, Italian, and Japanese choices have naval relevance.

The RAF comes in for much criticism in this account. Best known for the sinking of the cruiser Köningsberg in Norway, this lovingly recreates the Skua's design and career – albeit with a number of factual errors.

A pictorial outline which presents the salient facts and describes the various aircraft.

He joined up as an Air Mechanic and spent an enjoyably recalled war at a series of bases in the UK.

In July 1940 he joined the RCN and immediately moved to England for training, but by December volunteered for the FAA and by September 1941 had won his wings. 1942 and 1943 were spent moving round various African bases, but in 1944 he moved to a frontline squadron and joined 1841 Squadron on Formidable based in northern waters. He saw action againstTirpitz. By early September they were ordered to the Far East, but did not leave until January 1945. As part of the BPF they saw hard action and he was awarded a posthumous VC for an attack on Japanese ships on August 9th 1945. A no doubt accurate account which gives little sense of the man.

JACKSON, Robert. Strike from the Sea: A Survey of British Naval Air Operations 1909–69. [x], 234p., illus., index. London:  Barker, 1970. ISBN: 0213001586.

A general account with about half devoted to WWII.

An extensively illustrated brief account.

A massively comprehensive reference work covering the squadrons, planes, helicopters, commanding officers, bases, codes, trophies, carriers, and equipment of the FAA throughout its 60 years.

A well-illustrated and well-researched operational history of the much loved Stringbag, including particulars of each plane. A revised second edition was published in 2000 (ISBN:0304357111).

A fascinating mine of data, listing the history and fate of each FAA plane, but also listing pilot fatalities in training. Comprehensive and exhaustive.

An engaging and picaresque autobiography with a full account of his active wartime career as he volunteered in 1939 and slowly moved from TAG to pilot.

A short general narrative history of British naval aviation is followed by comprehensive details of all aircraft types which have served with the RNAS or the FAA. An essential reference tool with many later editions, entitled British Naval Aircraft Since 1912.

An excellent and well illustrated brief account of the aces of the Fleet Air Arm.

The first proper history of the Fleet Air Arm, in which a professional historian uses recently declassified material to argue that the RN's adjustment to air power was not as poor as is often supposed.

Over 2,000 Corsairs were delivered to the FAA from 1943 onward and their employment over Norway and the Pacific is briefly described in a book mainly concerned with American exploits.

An expansion of letters to his parents covering a training period overseas in 1942–43.

HILLIER-GRAVES, Tim. Heaven High, Ocean Deep: Naval Fighter Wing at War. xii, 212p., bibliog., illus., index. Oxford: Casemate, 2019. ISBN: 9781612007557.

From April 1944 to August 1945 the 5th Fighter Wing based on Indomitable fought many long, intensive battles in the Pacific. Based on personal memories, logbooks and a wide range of sources, this is a good account of and by those who fought.

MEREDITH, Anthony. The Pilot and the Commando: The Interlinked Lives of Two Young Christians in the Second World War. ix, 207p., bibliog., illus. Bloomington, IN; Authorhouse, 2011. ISBN: 9781467877619.          

The story of two childhood friends who became related by marriage. They joined up in 1940 from University. One went to No. 2 Commando and fought in Sicily, Italy and the Balkans. The other joined the FAA, was sunk with Ark Royal and served in Colombo and East Africa, including Madagascar before returning to the UK and the Service Trials Unit, alternating between service at Crail and on Pretoria Castle. The book is fuller on the commando experience.

ROGERS, Anthony. Air Battle of Malta: Aircraft Losses and Crash Sites 1940-1942. 220p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Greenhill, 2017. ISBN: 1784381888.

Of more than 1,000 aircraft destroyed during the battle, many fell into the Mediterranean or were written off in landing, and at least 200 crashed among the Maltese Islands. This book documents all known aircraft crashes that occurred in and around Malta and Gozo during 1940-42, describing in detail the circumstances of each loss and what became of the pilot or crew, including some who even today are officially listed as missing. An excellent piece of research.

CRITCHLEY, Bert & DAWSON, William. HMS Ringtail: Royal Naval Air Station Burscough 1943-1946. ‘Ringtail – Retail’. 23p.illus.+ 11 loose pages. Burscough: [authors], 2017.

Mainly concerned with the creation of a memorial at the site of the base, now in part a retail park. Also has some contemporary pictures and memories.

JEFFORD, C. G. Observers and Navigators: and Other Non-pilot Aircrew in the RFC, RNAS and RAF. xiii, 274p., bibliog., illus., index. Shrewsbury: Airlife, 2001. ISBN: 1840372753.

