Swordfish W5856 Restoration

This is the story of the marathon 26 month restoration of the world's oldest flying Fairey Swordfish W5856 filmed at the Brough factory by British Aerospace in the 90's.
What an extraordinary aircraft the Fairey Swordfish turned out to be. Born at the end of the biplane era this was an aircraft totally unsuited to fight the war in which it became embroiled. Despite being deemed obsolete at the onset of hostilities it not only outlived aircraft designed to replace it but it gave sterling service virtually unchanged in all theatres throughout the war.
This reliable and manoeuvrable aircraft much loved by its crews had it's major honours at Taranto and in the sinking of the Bismarck but it also played a huge part in the Battle of the Atlantic and with the Arctic convoys as well as campaigns across the globe.
Help keep thisw and many other aircraft flying in the skies over Britain by supporting Navy Wings through our website navywings.org.uk/support-us/ and for more information about the Swordfish click the link here navywings.org.uk/portfolio/sw...
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[@BigLisaFan]

My father was an engine fitter (mechanic) and worked on Swordfish and other aircraft while with the Fleet Air Arm. Said it was hard work cranking up the inertia starter and glad when the pilot was able to start the engine. If not, crank it up again. When the engine started, the prop wash almost blew you off the wing. He liked getting models of the aircraft he worked on. Was in the process of doing a Swordfish for him but he died before it was completed. I know he would have liked watching this video. This one's for you, Dad and thank you for all your did and your stories. A great job all involved can be proud of.

[@dodgeplow]

you should build a model for him

[@BigLisaFan]

@@dodgeplow I'd love to build a model for him. I was in the process of doing a Swordfish as a surprise but he died before it was finished. I built him a Corsair, Hellcat, Wildcat, Barracuda, Avenger and perhaps the one he treasured the most, "his" carrier, HMS Atheling, that brought him home. He actually had tears in his eyes and he looked at it for hours from every angle that Christmas morning and the stories he told. Exercises and Sunday Divisions (prayer service) on the deck, running 4 times around the flight deck, pointing out where a gunner he went to school with was stationed. Urinating off the stern by the guns once which would have been punishable if he'd got caught. Where he boarded and left the ship, where his hammock would have been slung. It was his pride and joy that model. I have it now. Wonder what will happen to it when I die?

[@dodgeplow]

@@BigLisaFan It will have served its purpose. If you have children of your own they will have their own things to remind them of you. I have things of my own from my parents. No need to worry about those things when you're gone.

[@BigLisaFan]

@@dodgeplow No children but that's ok. My worries and problems are all over at that point. We bring nothing in, take nothing out and only leave memories behind.

[@nigeldewallens1115]

@@BigLisaFan I know I do not know you, but my mum died aged 95 last year and mum was a WRAF! I write to you as I have, I suspect, like you, lots of memories! We can both treasure them and I know that I thanked my mum like you did with him! I say thank you for what he did too! Doing his sterling bit for our future! Thank you ever so much!

[@buckshot704]

The classic British habit of matter-of-fact modesty is evident from the numerous interviews. For example, when describing a near-impossible task, the person generally remarks, “...yes, I do suppose it was a bit of a challenge, but the lads sorted it out in the end...” 👍

[@rustykilt]

The kings of understatement... gotta love em.!

[@fil19653253]

seguro que no ,deben haber estado muy borrachos para haber entendido una pregunta, modestia inglesa ? tal cosa no existe su nombre correcto es propaganda inglesa ,sigue comiendo chuletas de puerco con pure de papas y un monton de ginebra

[@samrodian919]

Demo do us a favour sir and translate it for us, and I will get just as angry as you !

