On 8/15/2015 4:50 PM, Charles Lindbergh wrote:
>
>> On 8/9/2015 2:28 PM, Charles Lindbergh wrote:
>>> On Sat, 08 Aug 2015 22:07:28 -0700, "Bob (not my real pseudonym)"
>>> <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sat, 08 Aug 2015 13:04:52 +0000, Charles Lindbergh
>>>> <spirit@stlouis.invalid> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 8/8/2015 2:35 AM, Byker wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Fairey Swordfish - A remarkable aircraft:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Although Swordfish numbered no more than 27 aircraft, they sank an
>>>>>> average 50,000 tons (50,800 MT) of shipping every month. During one
>>>>>> month, they sank a record 98,000 tons (99,572 MT). Swordfish attacked
>>>>>> enemy convoys at night although they were not equipped with night
>>>>>> instrumentation. The risky night missions were necessary to avoid German
>>>>>> fighters which encircled the island of Malta by day. On June 30, 1940,
>>>>>> Swordfish completed a raid attacking oil installations at Augusta in
>>>>>> Sicily."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.aviation-history.com/fairey/swordfish.html
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Ricardo, I read the article you posted. I was shocked the Swordfish holds the record for sinking more tonnage
>>>>> than any other allied aircraft during WWII.
>>>>>
>>>>> I am guessing this had a lot to do with circumstance as opposed to any remarkable capabilities of the
>>>>> aircraft, what is your perspective on this?
>>>>
>>>> I would suggest the remarkable capabilities of the crews.
>>>
>>> Yeah, I'm sure that's it! ;-)
>>>
>>
>> There's interesting comment today by way of a letter to one of our
>> national newspapers where the Swordfish gets a mention, as does the
>> Pacific War of which little is heard about the substantial British
>> contribution:
>>
>> "Sir,
>>
>> The "Forgotten Fleet" and its aircraft will be remembered today when a
>> vintage Royal Navy Swordfish biplane leads the fly-past over Horse
>> Guards Parade in London as part of events to commemorate the 70th
>> anniversary of VJ Day.
>>
>> The British Pacific Fleet was the largest strike force ever assembled by
>> the Royal Navy*** and it fought alongside the US Navy in 1945. Aircraft
>> of the Fleet Air Arm undertook the largest ever raid in aviation naval
>> history on the oil fields at Palembang in Sumatra, and British naval
>> aircraft carried out raids upon Japan itself.
>>
>> It's most appropriate that a Swordfish, which saw action in every year
>> of the war, will represent not just the forgotten fleet but the
>> oft-forgotten Fleet Air Arm too.
>>
>> We should all take a moment today to remember those who fought the
>> Japanese Empire. Most who survive are nearly 90 years old or more. They
>> deserve our salute.
>>
>> Lt-Cdr Lester May RN (retd)
>>
>> *** To put that into context, Britain provided three-quarters of the
>> warships and landing craft for the D-Day landings in Europe!
>>
>
> Interesting article and comments. Is your point that the Brits contributed significantly to the war against
> Japan? It would be logical for them to have done so considering the Japanese, on 8 December 1941(local time,
> which was before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor), attacked the British in Malaya.
>
> Did I miss your point?
>
In a word, no. But I was also highlighting how large the size of British
Pacific Fleet strike force must have been in 1945 when one considers the
British contribution to the D-Day landings.
--
Moving Things In Still Pictures
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