...including Jock Moffat and Bruce Vibert.

The Fairey Swordfish achieved legendary status in WWII and this evocative picture includes W5856 and LS326 in the snow with St Bartholomew's church (regarded as 'the Fleet Air Arm Church') at Yeovilton in the background.

This limited edition print (just 200) has the original signatures of two renowned WWII veterans and four pilots from the, sadly now defunct, Royal Navy Historic Flight. Both these aircraft reside in our Navy Wings hangar and with your ongoing support we hope to be flying them at public events for years to come.

This is your opportunity to own a piece of history that will look superb in any home.

Supplied with a certificate of authenticity.

Fairey Swordfish pilot – Lieutenant Commander Jock Moffat

Swordfish pilot Lt Cdr John ‘Jock’ Moffat was part of the attack that crippled the Bismarck on that fateful day in 1941.

Fairey Swordfish pilot - Lieutenant Commander Bruce Vibert DSC

The majority of Lt Cdr Vibert’s wartime career was spent in the cockpit of a Fairey Swordfish in the Battle of the Atlantic (where he sank U674) and on the Arctic convoys.

Commander Adrian Orchard OBE

Cdr Adrian Orchard was a Harrier Pilot, Deputy Commander of the British Harrier Force, CO at RNAS Culdrose and author of the bestselling ‘Joint Force Harrier’. He joined the Royal Navy Historic Flight as a Fairey Swordfish pilot.

Lieutenant Commander John Beattie

Lt Cdr John Beattie has flown myriad aircraft in his long flying career including Swordfish, Firefly and Sea Fury as a display pilot. John was CO of the Royal Navy Historic Flight and is still a very active flier on both fixed and rotary wing aircraft

Lieutenant Commander Mike Abbey

Lt Cdr Mike Abbey was originally a helicopter pilot in Lynx and Wessex and was later CO of the Royal Navy Historic Flight in which he flew the Fairey Swordfish.

Commander – Dave McKay

Commander Dave McKay was a Sea Harrier pilot and both a Naval Air Squadron Commander and CO of the Royal Navy Historic Flight.

Artist – Terrence Lee

Terrence Lee is a highly regarded artist who specialises in marine subjects and worked for a period at RNAS Yeovilton

Fairey Swordfish

Fairey Swordfish LS326 and W5856 are both members of the Navy Wings Heritage Flight and veterans of active service in WWII

Approx 59cm x 42cm

N.B. This item is supplied as a print. The image where it is depicted with a frame is for illustrative purposes only.

The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest and most complex campaign of WWII. Fairey Swordfish, launched from Escort carriers and MAC ships, played a huge part in winning that war. These wonderful aircraft, so well suited to the task, flew in all weathers and proved to be a superb deterrent to the German U boats, reducing allied ship losses to a minimum.

This limited edition print (250) shows Swordfish LS326 setting out on yet another cold patrol and has original signatures of veteran aircrew including those who flew in the Atlantic and one survivor of the Battle of Taranto. 

It's a stunning image that will enhance any home and is an opportunity to own a piece of history. It is also a fitting tribute to the bravery of the pilot's and crew.

Supplied with certificate of authenticity.

MAC Ship Pilot – Stanley Brand

Swordfish pilot Sub Lt Stanley Brand joined 836 NAS and served on MAC ships Alexia and Empire MacColl. He is the author of Achtung! Swordfish! (and also pranged W5856 – another Swordfish in the Navy Wings Heritage flight!).

 MAC Ship Observer – John Treble

Lt John Treble served in 826 NAS operating from Malta and North Africa before joining 836 NAS and serving aboard MAC ships Acavus, Empire McAndrew and Empire Mackay.

 MAC Ship telegraphist air gunner – John McFarling

PO (Air) John McFarling served in 833 NAS and 836 NAS on the MAC Ships Miralda, MacAndrew and Rapana before moving o 758 NAS

 MAC Ship Air Staff Officer – John Neale

Lt Cdr John Neale was awarded his DSC for his part in the attack on Taranto in 1940 while flying with 815 NAS. He then served with 823 NAS on the Malta run with HMS Furious and then 841 NAS where he earned a DFC for operations in the Channel.

Artist – Terrence Lee

Terrence Lee is a highly regarded artist who specialises in marine subjects and worked for a period at RNAS Yeovilton

 MV Rapana.