[@fil19653253]

@Demo tranquilo nativo ,es lo mismo que hacen ustedes cuando piensan que todos los mexicanos son individuos con un sombrerote y que estan todo el dia recargados en un cactus, nada personal ,esto va para los nativos ingleses no para los inmigrantes que creen que el tener un pasaporte ingles los hace realmente ingleses

[@fil19653253]

@@samrodian919 mejor aprende español, learn spanish fat buddy

[@user-sd4pj7vy1q]

It was very interesting for me to watch the process of restoration of this airplane as for 1/72 model collector. Now I am building this plane from Airfix kit. It is fa great job. Many thanks. Greeting from Russia.

[@tomnorcross824]

Татьяна Аргентова I am interested that that you appreciated this historical aircraft. Good luck with your model construction.

[@petehall889]

I made an Airfix Swordfish model in the 1960s. I'm sure you will build an excellent model. Best wishes from England!

[@rthistlethwaite3430]

@@tomnorcross824 ENJOYED YOUR EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU ... ROY THISTLETHWAITE.

[@bigsparky8888]

WE ARE IN AGREEMENT...😃

[@bitemykrank1970]

One of the MOST Beautiful Aeroplanes ever built. I was amazed at how small the hub on the propellor was, it didn't look like much more than 1/4" steel holding the blades on.

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

It's really hard to imagine the guts it took to fly one of these into an anchored battle fleet with literally hundreds of guns trying to shoot you out of the sky while chugging along at about 100 mph with a big-ass torpedo under your butt. Lest We Forget!

[@DC_ABC_123]

Well to be fair, the guns were also shit too :D

[@davidelliott5843]

These planes were so schidt that they were used through WW2. Thebes often came back full of holes but were quick to repair.

[@guaporeturns9472]

Love this plane

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

@@DC_ABC_123 It'd be like riding a bike through a cloud of insects with your mouth open, not something you want to do twice!

[@dinshawmuncherjee5123]

Trust you to keep that memory of a remarkable aircraft achieving the impossible against such odds and the undaunted men who flew them into battle. You deserve unmitigated praise and admiration from those who will not forget; Never!

[@foleyoni]

Following that successful test flight at Brough in May 1993 she was gifted to the Royal Navy Historic Flight and three years later was adopted by the City of Leeds, in tribute to the local companies that built Swordfish components during WWII. She now wears the City’s coat of arms and name on her port side just forward of the pilot’s cockpit. W5856 was grounded with corrosion in her wing spars in 2003 and her future looked uncertain. However with great generosity BAE Systems stepped in and constructed a new set of wings which were delivered in 2012. W5856 was finally restored to full flying condition and saved for the nation by a major grant from the Peter Harrison Heritage Foundation. The aircraft re-joined the display circuit in 2015, carrying a new paint scheme which depicts Swordfish of 820 Naval Air Squadron during the attack of the Bismarck in 1941.

[@scootergrant8683]

Oh now that's awesome to hear! You could maybe get away with minor corrosion in the tip of a rib but regarding a spar, forget it.

[@bigsparky8888]

OUTSTANDING...PRAISE AND THANKS FOR SAVING SUCH A KEEPSAKE...AGREED IN THAT SAVING SUCH TIMEPIECES IS LIKE SAVING A GOLD WATCH...KEEPING AUTOMOBILES AND MOTORBIKES OF OLD AS WELL...THEY WILL NEVER BE MADE AGAIN...THEY ARE APPRECIATED TO BE SEEN BY PEOPLE INTERESTED IN EARLY TECHNOLOGY...TRULY GIFTS OF NECESSITY...

[@bigsparky8888]

@Al Zheimer. BRAVO SIR...MY DAD SERVED IN THE US NAVY IN WWII HE SAW A SHIP BLOW SKY HIGH IN A HARBOR WHEN SOMEBODY DROPPED A SHELL RELOADING A MAGAZINE...CRAZY MISTAKE...TO ME...ALL INVOLVED IN FIGHTING EVIL, LIKE HITLER & THOSE THAT SYMPATHIZED WITH HIS MANIACLE MIND, ARE HEROS IN MY BOOK...RIGHT DOWN TO THOSE CARRYING GARBAGE CANS OUT TO CLEAN THEM...!!! FIGHTING EVIL IS A GROUP EFFORT...IT IS 2021 NOW & WE ARE IN A FIGHT TO STOP IT IN EVERY COUNTRY...I MUST POST THIS; TONIC WATER HAS QUININE IN IT...DRINK TONIC WATER & TAKE NO SHOTS...HIDEOUS MOVE ON FAUCHI TO HAVE COVERTLY GIVEN THE WU HAN LAB MONIES RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSE...GRRRRR

