The Fairey Swordfish was an aircraft out of time. Obsolete by the time it was called upon in the Second World War, it was an aircraft of contradictions. Kept in service because her replacement would have taken too much time and resources to build in numbers, the Swordfish was thrown into battles where she performed admirably. And also where it should never have been.

Joining me today is author and historian Matthew Willis, whose new book on the Swordfish looks to delve into some of those contradictions. And explain why it stayed in service when the aircraft that were intended to replace it, like the Albacore, never got to the frontline in the numbers that the Swordfish did.

If you are in the UK, you can buy a copy of Matt's Fleet Air Arm Legends: Fairey Swordfish at the Boney Abroad Podcasts Bookshop on the link below. 10% of every sale goes to supporting the podcast, and Bookshop.org will donate to help independent bookshops in the UK too. Get your copy here

Buy Matt's Fleet Air Arm Legends: Fairey Swordfish at our Bookshop here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11015/9781911658498
Buy Matt's Fleet Air Arm Legends: Supermarine Seafire at our Bookshop here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11015/9781911658290

Check out Matt's website at: https://navalairhistory.com/
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