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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 0804.PDF
Despite the multitudinous virtues expected of the Barracuda, the finished aircraft is still reasonably clean when everything is tucked up. THE FAIREY BARRACUDA prize of achievement in air action denied the Barracuda. The Barracuda perforce had to remain an ace up the Admiralty's sleeve for long months. In industry and in the Services, the delay had a curious vicious-circle effect. In industry the Barracuda came to be regarded as a Never- Never machine. It was delayed in 1940 by having other types jumped ahead in the materials priority and labour priority lists. It became as/ill-starred as certain R.A.F. types for which, however, arsmoke screen could be spread by talking of other aircraft, whereas the Admiralty—in a praiseworthy economy of effort—had only the one '' white hope" which could not be cloaked. To counter adverse propaganda, some of it unquestion ably of enemy origin, the workers on Barracuda were asked to maintain faith. At the instigation of the Chief Naval Representative in the Ministry of Aircraft Production pilots, observers and informed commentators with operational ex- perience pfHfre'~Fleet~A~iT",Ascm visited key factories. Many of tjiem confidently foretold"""the success the Barracuda wduld have. Their words had a snowball effect. Gradually opinion v/reredy The Italian fleet was ripe for a smashing attack adra JHe idea filtered tbrough^industry that one day When '' landing-on '' the Youngman type flaps are lowered to their fullest extent and act more or less in the manner of ordinary split flaps. The ship is H.M.S. Jfavager, one of the escort carriers. It speaks well for the design that, in spite of its size and weight, the Barracuda can operate from a small deck.
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