Traces the rise of the first generation of non-pilot aircrew between 1914 and 1919, examines the way in which in peacetime the RAF rapidly dispensed with its observer officers and their reinstatement in 1934, and looks at the rest of the century including the "1946 Aircrew Scheme". Has full coverage of FAA and Coastal Command. A revised and much expanded second edition was published by Grub Street in 2014, ISBN: 1909808024.

JONES, Ben. The Fleet Air Arm in the Second World War: Volume II - 1942-1943, The Fleet Air Arm in Transition – The Mediterranean, Battle of the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. (Publications of the Navy Record Society, Vol. 165). xxix, 618p., bibliog., illus., index. Abingdon: Routledge for the Navy Records Society, 2018. ISBN: 9780815355076.

An excellent set of essays accompanies each section of well-chosen and edited documents. This volume focuses as much on policy and planning as on action.

BURGHAM, Allen Russell. Wearing Wings: the War Memoir of Lt. Cmdr Allen Russell Burgham, DSC, MID, CD RNZNVR (Ret’d), RCNVR (Ret’d). e-book. 40p., illus. [n.p., c.2010].

The brief memoir of a New Zealander who joined up in 1941 and served with distinction on carriers in the Atlantic and Arctic.

GREAT BRITAIN. Ministry of Information. Fleet Air Arm. 128p., illus. London: HMSO, 1943.

A popular account of the role of the Fleet Air Arm in WWII from Norway to Torch. US title: The British Navy's Air Arm. A facsimile reprint was published by Uncovered Editions in 2001 (ISBN: 0117025399).  

BUCKLE, Norman. I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety: The Diary of a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II. 90p., [n.p.], C. Murray, 2012. ISBN: 9781519046123.

This short, annotated diary, edited by his daughter, records his extraordinary experiences and the on-going banalities of everyday life on a naval air-base in Sierra Leone..

MILLS, N. H. Fleet Air Arm memories: Tales of the Brummagem Bastard. 114p., illus. [n.p.], R.S. Pyne, 2017. ISBN: 978152024767.

Norman Harry Mills did not suffer fools gladly. Nicknamed the Brummagem Bastard, he was a fanatical Ockers (Ludo) player as well as a Communist. His memoirs include the Pedestal Convoy, Operation Torch when he was attached to the naval battalion with the first army in North Africa (1943); the Sicily and Italian campaign of 1944 and dealing with kamikazes in May 1945. Edited by his grandson.

ROUSSEL, Mike. Palembang and Beyond. 272p., bibliog., illus. Southampton: Little Knoll Press, 2018. ISBN: 9780993507885.

An account of the final stages of the Pacific War for the Royal Navy. In large part based on the recollections of three survivors of 849 Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm.

HOBBS, D. A. The Dawn of Carrier Strike and the World of Lieutenant W. P. Lucy DSO RN. 400p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Seaforth, 2020. ISBN: 9781473879928.

Focused on the development of the FAA in the inter-war years despite a lack of resources. This excellent account is enlivened with descriptions of the growing career of Lucy at this time, including detailed accounts of his wartime missions, mainly in Norway, where he was killed in action.

BALLANCE, Theo. The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. xx, 492p., illus., index. Staplefield: Air-Britain Publishing, [2016]. ISBN: 9780851304892.

There are brief histories of every Naval Air Squadron - including Australian, Canadian and Dutch squadrons where these have been numbered in the 700- and 800-series - aircraft- and helicopter-capable ships, bases, Battle Honours, Trophies and Awards, detailed sections on helicopter Flights and notes of many of the Schools, Sections and Units that have supported the Fleet Air Arm for more than eight decades, illustrated throughout by more than 800 photographs and over 180 squadron, ship and unit badges.

WATERMAN, J. The Fleet Air Arm History. 104p., illus. London: Old Bond Street Publishing, 1970.

A booklet produced to celebrate sixty years of naval aviation, this is a straightforward brief account, with good coverage of WW2.

ROUSSEL, Mike. Pacific Avengers: The Story of a Fleet Air Arm Pilot's Training and Service with 857 Squadron in the British Pacific Fleet. xiv, 229p., bibliog., illus. Southampton: Little Knoll Press, 2015. ISBN: 9780992722074.

The story of Sub Lt (A) Geoffrey Wright and his service during the final phase of the Pacific War.

KONSTAM, Angus. Sink the Tirpitz 1942–44: The RAF and Fleet Air Arm Duel with Germany's Mighty Battleship (Air Campaign, 7). 96p., bibliog., illus., index. Oxford: Osprey, 2018. ISBN: 9781472831590.

A succinct account of the various raids.

HOBBS, David. Taranto and Naval Air Warfare in the Mediterranean, 1940-1945. 456p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Seaforth, 2020. ISBN: 9781526793836.

A comprehensive account of the Mediterranean sea war as seen from a Fleet Air Arm perspective. An excellent account from this expert in the subject.