[@colcot50]

I sprayed the aircraft back in 94 when I worked at Yeovil dope shop. We sprayed it with the battle of Toronto colours, really enjoyed the deep strip down and bringing her back to her formal glory. Shout out to the others Loz, Lou, Rusty eat al

[@sabrekai727]

A great film, and a beautiful restoration. O7 to the lads who flew them, the greatest generation.

[@arthur36460]

It was never used as a cropduster. My father traveled to Canada and purchased this Swordfish ,transported it to Alabama, where he intended to convert it for cropdusting. He decided it was not practical . He did at this time convert a North American T-6 into a biplane for use as a cropduster! This Swordfish sat in our hanger at our house for about 2 decades. My brothers and I spent many hours in it playing, imaging we were WWll pilots.

[@jrgogol]

Wow, that's an amazing story! Do you have pictures of the T-6? That would be a great story for the North American Trainer Association magazine.

[@arthur36460]

@@jrgogol Dad said it had "Lift for Hell", and was an ok duster, but there were better aircraft. He flew a Bull Stearman for many years. If you do a search on the internet there are several of his pictures out there. If I can find his notes I will send them to you if you are interested.

[@bigsparky8888]

OH MAN...GREAT CHILDHOOD MEMORIES...I WOULD OF DONE THE SAME THING...FUN...

[@dennisroyhall121]

So what became of it eventually, did your father sell it on ( after all, he had invested in it including its deplacement, so he must have been conscious of its cost and eventual disappointment at it not being suitable for his original intention…he surely didn’t just break it up or let it rot after so much effort? Surely a story of interest in itself! )

[@DomboSpoons]

This is an amazing connection! My uncle Stan was a Swordfish pilot and W5856 was "his" plane. He spent his final years writing a book and fundraising towards it's restoration. I'd love to hear any more info you have on it!

[@jayc3110]

This film really makes you think. This painful reconstruction of something made 80 years ago. Makes you wonder how they produced thousands of these ready for battle so long ago. It was a remarkable achievement in that bygone era.

[@fergusmallon1337]

Production lines

[@redroostermcmlxxl]

What a fantastic show, thanks for the upload.

[@alivewithpassion]

29:07 - 29:17 brought tears to my eyes. RIP brave souls.

[@doronron7323]

Thanks for posting. A fitting tribute to all involved. It's incredible how these things were built so quickly and efficiently back then. Just goes to show how a team effort can come together and accomplish, both then and now.

[@dffabryr]

What a wonderful job, incredible job !!, thank you very much for sharing this video

[@zdenekoldrichmarek2867]

As a 15year old boy in the 50's I helped rivit panels on to an Edgar Percival EP 9 which was also more then half canvas covered with lots of plywood gussits etc. This has awoken nostalgia for me. Be Blessed All.

[@peterbrown1477]

Brilliant film ! Respect to all those brave lads who flew them.

[@bigsparky8888]

FANTASTIC...CRAFTSMEN ALL...GREAT JOB ON RESTORATION ...SHE IS BEAUTIFUL(I have this love for double wingers...man oh man!!!)

[@denniscoleman8802]

The plane that crippled Bismarck and led to it’s sinking👍

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

Absolutely, and without having a test run at HMS Sheffield they probably wouldn't.

[@ivorbiggun710]

Not to mention pretty much knocking the Italian fleet out of the War. For me I think it's greatest contribution was the day to day operation, often in foul weather, from MAC ships on convoy escorts. Not as 'glamorous', perhaps, as the spectaculars for which it is famous but essential to the winning off the War.

