On 3rd April 1944, the Fleet Air Arm launched its biggest carrier strike of WW2 against the German battleship Tirpitz – and failed to sink her. Consequently, the Royal Navy’s most numerous aircraft, the Fairey Barracuda, has been judged, not least by the Navy’s official historian, an operational failure. In the Indian Ocean, the Eastern Fleet carried out a number of carrier strikes against Japanese land targets in the Summer of 1944. Such was the Barracuda’s performance in tropical climates that it was seemingly replaced by the US Grumman Avenger. Failing to score in Europe and relegated to the bench in the Far East, the Barracuda has attracted an unfavourable reputation. The renowned naval test pilot, Eric Brown, christened the Barracuda the Navy’s ‘albatross’, whereas he judged the Avenger to be “one of the truly great shipborne aircraft”. However, Brown’s opinions were rarely dispassionate or subtle.
Using declassified primary source material, including operational records, Admiralty policy papers and contemporary personal accounts, this talk will offer a revised assessment of the Barracuda’s operational history, highlighting crucial aspects which have been either overlooked or were not in the public domain. It will show, perhaps, how wide of the mark some previous assessments have been and consequently how the Barracuda’s negative reputation deserves to be revised.
Action Required – Face to Face Meetings at The Army Reserve Centre. To attend a face-to-face meeting at The Army Reserve Centre:
- The Army Reserve Centre. You should arrive at The Army Reserve Centre, Poundbury Road, Dorchester DT1 1TA (300 yards down road running between Top ‘O Town car park and The Keep Museum) between 6.00 and 6.30 pm. Parking available.
- Payment. There is a suggested donation of £5 for attendance. Please note that payment is by cash only.
· Attendance Limit. Seating is not limited, but in order to put out the correct number of chairs, please email: jameskrporter@aol.com early