CULL, Brian & GALEA, Frederick. 806 Naval Air Squadron: The FAA’s Top-Scoring Fighter Squadron of the Second World War. 216p., bibliog., illus., index. Stroud: Fonthill Media, 2019. ISBN: 9781781557501.

Formed in early 1940 and equipped with Skuas and Rocs it say service in Norway and at Dunkirk. Re-equipped with Fulmars the squadron then served in the Mediterranean on Illustrious with great success.

1770 Squadron Diary 10th September 1943 to 24th January 1945.  [143p.], illus. [n.p., n.d.]

A reproduction of the handwritten diary, copied from an original held at the FAA Museum at Yeovilton and with half a dozen photographs added apparently by a former squadron member. The Squadron was based at Yeovilton in 1943 and this records a largely humdrum existence of training on Fireflys, soccer matches, hockey matches and more training.. The squadron moved to Orkney and in May 1944 joined Indefatigable and attacked Tirpitz before joining the Eastern Fleet.

FRASER, Ian. Personal Memories of World War II. 107p., [n.p.]: sifi publishing, 2012. ISBN: 9781480056749.

An autobiography. Aged 20 he joined the FAA in 1939. After training he was seconded to the RAF 252 Squadron in late 1940 where he flew Beaufighters. The squadron soon moved to Malta the Crete then Egypt where he was shot down. After almost six months in hospital he was sent to South Africa to recover before returning to the UK. He then returned to active service in Malta with 828/830 Squadron on night operations. Rising to command the squadron. In mid-1943 he was shot down over the Sicilian coast. After six days in a dinghy he was rescued by a German ship. He was transferred to Stalag Luft III as a POW and was imprisoned for the rest of the war.

JONES, Ben. The Fleet Air Arm in the Second World War: Volume 1- 1939-1941, Norway, the Mediterranean and the Bismarck (Publications of the Navy Records Society, Volume 159).  xxix, 593p., bibliog., illus., index. Aldershot: Ashgate for the Navy Records Society, 2012. ISBN: 1409452573.

 An excellent set of essays accompanies each section of well chosen and edited documents.

MILLS, Charles J. It's a Dog's Life: a Biography. 83, [5]p., illus. Cobham; Tee-line, 2006. ISBN: 0955326109.

An understated story of life in the Fleet Air Arm.

HOBBS, David. The Fleet Air Arm and the War in Europe, 1939-1945. xii, 340p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Seaforth; Annapolis, NIP; 2022. ISBN: 9781526799791.

An excellent clear and well-illustrated operational history by a leading authority.

WILLIS, Matthew. Blackburn Skua and Roc. 160p., bibliog., illus., index. Sadomierz: Stratus, 2007. ISBN: 8389450445.

Looks at the development, design and service history of the Skua dive bomber and its variant, the Roc. It saw very active service in the first two years of the war before being relegated to second line tasks as newer designs emerged.

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.

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.

SPENCER, Alan. The Great Adventure: A Contemporary Account of a Naval Pilot's Training in World War II. viii, 104p., illus. Woking, author, 1991. ISBN: 0946771839.

An autobiographical account. He volunteered in 1941 and this is a record of his training using a lightly edited diary kept at the time.

HARRIS, Richard & WILLIAMS, Barrie. Goodhart: The Life of Rear Admiral Nicholas Goodhart, CB, Legion of Merit, FRAeS, RN (1919 - 2011). 180p., illus. Bognor Regis: Woodfield, 2012. ISBN: 1846831466.

Goodhart entered the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth in the Hawke Term in 1933. He then attended the Royal Naval Engineering College at Keyham, He served as an engineering lieutenant, and saw action in the evacuation of Crete in 1941 on Formidable He then served on Dido escorting convoys to Malta and the assaults on Italy over the next two years. He undertook pilot training in Canada in 1944 and joined the Fleet Air Arm and served in the Pacific Fleet. He had a distinguished career as a Test Pilot after the war and retired as a Rear Admiral.

HIGGS, Geoffrey. Frontline and Experimental Flying with the Fleet Air Arm: “Purely By Chance”. 256p., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2010. ISBN: 1848842627.

Higgs joined the navy at the beginning of 1944 under the 'Y' scheme.  After HMS St Vincent, his flying training was in Canada flying the Cornell and Harvard.  On return to the UK he was sent to the Fighter School at Yeovilton to fly Corsairs, with a short detachment to the Naval School of Air Warfare at St Merryn. His first operational appointment was to 891 Squadron at Eglinton flying the night fighter version of the Hellcat. With the end of the war in the Far East, a planned embarkation in Ocean was cancelled. Also covers his long and successful post-war career.

LUCAS, Laddie.  Wings of War: Airmen of All Nations Tell Their Stories, 1939-1945. 409p., illus., index. London: Hutchinson, 1983. ISBN: 0091542804.