[@dgadver]

I believe a torpedo dropped from one of these planes hit the Bismarks rudder... the Bismark could only helplessly go in circles while being picked apart by Navy gunfire.

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

@@dgadver We still have one flying. Be afraid, be very afraid ;) live.staticflickr.com/6130/5940940836_75135718d9_o.jpg Betcha we could put a nuke on that. Absolutely certain we could. :)

[@gregbolitho9775]

thanks fairy, for the swordfish and others aircraft. thanks to builders, aircrews, ground crews an pilots even the aircraft carriers for delivering to where they were needed.

[@ervingoertzen7233]

Great film , like the Swordfish . Remember , Swordfish really helped save Britain

[@ivorbiggun710]

And the World. No Atlantic convoys, no liberation of Europe.

[@richardcreaser308]

I worked at British Aerospace Brough when the Swordfish was restored. I had an original VHS tape of the string bag reborn & copied it to a DVD. I live in Bangkok now & nice to see some familiar faces.

[@grahambaker1736]

A great documentary, a tribute to all those who rebuilt it, a nations gratitude to those who designed and built it during the war years, our countries deepest thanks for those who flew it, our thoughts for those that gave their lives when flying the Swordfish against the enemy.

[@GeorgeRuffner-iy7bm]

I worked on USAF aircraft for over 20 years and for several years with Martin-Marrietta at the MacD. Aircraft Company as a subcontractor on Apache's and never saw any of this kind of repair work. I find it fascinating to mutter the least. 👾

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

I love the stringbag. Thank you very much for sharing this great docu. Greets from the Netherlands, T.

[@keithlemon457]

Completed, it is a work of art comparable to any painting or sculpture ever produced by any artist anywhere at any time ! Well done to everyone involved!

[@MrMoggyman]

My uncle Oliver was a rear observer in these beauties. He later moved on to Fairy Fireflies, having trained on Skuas. I asked him what was the scariest moment he had in a string bag. His response was attacking German coastal shipping at night. They would undertake an almost vertical dive from around fifteen hundred feet. His job was to pull the toggles that released the bombs from the wing racks to fall on the ship. That's when things got scary. After the dive the Swordfish has a very shallow climb rate, plus the engine exhaust collector ring outlet glowed blue flame at night. You were lit up in the air, slow, and an ideal target. If you had not done a good job bombing the ship, their AA guns would still be active, and the scariest part, according to my uncle was seeing tracer bullets coming up to meet the aircraft, with six bullets between each tracer round pinging through the wing fabric, all the time wondering whether the next bullet had your name on it. My uncle always said that the Swordfish was a stable weapons platform, but a little slow, and being exposed was no joke. It was bloody cold up there. Fireflies had a heated enclosed area for the observer, and were much better according to my uncle. When asked was there ever anything he regretted about going in the Fleet Air Arm he said yes, one thing......he could not swim. He ditched three times, but still survived.

[@andyronayne7947]

I thought the Skua was long out of service by the end of WW2?

[@MrMoggyman]

@@andyronayne7947 The Skua was out of service by 1941. So maybe I got that wrong Andy. My uncle may have trained on them prior to going onto string bags on wooden deck carriers. I have adjusted my previous post accordingly. He certainly had a few hairy times in them. When talking about flying in them he would develop a nervous tick (a twitching) under his right eye. Yes, sometimes very hairy.

[@DomboSpoons]

​@@MrMoggymanMy uncle Stan was a Swordfish pilot and flew the plane in this film. I wonder if our two uncles knew each other?! Lots of stories from him...incredible bravery!