Rapana was launched in April 1935 and was converted to Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC ship) in July 1943.

She displaced only 8000 tons (or 16,000 with a deep load). Almost 483 feet in length, she had a maximum beam of just 62 feet. She was equipped with a single 4inch QF (quick fire) gun, two single 40mm Bofors and six 20mm Oerlikons. She carried 3 Swordfish which were parked on deck as there was no hangar. She was reconverted to a mercantile tanker in 1945, renamed Rotula in 1950 and scrapped in Hong Kong in 1958.

Fairey Swordfish LS326

LS326 is one of the last two flying Fairey Swordfish aircraft in the world and is part of the Navy Wings Heritage Flight. Built by Blackburn in Sherburn in Elmet, she was delivered to the RN in 1943. She saw service in L Flight 836 NAS in MV Rapana between September and November 1943 and later in 836K Flight in MV Empire MacCallum during 1944. In 1959 she was used in the film ‘Sink the Bismarck!’.

Approx 59cm X 42cm

N.B. This item is supplied only as a print. The image with the frame is for illustration purposes only. 

This is a wonderfully evocative print of a beautifully executed pencil drawing by renowned Stephen Fox. It's called 'The Office' because it's where Swordfish pilots went to work day after day, sometimes in the most appalling circumstances. 

Available professionally framed or just as a print, all are personally signed by the late Lt Cdr Jock Moffat who took part in the action that crippled the Bismarck.

This is a stunning artwork and only 50 have been printed.

Poster size, the prints are professionally mounted on board.

Framed option. The framed option has an unobtrusive contemporary black frame suitable for many domestic and office environments

The Channel Dash is famous for the extraordinary bravery shown by Swordfish Crews as they attempted to sink elements of the German Fleet as they sped up the channel.

This image captures the frantic efforts of aircraft and ships against overwhelming odds.

The German Admiral, Otto Ciliax, who viewed the attack from the bridge of the Scharnhorst, observed that the “handful of ancient planes” had been “piloted by men whose bravery surpasses any other action by either side that day”.

The artist, RJ Mitchell, was a young 18 year old telegraphist serving on MTB 48 during the Channel Dash and is shown standing on the deck to starboard of the bridge with a rifle.

(600mm x 480mm)

Pack of 5.

Swordfish:  Operation Judgement
Phantom:    The Ark Royal
Buccaneer:  Strike Force 
Phantom:    Take Off from the Ark Royal
Swordfish:  On A Wing and A Prayer 

All cards are blank inside

The Swordfish was a truly extraordinary aircraft with a service record that few aircraft have matched. The images of LS326 and W5856 by Stephen Ward capture her in her element, prowling through troubled skies. Sentinel. Protector.

W5856 and LS326 are the last flying Fairey Swordfish in the world and your help keeps them in the air where they belong. 

Available as:

Poster: A3

Mounted print: overall size 49cms x 36cms

An attractive poster showing the marking schemes of 5 Sea Vixen Squadrons.

The iconic Sea Vixen played an important role as a transitional design during the Cold War. Transonic and nuclear capable, this interceptor was armed with A2A missiles, but not cannon or machine guns as it was (erroneously as it turned out) thought that the day of the dogfight was over

The artist is David Gibbings MBE. Founder member of the Guild of Aviation Artists and Senior Engineer on numerous projects at Westlands including the Lynx World Speed Record.

Sea King helicopters over Falkland Sound, May. 1982.

A tribute to the part played by Yeovil in the Falklands Crisis. Nearly 200 Westland Helicopters supported the Task Force, without them success would have been unlikely.

The artist, David Gibbings MBE concluded his illustrious career as Chief Flight Test Engineer at Westlands in 1993.

The artist is David Gibbings MBE. Founder member of the Guild of Aviation Artists and Senior Engineer on numerous projects at Westlands including the Lynx World Speed Record.

This exceptional picture commemorates the event when, on the evening of August 11th 1986, a Westland Lynx helicopter flew at 400.87 kph (249.1mph) over a 15km course at Sedgemoor, near Glastonbury, Somerset, breaking the existing world speed for any helicopter.

A record it still holds in its class.

