FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1939
1939 - 1528.PDF
MAY I8, 1939 The R.A.F. To-day. FLEET AIR ARM A fine impression of our newest air craft carrier H.M.S. Ark Royal. She has a complement of i ,550 officers and men. The machines shown are Sword- fish. THERE is hardly sufficient space here to describe in very great detail the many ramifications of the great change-over of the Fleet Air Arm from the control of the Air Force to that of the Navy. This is, of course, a gradual process, but the past year has seen wide augmentation of personnel and equipment. An Admiralty Fleet Order defines the term '' Fleet Air Arm '' as covering all Naval, Marine and Air Force personnel at Fleet Air Arm shore establishments under naval administration, forming part of a Fleet Air Arm squadron or unit; embarked, for whatever purpose, in naval aircraft; detailed to assist in work involving, or con nected with, the handling or maintenance of Fleet aircraft, or other work for which Fleet Air Arm officers may be responsible. Aerodromes at Lee-on-the-Solent, Ford (Sussex), Worthy Down (Winchester), and Donibristle (Fife) have been transferred from the R.A.F. to the Navy, and accom modation in the form of aircraft carriers is being correspondingly increased. At the moment the Navy has the Courageous and Glorious (22,500 tons, 30^ knots), the new Ark Royal (22,000 tons, 30I knots), the Furious (22,450 tons, 31 knots), the Eagle (22,600 tons, 24 knots), and the Hermes (10,850 tons, 25 knots). Additionally there is the old Argus, which has been fitted out as a "mother ship " for Queen Bee wireless-controlled target aircraft. Carriers under construction are the Illustrious, Victorious, Formid able, Indomitable and Implacable, all of 23,000 tons. The Fliuht " photograph. Blackburn Skua dive-bomber- fighter monoplanes at Brough before delivery to a Fleet Air Arm squadron The Blackburn Roc (left) is a two-seater Fleet fighter, very similar to the Skua, fitted with a multi - gun power - driven turret.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