A wide mix of readable anecdotes with a good smattering of FAA and Coastal Command material. An abridged version was published in 2003 by Ted Smart entitled Voices in the Air 1939-1945 (ISBN: 0091901332).

PIKE, Richard. Alfie’s War: A Fleet Air Arm Officer’s Exciting Exploits of HMS Illustrious in Greece and Crete. 189p., illus., index. London: Grub Street, 2012. ISBN: 1908117419.

In effect a second biographical volume giving an account of his experiences in the Eastern Mediterranean.

SCHOFIELD, B. B. Stringbags in Action: The Attack on Taranto 1940 & The Loss of the Bismarck 1941. 192p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Maritime, 2011. ISBN: 184884388.

Originally published as two volumes in the 1970’s as part of the Sea Battles in Close-Up Series from Ian Allan, these are reformatted into a single volume.

SMITH, Malcolm. Voices in Flight: Fleet Air Arm. Recollections From Formation to Cold War. 288p., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2013. ISBN: 1781590923.

Personal reminiscences based on the archives of the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

ADLAM, Henry. The Disastrous Fall and Triumphant Rise of the Fleet Air Arm From 1912 to 1945. 240p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Aviation, 2014. ISBN: 9781473821132.

An entertaining and controversial critique by a former FAA pilot.

Published in the UK by the Ministry of Information as Fleet Air Arm.

CHEESMAN, V. B. G. 1770 Naval Air Squadron. Norway to the Pacific in H.M.S. Indefatigable. 24p., illus. [n.p., c.1946].

A souvenir booklet for squadron members. The C.O. gives a brief history of events and operations and the pamphlet is filled with reproduced watercolours by one of its members, Val Bennett.

OMMANNEY, Francis D. Flat-Top: The Story of an Escort Carrier. 63p., illus. London: Longmans Green, 1945.

A propaganda account of life aboard a “Woolworth” carrier on an Arctic convoy. The author was the Meteorological Officer when she sailed north.

SMITH, Peter C. Combat Biplanes of World War II. xii,324p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2015. ISBN: 9781783400546.

The well known author provides potted histories of seventeen of his favourite biplanes. It covers most of the warring air forces ad in the case of Britain ranges from the Swordfish and Albacore to the Walrus and Vildebeest.

IREDALE, Will. The Kamikaze Hunters: Fighting for the Pacific, 1945. xiv, 386p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Macmillan, 2015. ISBN: 9780230768192.

An account of the training, deployment and missions of the young FAA pilots who fought with the British Pacific Fleet.

GUINN, Gilbert S. & BENNETT, G. H. British Naval Aviation in World War II: The US Navy and Anglo-American Relations {International Library of Twentieth Century History, 11). xii, 217p., bibliog., index. London: Tauris, 2007. ISBN: 9781845113711.

A good account of both the policy and practice underlying the training of British aircrew in the United States under the so-called Towers Scheme.

GAFFNEY, Patrick. Sons of the Seas: Royal Naval Stories and Tales of Foreign Seaports, from 1910-1966. iv, 205p., illus. Kibworth Beauchamp: Matador, 2016. ISBN: 9781784624347.

A rather curious book in which the author tries to describe the naval career of a father he never met thanks to the complicated domestic life of his parents. It covers his father’s service in World War I and his service in WW2 in paddle minesweepers and LSTs, the latter mainly in the Mediterranean. It then covers his brother’s war service in the FAA, while the second half of the book covers his own peacetime service in the RN. Poorly organised and edited, it does however give a real feeling for the impact of war on individuals and on family life and the strains this caused on relationships.

 HOBBS, David. HMS Jackdaw: Royal Naval Air Station Crail. 36p., illus. Crail: Crail Museum Trust, 2014.

 The base was commissioned in 1940 as a torpedo-bomber training base. The base, the training courses and the aircraft are well, if briefly, described.

MACKAY, Ron. Britain’s Fleet Air Arm in World War II. 311p., bibliog., illus., index. Schiffer: Atglen, PA., 2005.  ISBN: 0764321315.

A well illustrated and competent general history.

HAMILTON, Duncan. Touch Wood. ix, 229p., illus. London: Barrie & Rockcliff, 1960.

He joined the FAA in 1939 and after training was sent to Norway. His ship was sunk en route but he was rescued by Curlew and promptly sunk again. On reaching Norway he was soon wounded in action and returned to the UK for five months convalescence. Once recovered he went to 771 Squadron for communications and ferrying duties, followed by a base job at Hatston as Senior Air Engineering Officer for the Home Fleet. He later went to Port Reitz near Mombasa in a similar role. He tells an engaging tale of his incident-packed war, despite the backroom role. He went on to become a racing driver. Reprinted by Duncan Hamilton in 1990, with fuller retelling of his adventures. (ISBN: 0951694502.