Signed by

Limited Edition of 850

A beautiful print showing the glorious curves of one of the most elegant aircraft to grace the skies. A perfect example of 'if it looks right, it'll fly right'.

A limited edition of 150 signed by:

Captain Alan John 'Spiv' Leahy CBE DSC RN (CO of the 'Red Devils' Seahawk display team) and Lt Cdr Russ Eatwell (display pilot RNHF).

Overall size: 59.5cms x 42cms

 N.B. Supplied as print only. The frame in the image is for illustration purposes.

As an operation, from the British perspective, the Channel Dash lacked any form of successful outcome. As an illustration of respect for duty and absolute courage in the face of insuperable odds, it stands as a beacon that would be hard to surpass. 

Eighteen men in six flimsy aircraft against three capital ships, numerous destroyers and E boats  all under a massive Luftwaffe umbrella. All six aircraft were shot down and only five aircrew survived.

This dramatic depiction by famed artist Philip West captures the moments after 825G has ditched and Observer Sub Lt Edgar Lee is helping his wounded pilot, Sub Lt Brian Rose, into their dinghy. Sadly, TAG Leading Airman Ambrose Johnson did not survive.

Originally a Limited Edition of just 100, we have just a few of these evocative prints available, all signed by Edgar Lee.

Supplied as a print. The frame in the image is for illustration purposes only.

This dramatic image created a strong reaction when we first published it.

So often Remembrance imagery is centred around 'Flanders field' and the relationship to those who lost their lives at sea is lost. We thought that we would remedy that with this powerful sunset image of three Swordfish flying over an expanse of poppies on the 'wind harrowed meadows of the sea'.

The print includes the following poem.

Remember the Poppies of the Sea

No grave to mark the man. No cross, alone or serried ranked. No poignant blooms to salute the loss or the love or the tragedy of fading memories.

On steel steed and white horsed plain they did their duty. They fought and gave and gave their all and, when all was done, they took the sea's embrace.

Somewhere, a gypsy ripple monument roams tirelessly still. A metamorphic headstone. Improperly anonymous. Incongruously humble.

Named and nameless, warriors all. Now fathoms deep, at peace on pillows of softest sand, their drifting spirits but gentle shadows, dancing forever with sunbeams.

At the going down of the sun, and in the mourning, remember the poppies that grow on the wind harrowed meadows of the sea.

A3 print.

250gsm

If the poem is not required, it can be removed and framed without.

This dramatic image created a strong reaction when we first published it.

So often Remembrance imagery is centred around 'Flanders field' and the relationship to those who lost their lives at sea is lost. We thought that we would remedy that with this powerful sunset image of three Swordfish flying over an expanse of poppies on the 'wind harrowed meadows of the sea'.

The notecard includes the following poem.

Remember the Poppies of the Sea

No grave to mark the man. No cross, alone or serried ranked. No poignant blooms to salute the loss or the love or the tragedy of fading memories.

On steel steed and white horsed plain they did their duty. They fought and gave and gave their all and, when all was done, they took the sea's embrace.

Somewhere, a gypsy ripple monument roams tirelessly still. A metamorphic headstone. Improperly anonymous. Incongruously humble.

Named and nameless, warriors all. Now fathoms deep, at peace on pillows of softest sand, their drifting spirits but gentle shadows, dancing forever with sunbeams.

At the going down of the sun, and in the mourning, remember the poppies that grow on the wind harrowed meadows of the sea.

DL/Compliment slip size

With all their noise and power, jet engines are awesome and dramatic. They can be just as awesome and dramatic after they have ceased in their primary role. This unusual lamp was once the flame tube from a Rolls Royce military jet engine.

Flame tubes allow fuel to be injected into the high pressure air and be completely burned before entering the turbine. Without flame tubes, there would be no place for fuel combustion to take place.

This example has been carefully polished, mounted on a hand turned wooden base and fitted with a low energy bulb. Perfect for some atmospheric lighting and very rare.

Great lighting and great talking piece and you can be sure that your neighbours won't have one.

For Star Wars fans, you may wish to checkout IG-88, the assassin droid in The Empire Strikes Back, whose head bears a remarkable resemblance to a flame tube!

N.B. Designs may vary very slightly from illustration. 

Approx dimensions:

Height 63cms

Diameter 25 cms

With all their noise and power, jet engines are awesome and dramatic. They can be just as awesome and dramatic after they have ceased in their primary role. This unusual lamp was once the flame tube from a Rolls Royce military jet engine.