[@MrMoggyman]

@@DomboSpoons You know I never found out which carrier my uncle Oliver was on, and maybe your uncle and my uncle at some point did meet either during WW2 or after. During WW2 it was definitely a wooden deck carrier. Which one I do not know. Maybe I should check up my uncle Oliver's service record. After WW2 my uncle flew from land bases for a while, and he told me that his pilot was an Irish guy. Between them they had a few hair raising adventures even then. Like what? Don't know the aircraft, maybe a Firefly, my uncle in the observer position on a channel night patrol noted liquid on the floor. Here's his report, 'Yeah, splishy splash between my feet, what's that? I reached down and dabbed mi finger in it and brought it up to mi nose. Oh crap, it's engine oil. Erm, matey (talking to the pilot) it might be a good idea to return to base. I'm splishy splashing around in engine oil back here. Ooer, okey dokey we're off back. I'll call it in as an emergency. On the approach to the airfield the engine ceased. We were too low to bail out on parachutes. We were now a glider. Near to the airfield we were quite low and the prop tip hit a barn and ripped the entire engine, its cowling, and its mounting conduits clean off from the firewall, but despite not having any engine at all now, we were still a glider (laughs). Don't ask me how we were still flying straight after that, but we were. We crossed over a hedgerow at the border of the farm, and the next I knew, with no undercarriage, there was an almighty bump as we hit the airfield grass, and the underside hatch opened. The ground started coming in as the aircraft dug a furrow through the grass, the soil and grass sods filling the observer compartment by perhaps one third. On coming to rest the pilot immediately vacated the aircraft and played dead on the grass. He wanted leave, or a medal, or both! (laughs again) I was sat on grass sods and soil like some sort of farm animal. I had to wait for the airfield emergency crew to get me out. When they saw the inside of the observer compartment and that the engine was entirely missing the rescue guys said 'grief.' I said 'Moo' and they laughed. God knows why the aircraft did not go up in flames. Luck?! Maybe. We must have had plenty of aviation fuel still on board in the tanks.' Interesting! Up in the air in a Swordfish was drastically cold. Some tips. 'How to keep warm? Well you could pee yourself, but the relief was only short lived. After that you were even colder. But one ruse was to use some sort of stinking rum pellets. You kept 'em tucked away in your flight jacket wrapped in a handkerchief. The very smell of these would make you throw up over the side. After that your body naturally warms itself up to overcome the shock of it.' When asked about his exploits my uncle would always reply, 'Ah, balsa wood and bits of string. Stringbags they called em. Stable but slow weapons platform, could take a lot of damage, but my God cold and talk about antiquated.....WW1 vintage. Fireflies, ah inside and warm at last.' I once asked what was the most important thing to remember on a Swordfish, and his answer was, 'Making sure I knew where the rescue dinghy was, and that it was not damaged. I cannot swim, and we ditched three times. The aircraft always took a good time to go down. Just get out on the wing, get the dinghy inflated, get in it with your mates, and get away from the sinking aircraft. Of course in a swell or rough seas that could be a bit problematic.' When asked whether his rear gunner had ever shot anything down, his response was, 'Shot anything down? He spent most of his time trying not to shoot the tail off! But he was a handy lad when you were being shot at after a night bombing run at sea.' My uncle Oliver laughed about it later at my brothers wedding, but when he talked about close encounters with death he would suffer a nervous twitch on his face. As for glorifying the war his response was, 'Then it was war. We did our bit. But it is over now thank God. There were many brave men, some who lived and some who died. They should not be forgotten, but perpetuation of the war should finish. It is done with, and I can tell you that there is nothing glorious about a tracer bullet coming up to meet you.' My uncle Oliver finally succumbed to cancer, but he had had an interesting life God bless him.

[@michaelmoi654]

Brilliant ... truly a labour of love !

[@nicholasroberts6954]

Thanks for posting. I know my dad, as an WW2 RN Avenger pilot, now sadly passed, would have appreciated this programme. Worthy of a National airing on the Yesterday channel or similar

[@jimbradshaw4]

That was just brilliant - thanks so much for the upload!