MacKAY, Charles E. Beardmore Built HMS Argus 1914 to 1947: The World's First Flat-Top Aircraft Carrier. 175p., bibliog., illus. Glasgow: A. MacKay, 2017. ISBN: 9780957344358.

The history of the carrier, ex Conte Rosso, built as an Italian liner, and of the development of the Fleet Air Arm from 1914. Includes Russian operations, the Chanak Crisis, Shanghai Intervention, Aircraft Deck Landing Training at Toulon and the Clyde, Operations Benedict and Torch and the invasion of Europe and it details the resupply of aircraft to Malta in Club Runs. This is an in-depth study covering the complete history of her evolution to her scrapping at Inverkeithing. Has over 300 rare photographs.

The third volume of the poet's autobiography covers his war service. He joined the FAA as a radar mechanic in 1941. After training he was sent to East Africa. He next returned to the UK as a Petty Officer, was commissioned in 1943 and spent the rest of the war in a junior technical post in the Admiralty.

The Seafire was an aircraft adapted initially in haste to fill a large gap in the Fleet Air Arm's fighter inventory. The first Seafires were developed from the early marks of Spitfire, but although the structure was strengthened to absorb some of the landing loads characteristic of carrier operation, the airframe would exhibit some alarming failures; a trait that continued through the life of the type.

The rather dull memoirs of an Air Mechanic. He served ashore in the UK, then on Illustrious during her Mediterranean service. He was injured in the bomb attack which crippled her - and here his account is lively - then was hospitalised and served ashore in Egypt and Malta with 830 Squadron. In 1943 he returned to the UK and after leave and training joined 778, a trials and pilot conversion squadron. In July 1944 he was drafted to 804 Squadron which worked up in South Africa before joining Ameer which was based in Ceylon with the Eastern Fleet until war's end.

Aldergrove was a key Coastal Command Base in the Battle of the Atlantic.

He joined up as an Apprentice in 1941and this autobiography aims to set the record straight on the important role of Air Engineering personnel.

BF or Daddy as he was known, started his career at Dartmouth and then spent his early seagoing years in Hong Kong, Nagasaki and Hiroshima. His wartime experiences as a Fleet Air pilot aboard Glorious included the attack on Taranto and the search for the Graf Spee. In May 1940 he was loaned to Coastal Command and attacked German tanks in a biplane, defended Allied troops over Dunkirk and was one of the few naval officers to fight in the Battle of Britain. After a period as a test pilot at Boscombe Down he became one of only four Wing Leaders in the Royal Navy. His successful leadership led to many more successes, not least the crippling of Tirpitz. Tragically he was killed in action in July 1944, one week prior to promotion and a job ashore.

A selection of photographs from the files of the Imperial War Museum. Concentrates on the planes.

Le Page flew with the FAA from 1940 to 1945, mostly in 816 Squadron flying carrier-based Swordfish. He saw action mine-laying off Cherbourg, hunting U-boats, escorting convoys in North Atlantic and in the Arctic and covering D-Day. Much of his early war years were aboard Dasher and he was lucky to be ashore when the carrier mysteriously blew and sank in the Clyde. This decimated 816 Squadron which was eventually re-equipped and then worked up to operational readiness to fly from Tracker.

Reminiscences of the Association and its members' war service.

Focuses on the experience of the Telegraphist Air Gunners, notably in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Recollections of war service from 14 of those Telegraphist Air Gunners who were on 35 Course in 1942.

Although American he joined the FAA from university in 1939. After a year of training he was posted to the Middle East and the Western Desert Fulmars of 805 Squadron. He was then posted to 821 Squadron and antisubmarine patrols and bombing. The squadron transferred to Malta and Foster then returned to the UK early in 1943. He next joined 841 Squadron on antishipping strikes in the Channel but soon went to the US for further training. In 1944 he took command of 849 Squadron and sailed for the Far East to be based in Ceylon and then Victorious. With TF57 he took part in the raids on Sumatra and Palembang then with the Pacific Fleet on Sakishima Gunto. In mid-1945 he was posted to an appointment in the Admiralty. An interesting if understated memoir.

The story of British naval flying from aircraft carriers, from its conception in World War One to date. It includes the types of aircraft and the men who flew them, the carriers and their design evolution, the theatres where they served and their notable achievements and tragedies

He began his merchant career in 1933 and was called up from the RNR in 1939. He swiftly gravitated to the FAA and by 1940 was a fighter pilot first on Ark Royal then on Formidable, including action at the Battle of Matapan. He next took over 802 Squadron on Audacity and survived her sinking. He then went to the US to take charge of the British pilot training programme and stayed in the RN for a distinguished postwar career.

