Description

At the outbreak of the Second World War, British naval aviation was in the midst of chaos and confusion. While the design of aircraft carriers had rapidly advanced, there were few naval aviation and maintenance personnel, few naval air stations and no high performance naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm was heavily dependent on RAF personnel, and signing up was complicated, often taking several months. But as the war progressed, the FAA soon became an essential force in the fight for victory - its huge success was one of the major achievements of the Second World War. Fleet Air Arm Handbook is the most comprehensive review available of the Royal Navy's air power during the war years. Starting with a brief history, the book progresses with a full war diary of all the major operations in a gripping narrative account. We see the different functions of the Fleet Air Arm - to protect the essential supplies brought by merchant ships, and their close support of sea and ground forces, both from carriers at sea and bases ashore. In-depth analysis reveals what life was like in the Fleet Air Arm during the war; the food, accommodation, training, activities, uniform, and the relationship between aircrew and their shipmates aboard the Royal Navy's carriers. Each squadron, wing and carrier air group is listed along with their operations and locations. This is a well-researched tribute to an important force and is essential reading for anyone interested in naval or aviation activity during the Second World War.