[@bernardsmith1329]

Nice to see Johnny Owens, Trevor Brewin, Brian Rogers, Dave Fenton and others who I worked with at Brough and HOSM long before this documentry was made. Great times!!

[@spreadeagled5654]

I love those old “Stringbags.” 🇬🇧

[@MegaPeedee]

Wonderful. It was very moving to see this aircraft given a second life.

[@samrodian919]

I love that guy, Martin ( no pun intended) he's such a character and explains things so well. I'm going with my wife next Thursday to visit and watch the taxi runs of both Just Jane and the Mozzie I hope, provided Boris doesn't stick his oar in and ruin it! Really looking forward to it.

[@graemehannam3950]

Wow, absolutely amazing video of the restoration of a string bag, the pure nerve of flying one of these amazing aircraft against something like the bismark whilst it was throwing up a barrage of anti aircraft fire, the same with the Italian fleet, must have taken some real nerves, dedication and devotion, we owe so much to those band of dedicated men, who flew them lest we forget the sacrifice that they have made for us

[@tyrssen1]

Wow -- what a mind-shredding project! The testing alone is amazing. Hats off to all those older folks interviewed, that worked on the historic originals...and to the astonishing team that built this restoration!

[@neilfurby555]

Wonderful. Some lovely people, and such modesty. Great camerawork on that engine. Absolutely fascinating....thankyou.

[@tango6nf477]

It shows the pace of aircraft development spurred on by war, swordfish were still in production and action as jets were entering service! What a fitting tribute to those fantastic people shown in this program who built, restored and flew her, many of whom will sadly be no longer with us after 30 years..

[@tanyano9]

The pilots still around...

[@barrysheridan9186]

Great video. A wonderful moment when it took to the air.

[@bobsyeruncle4841]

superb dedication and workmanship

[@BumKnuckle]

I really really love the narration!

[@mikereger1186]

Oh, this was an unexpected treat pinging up in my KZbin recommendations ;)

[@frankdeluca5983]

Not too many Swordfish around anymore....years ago I had the pleasure of seeing Bob Spence's Swordfish in Muirkirk Ontario ...great little airshow he put on at his farm.

[@anselmdanker9519]

Thank you, she is a beauty

[@zedwms]

I've been wanting to see a good doco about the Stringbag, for some time. Love that plane. Thank you.

[@garynew9637]

Good plane, amazing crews.

[@gordonclark7632]

What a wonderful story and a credit to the men and women who rebuilt this airplane the type of which contributed so much in WW11

[@colingray1972]

My father served on the carrier, The Ocean in the Mediterranean and had a great admiration for this wonderful aircraft. The swordfish was a worry to the Germans with it's slow quiet speed on approach and attack. Getting back to the carrier wasn't an easy task, in fact, the swordfish couldn't return most of the time. Brave men, pilots.

[@306champion]

Beautiful, doesn't get much better.

[@WilliamJohnwon1522]

My word, we tend to get stuff built abroad now, it's marvelous to see Englishmen and English women and our Scottish cousins, who still have skills.

"To war in a stringbag" is a great book.

[@rogerramjet8964]

Thanks.biz

[@joylunn3445]

Second that.

[@hardyakka6200]

being an olde romantic I thought the woman sewing and doping that wing had a beautiful smile. don't tell her hubby I said that. Some planes just had what it took right from the start. The swordfish was one of those. Not to mention those very brave men riding it to war. Hats off Blokes and Sheilas a job well done. No BS either .

[@wkhelv]

Had the pleasure of watching Trish and Dave Fenton putting the finishing touches to the Percival Proctor IV that they rebuilt for Mike Collett/Classic Flight at Coventry a few years ago, absolute masters of their craft.

[@charleshart6992]

Excellent!

[@Ruckweiler73]

First heard of this aircraft when my US Army unit went to North Island New Zealand in '79 for cold-weather training and discovered and read Commander Lamb's book "To War In A Stringbag" about the combat use of this plane. Tremendous story and highly recommended, if you can find it.