An irreverent account of a naval career in the FAA in which the author rose from bluejacket to Lieutenant Commander, flew 67 operational sorties, and met and conquered most of the hazards to which wartime pilots were exposed, notably in MAC conversions and in Nairana on the Murmansk Run.

A short ruminative autobiographical tale, from training in Argus to service with the BPF.

Green volunteered for the FAA in 1939 and served as an Observer. He was sent to 831 Squadron and flew in Albacores. 831 joined Indomitable and served in the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean. After she suffered battle damage in the Pedestal convoy she returned to the UK, while Green was appointed naval liaison officer at RAF Bone in Algeria. He served there for almost two years before returning to the UK as an instructor.

A history of naval aviation. Only the last 30 pages cover WWII.

A biographic line shoot. After a full and enjoyable account of his training in Canada, Hadley describes his career in 822 Squadron in Tain, India, and Ceylon. After a short spell of active service on Victorious he moved to 831 Squadron again in Ceylon. He was sent back to the UK to train as a Deck Landing Control Officer. In 1945 he served in Queen and briefly in Ocean as the war ended.

Another enjoyable account of service in the Fleet Air Arm, full of anecdote and clear technical explanations. The author describes his career from volunteering in 1940, through training in the US, to service in the Middle East and finally to joining Illustrious, with which he served in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, rising to the eminence of squadron commander.

Describes the history of the Fairey company before describing the design and operation of these two aircraft. Beautifully illustrated.

An extensive photographic review of the legendary Stringbag.

A photographic history of the famous FAA Stringbag.

The author's autobiography. The first third covers his wartime career. He joined the Fleet Air Arm, and after service in Audacity became a test pilot in 1942. Reprinted in 1978. A fully revised edition was published in 2006 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, ISBN: 0297845659.

An illustrated history of the last propeller-driven fighter in the FAA. Although usually identified with the US Marine Corps, 2000 served in the FAA from 1943 onward.

An engaging memoir. He entered pilot training in 1941 at Gosport and went on to fighter training at Yeovilton. He joined 890 Squadron that October. They brought Wildcats back on an escort carrier, then joined Illustrious for an Arctic convoy trip followed in mid-1943 by the Mediterranean and support for the Salerno landings. After returning to the UK and leave, they went to Ceylon in London. After training on Unicorn they joined Atheling. After a bout of appendicitis he transferred to 1839 Squadron on Indomitable and a period of intense operations with the Pacific Fleet. In April 1945 he returned to the UK and joined the new Colossus as a Deck Landing Control Officer and flight leader with 1846 Squadron, returning in her to the Far East.

A roll of honour in the form of a spreadsheet with full details of each loss.

Barringer joined the squadron as Adjutant on its formation in 1942 and later became its CO at the ripe old age of 23. The Squadron served briefly in Jamaica and then joined Furious in Virginia for one convoy. Then came a frustrating 18 months of working up in 16 different places with only one convoy aboard Battler. At the end of 1943 the Squadron joined Nairana and spent the rest of the war there covering 19 convoys, many in the worst Arctic weather. An engaging and modest account.

Beattie joined the FAA in 1939 and joined Ark Royal the following June, flying in Swordfishes. He saw action at Oran, Dakar, Cagliari, and on other Force H operations. In 1941 he was posted to Victorious and was killed with his pilot in the night attack on Bismarck off Iceland on May 24.

A hagiographic account concentrating on the Bismarck action and the Channel Dash action, in which he was killed.

The only volume to appear in this projected series is a well-illustrated description of 800, 826, 849, and 899 Squadrons and a description of the two carriers which bore the name Eagle.

A mainly operational history relying heavily on illustrations of British and US experience.

An excellent history of the development and career of this naval version of the Spitfire, which served from 1941–1954 with great success. A new edition, subtitled The Spitfire that Went to Sea, was published by Greenhill in 1989.

The author was at one time Chief Naval Test Pilot at Farnborough. Descriptions of the aircrafts' handling characteristics and war history are enriched by tales of his experiences. There is one chapter on each class of aircraft, most of which were published as individual features in Air International. Reprinted by Airlife in 1987, ISBN: 0906393876 .

A detailed design and operational history of this successful all weather strike aircraft which saw service in both Northern waters and the Pacific, and throughout the 1950s.

A review of Bader's career which also follows the exploits of those who flew with him. There are excellent accounts of the FAA pilots who flew with him in the Battle of Britain and of the subsequent careers of "Jimmy" Gardner and Richard Cork, the leading FAA ace.

Describes a 10-day leave spent in Toronto and Iowa after flying training in Kingston, Ontario.

Opens up a little known area with a brief account of RN policy and history on ratings and makes an attempt to list all such pilots. A revised and expanded edition was published in 2009. (ISBN: 0956252400).

Moore joined the FAA on the outbreak of war. After a series of illnesses and accidents he was grounded and joined the Admiralty Press Unit. He became a well-known writer about the rural scene after the war.

A relentlessly technical but fascinating account of the work of the Royal Aircraft Establishment and of the development work of the Catapult Section in particular.

With a private income derived from Walker's whisky, Rob Walker led a life of gilded youth and was already well-known in motor racing circles before the war. It is his love of motor racing that is the main theme of this biography. He volunteered for the FAA in December 1939 and his training and various scrapes and escapades are recalled with relish. In 1941 he was posted to the Middle East and flew from Dekheila in support of Tobruk in most operational types. Next came a variety of postings which are fitfully described, towing drogue targets for the RN at Haifa, as FDO on the cruiser Cleopatra until her sinking and as Hangar Control Officer on the carrier Victorious. He served with her in the Far East until war's end.

He joined the FAA in mid-1940 and trained in the UK and Canada and in mid-1942 was posted to Egypt flying Albacores in the desert.. At the end of the year he moved with 821 Squadron to Malta. After eighteen months he returned to the UK and a bout of poor health, but in mid-1944 began to work up with 814 Squadron Barracudas. They sailed in Venerable to join the BPF arriving as war ended.

Includes an interesting chapter on his nonoperational service career in the FAA.

Crosley joined the FAA in 1940 and became a fighter pilot. After training he joined Eagle and spent a period in the Mediterranean where he was sunk in her during the Pedestal convoy. He joined Biter for Torch and Dasher for JW53. Time in training squadrons was followed by spotting for naval gunfire at the Normandy landings. He joined Furious as CO of 880 squadron, with the Home Fleet. In September 1944 they joined Implacable and in March 1945 sailed for the Far East and the final assault on Japan. A long but enjoyable memoir.

An in-depth account of FAA crew experiences during World War II, with information taken from official records, memoirs and interviews. This volume covers operations in Northern Europe, Norway, the North Sea and the North and South Atlantic.

Accounts of the major carrier actions are interspersed with a lively series of reminiscences.

An excellent illustrated guide.

He joined the FAA in 1940 and after training as an Observer joined 827 Squadron, flying Albacores. Almost at once they joined Indomitable serving in the Far East and Mediterranean. After she was damaged in the Pedestal convoy and returned to the UK, he was attached to 114 Squadron RAF as a naval liaison officer. He went to Algeria with them as part of the Torch landings. He then joined Archer flying A/S patrols in the Atlantic. He then volunteered to be an air gunnery officer and after training at Whale Island served at Inskip and Donibristle. In 1945 he returned to Whale Island as an instructor.

Masters sailed for the UK in 1941 as part of a draft for FAA training. This took place in the UK and Canada and in April 1943 he joined 897 Seafire Squadron which soon moved to Unicorn for the Salerno landing. He transferred to 809 Squadron and in March 1944 was nominated for training as a batsman. After training he went to Ceylon and later Australia and joined Indefatigable in early 1945. In July he joined 1845 Corsair Squadron, but was back in New Zealand by September. The final third of the book consists of anecdotes and brief memoirs from other New Zealand FAA pilots.

Despite the title, the engagingly modest memoirs of a pilot who joined the Reserves pre-war. After training he joined Ark Royal and probably fired the torpedo which hit Bismarck's rudder. The rest of his wartime career is very briefly described.

A notably well-illustrated reprint of a work first published in 1982. All the FAA types are described and illustrated.

The achievements of WWII form the bulk of the book.

An autobiography. A New Zealander, he sailed for the UK in 1940 to join the Fleet Air Arm. After training he served in the Arctic, Mediterranean and as a test pilot in the USA. His post war life is also described.

Contains 55 captioned photographs in a booklet which accompanied an exhibition in the National Maritime Museum, marking 50 years of naval aviation. Just over half covers WWII.

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.

This improbable looking aircraft saw gallant service in many roles throughout the war, most notably in the early years, and this is engagingly described.

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.

He was called up in 1942 and trained as a Radio Mechanic. He was based first at Carnoustie then in Northern Ireland before joining Trumpeter, followed by Furious and Indefatigable. His squadron then joined Speaker and travelled to the Far East, where he finally served on Indomitable before rejoining the police force in 1946. Really a series of anecdotes each of a page or so in length.

An autobiography. He joined the FAA in 1943 and trained in Canada then flew Seafires in the Pacific.

An autobiography covering his service with 888 and 1850 Squadrons.

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.

A brief 80-page history is followed by a selection of photographs.

A biographical guide.

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.

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

An autobiography..

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.

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.