[@stephenconnolly3018]

NZ for cold weather training. NZ is a sub tropical country I live in New Zealand at sea level it rarely ever snows.

[@Ruckweiler73]

@@stephenconnolly3018 Mate, come on up to Waiouru at about 2600 feet/792 meters and Mount Ruapehu 9176 feet/2797 meters and you'll see there IS considerable snow and ice in that neck of the woods. My unit, 1/21 Infantry from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii sustained frostbite and other cold weather casualties during our time there.

[@andrewbergeron6979]

Beautiful work men !!!

[@steverabson4049]

Watching masking tape come off is so satisfying. Not detracting from the aircraft itself which was amazing

[@tomhughes9639]

Always fascinated when it lifts off the ground. Majic.

[@montyzumazoom1337]

My father in law flew in one of these as an observer, and also flew it home if the pilot had too many Gins! He went into the sea twice, once taking off from a carrier when the engine died, down they went into the briny, picked up by a destroyer all they wanted was a large tipple😂 He ended up in the British Pacific Fleet fighting the Japanese. Ended up a Lieutenant Commander - full of joviality but never forgetting the sometimes awful serious side of things during his time in the war

[@BigLisaFan]

My father was down that way in Katakurunda and sometimes over in Trincomalee. Be funny if they were on the same naval station at the same time but it's a small world we live in.

[@string-bag]

My Dad helped restore the Stringbag at Rockcliff in Ottawa.

[@BigLisaFan]

I think that was the only airplane Ernie Simmons actually sold back to the government. LOL

[@r2gelfand]

I have enjoyed the book "To War in a Stringbag" by Cmdr. Charles Lamb several times and my admiration abounds for the men who flew and fixed these craft during WWII.

[@dennisroyhall121]

Thanks for that info’. …I must get a copy! Cheers!

[@dolvaran]

The Fleet Air Arm Museum at RNAS Yeovilton is a great day out. Well worth a visit if you can.

[@montyzumazoom1337]

J Highly agree on that👍

[@navigator100group2]

My Uncle who is still firing on all cylinders, was a Observer Gunner, Jokes that it could be a struggle to catch the Carrier in a head wind. He was born in 1924, and has just turned 96.

[@ivorbiggun710]

A vicar who used to live down my road was a navy chaplain during the War. He told me that when landing on in a strong headwind you could step off the aircraft on to the deck before it had actually landed!

[@robertjones-eb4xo]

Marvellous !

[@paulhammersley4562]

great video, thank you,

[@lst141]

Memory and recognition of those who came before us. After all we would not be here if it wouldn’t be for them.

[@hemihead68]

Totallly awesome

[@allancunningham7039]

Sometimes,in war,the newest system just doesn't cut it.This video makes the point very well,I should think!

[@dennisroyhall121]

Well said!

[@HarborLockRoad]

Just built a beautiful scratchbuilt from cardboard swordfish mk 1. Beautiful aircraft!

[@nonyadamnbusiness9887]

It would have been a documentary in itself to get these old birds in to supervise the restoration and show how it was done back in the day.

[@carlosenriquecrousillat2483]

Extraordinaire airplane !!

[@tanyano9]

Not seen this video in a very long time, I lived 1/2 mile from the Brough site and recall this rebuild, oddly having learnt to fly in recent years I'm good friends with the pilot seen in the clip taking her up for the first time....

[@johnmunro4952]

I remember driving past Duxford ( some years ago) and a swordfish flew above the road, it seemed to just hang in the air, almost like a kestrel.

[@burningb2439]

Back in the 70's I knew a man called Jack King who flew in the Swordfish during WW2 , but back then I was to young to ask anything about his time in them..still an interesting vid even though it's old..

[@joejoe2928]

Miraculous that the AIRMEN survived against modern anti aircraft weapons in WW2!!!

[@edsonjosecorrea4481]

Vidio lindo adorei que dedicação pra construir uma aeronave . Amei parabéns .