A long and rambling, but lighthearted and amusing, account of war service as a pilot in the FAA, who was almost always on the fringes of the action. He saw service in East Africa, Ceylon, and Burma, ferrying replacements in the Fleet Replacement Pool, and was regularly in and out of scrapes.

A semi-autobiographical work of fiction depicting life in a Swordfish squadron in the Mediterranean in 1940-41. A weak story but strong on detail and atmosphere.

A well captioned photographic record with much on WWII.

The author grew up on a farm, served in the volunteer reserve and joined up in 1942 to fly with the FAA. After initial training in the UK he trained as a fighter pilot in the USA. In 1944 his Corsair Squadron joined Atheling for Ceylon. After four months at Minneriya he joined Victorious, still with 1838 Sqdn. But after several operations transferred to 1833 Sqdn on Illustrious in Capetown. And spent the remainder of the war with her and the BPF, although being hospitalised with tuberculosis just as the war ended.

A semi-autobiographical novel. He joined as an engine fitter in the FAA in early 1939 and saw active service from the Arctic to the Mediterranean.

He joined up in 1942 and after initial training at Gosport was sent to Canada for further training. Training continued throughout 1943 until he qualified as a fighter pilot. After a few weeks of target towing he joined 808 Sqdn at Lee-on-Solent flying Spitfires then Seafires. His first combat role was gunnery spotting over Normandy, then he moved to be a batsman on the training carrier Argus. He then joined Tracker on Arctic convoy duty followed by Nairana as assistant batsman. Just as the war ended he was posted to the Pacific Fleet in a flying role.

The author joined the FAA in 1939 and after training was posted to Victorious, from which he flew to hunt the Bismarck. He then joined Rodney's Walrus crew and served there for some time, notably in the Pedestal convoy. In September 1942 he transferred to night fighters. In July 1944 he moved on as Air Staff Officer to the escort carrier Thane and finally in January 1945 went to naval headquarters in Ottawa. An enjoyable account.

An excellent piece of nostalgia with beautifully clear reproductions of both ships and planes.

Yet more nostalgia, again with beautifully clear reproductions of both ships and planes.

A well illustrated account of the growth of the "air train" which supported FAA operations in the Pacific. Opens up a neglected area.

An autobiography. He lost both legs in a flying accident early in 1939, but like Bader struggled back to operations. He transferred to the RAF and was briefly a POW after crash-landing in France.

A mixture of pictures, text, and photographs with leading details.

An attempt to improve the public image of the FAA. The book explains how it operates and recounts some of its successes.

He volunteered for the FAA in September 1939 and after training and a spell in a second-line squadron soon joined Esmonde's squadron and was almost at once hunting the Bismarck from Victorious. He spent much time on her and Ark Royal with Force H at the "Men's End" of the Mediterranean. A series of tragedies left him in and out of hospital in 1942–43 and he spent the rest of the war as a DLCO training officer. A patchy and spasmodic account.

An early but useful history, one-third of which covers WWII.

A brief laudatory pamphlet on this famous aircraft.

John rose to become First Sea Lord, but his career is inextricably linked with the FAA. In September 1939 he was serving in York in the Western Atlantic and stayed with her at Norway and in the Mediterranean. He left just before she was sunk to take over FAA aircraft design and procurement, involving a lot of time spent in the US. In late 1944 he took command of Pretoria Castle and just before the end of the war moved to the new carrier Ocean.

Recollections of a FAA pilot who served in the desert in Albacores, did further training in the US, then flew Avengers from Illustrious and Victorious with the BPF. A little leaden, but of interest.

Takes selected incidents, mainly well-known, and uses them to illustrate the role of air power at sea. About half concern WWII.

A mixture of history and reminiscence from a close-knit group which served on Indefatigable with the Pacific Fleet.

The author was sunk in Courageous, laid mines and hunted U boats over Northern European waters, harried E-boats off Dunkirk, flew from Illustrious in the Mediterranean including the attack on Taranto, flew antishipping strikes from Greece and Malta, crash-landed in North Africa, and was imprisoned by Vichy. After release and recuperation he joined Implacable only to suffer a further accident on her deck in the Pacific. Most enjoyably told. US Title is To War in a Stringbag. Reissued by Cooper in 1988.

A curiously flat account of an adventurous career. Lithgow joined the FAA in March 1939. After training he joined Ark Royal in June 1940 and took part in the Mers-el-Kebir action and in subsequent Mediterranean actions, including Spartivento, the bombardment of Genoa and the Bismarck chase. The squadron then returned to the UK to re-equip with Albacores then joined Formidable in February 1942. After a spell with the Eastern Fleet she returned home and the author then went to Boscombe Down to test fly the Barracuda. From this he went to the US in 1944 to the Naval Air Test Center and from this grew his subsequent career as a test pilot.