[@jeremytravis360]

My father flew Swordfish in the defence of Malta during the war. I have a photograph taken from one taken just after taking off from the deck of HMS Furious.

[@306champion]

I hope all those involved got a ride in it!

[@librero46]

Great project to restore the swordfish a big effort by everyone. i have just built the airfix kit. ( interesting to note not much health and safety in use, no masks for painting or metal polishing)

[@user-sr6ok7uz2n]

復元おめでとうございます。末永くお幸せに。

[@humancattoy7767]

She may be slow. She might be outdated, she doesn't have any clean lines, but she got the job done. I think she's beautiful.

[@kurtbjorn3841]

Wonderful documentary. I wonder if in 40 years, we will see similar people restoring a Tornado, an F-15, a Typhoon. Sadly, I suspect not.

[@afenijmeijer9027]

Amazing to think that one of these stopped Bismarck in her tracks

[@keithbrown2458]

A wonderful film and what a wonderful Airplane. I do hope that you find a dummy torpedoed to mount on it

[@offshoretomorrow3346]

It's occured to me that this anacronistic looking aircraft worked because it had the qualities of an attack helicopter. Not fast, but highly manouevrable and ideal for ship based operation. It can almost hover in a headwind!

[@lepanhman]

‘Well I just got in & flew’.Brave men flew these plucky little planes

[@tomnorcross824]

Panhandler13 % isn't that astonishing. I am sure he read the pilot's notes for the swordfish beforehand

[@zdenekoldrichmarek2867]

A Wonderfull Capt flier.

[@DaniloSilva-ye2el]

A grande façanha do Swordfish, na Segunda Guerra Mundial, foi ter acertado o leme do Bismarck.

[@wolfganggugelweith8760]

How amazing! What a nice enemy plane!

[@darinmckillop6196]

I knew the owner of one of three flying in the world and was restored just outside of Highgate Ontario Canada in an old school house. Bob Spence HS 554

[@ivorbiggun710]

She arrived in the UK last year. Currently being restored to airworthiness again.

[@darinmckillop6196]

@@ivorbiggun710 it's in the museum in Ottawa now

[@darinmckillop6196]

@@ivorbiggun710 I stand corrected it was sold and is in England. The last time I saw it was at Bob's airshow in Murkirk Ont and it only said royal navy

[@keithlemon457]

I bet there were many teary eyes the day it left. And many empty days afterwards. How do you follow restoring a living legend ?

[@MegaBoilermaker]

Bristol built some incredible engines and could (and did) teach Rolls Royce a lesson or two re Radial engines (especially Sleeve Valves).

[@ivorbiggun710]

@MichaelKingsfordGray Oh, I don;t know. I think the Centaurus could give it a run for its money.

[@WilliamJohnwon1522]

My mother, was a riveter, helping to build Avro Lancaster bombers, during the war.

[@johnjephcote7636]

Only 1990s. this film but already so charmingly dated. Very informative and enjoyable nevertheless!

[@MisteriosGloriosos922]

Great

[@AndieBlack13]

The primary reason the old Swordfish torpedo-bomber was so effective against the Tirpitz and other German vessels, is because it WAS an old plane. The German anti-aircraft guns tracking systems were designed to pan quickly for fast moving aerial targets...the slow moving 'targets' of the Swordfish had gunners frustrated as they couldn't move their guns slow enough...By the time the gunners had figured this out, it was too late.

[@andrewnorgrove6487]

I salute those brave men & kids who flew those Swordfish through AAA attacking those big German battle ships during World War Two !

[@granskare]

I saw one in the maritimes of Canada.

[@mebeasensei]

When these go on the Queen Elisabeth class carriers, will they have KH 38 missiles on them?

[@angelsone-five7912]

Wonderful people all, you won`t find their like very much today.

[@keithlemon457]

36 hours on - 12 hours off, for 6 weeks ! Now that's serious work. Can't see people today surviving that somehow...........