Flame tubes allow fuel to be injected into the high pressure air and be completely burned before entering the turbine. Without flame tubes, there would be no place for fuel combustion to take place.

These examples have been carefully hand polished, mounted on a hand turned wooden base and fitted with a colour adjustable LED bulb. Perfect for some very unusual atmospheric lighting!.

Great lighting and great talking piece and you can be sure that your neighbours won't have one.

For Star Wars fans, you may wish to checkout IG-88, the assassin droid in The Empire Strikes Back, whose head bears a remarkable resemblance to a flame tube!

Plinths may vary.

Height 66cm
Stand diameter 25cm
Weight 7.6 kg

On the 12th of February1942, six Swordfish set off from RAF Manston to attack Kriegsmarine battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen as they dashed up the English Channel heading away from Brest to safer ports to the north.

The CO of RAF Manston, not expecting them to return, saluted each aircraft as it took off.

The powerful German squadron was escorted by numerous destroyers and E boats and squadrons of fighter aircraft.

Several RAF fighter squadrons were supposed to engage the German fighters and provide protection for the Swordfish, but only one made the rendezvous with the Swordfish. They were hopelessly outnumbered by German fighters and, fighting for their own survival, were unable to support.

The Swordfish, now in two flights of three, pressed home their attacks, but were cut to ribbons by a combination of enemy fighters and the massed guns of the ships they were attacking and their escort screen. All six were shot down and only five of the eighteen crewmen survived.

Flight leader, Lt Commander Eugene Esmonde, who had received a DSO for his part in the attack on the Bismarck, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. 

The German commander, Vice Admiral Otto Ciliax described the courage of the Swordfish crews. “…the mothball attack of a handful of ancient planes, piloted by men whose bravery surpasses any other action by either side that day”.

The Fairey Swordfish achieved legendary status in WWII. The bravery and sense of duty of their crews, in the doomed action that was to become known as The Channel Dash, have become part of the legend.

This limited edition print by Duncan Robertson is signed by veterans who took part in that ill-fated mission and shows one of the six Swordfish that was lost on that fateful day.

This is your opportunity to own a piece of history that will look superb in any home.

Supplied with a certificate of authenticity.

The prints are all signed by:-

Fairey Swordfish

Fairey Swordfish LS326 and W5856 are both members of the Navy Wings Heritage Flight and veterans of active service in WWII

Approx 71cm x 54cm

N.B. This item is supplied as a print. The image where it is depicted with a frame is for illustrative purposes only.

Please note, very limited availability.

Escort carriers and MAC (converted merchantmen) ships made an indelible impact on the safety of the Atlantic (and Arctic) convoys and, once they were a standard part of the escort provision, almost eliminated losses by U-Boat attack.

The Fairey Swordfish proved itself to be perfectly suited to this hostile and unique environment and indeed, few aircraft types were even capable of operating in difficult weather conditions and from tiny decks.

With their open cockpits, being a member of a Swordfish crew was not for the faint hearted. Long patrols, freezing temperatures, storms and 'mother' ships that pitched and tossed as if possessed made life extraordinarily challenging.

The swatches are made of genuine pieces of fabric taken from a Fairey Swordfish and signed by the men who flew in these extraordinary and legendary aircraft on those perilous convoys.

Sadly, there are very few veterans left now.

They are from a limited edition of 50 and each is numbered and has a signature of authenticity. We have pairs numbered 10, 11, 12 and 13. We will supply as singles but, if a pair is ordered, will supply matching numbers if possible.

This is your opportunity to own a piece of history that will look superb in any home.

MAC ship print - signed by:

John Kilbracken DSC (Pilot)
Stanley Brand (Pilot)
Charles Simpson (TAG)

Escort Carrier print - signed by:

W.H. Thomson DSC (Pilot)
G.V. 'Curly' Pickard (Observer)
M.A. 'Andy' Thackeray (Telegraphist Air Gunner)

Steev is known throughout the Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm for his sense of humour and his ability to inject that humour and into all of his subjects.

We have commissioned a series of cartoons and Steev has done us proud by capturing the nature of these great aircraft.

Only 50 copies of each of these superb designs will be signed by the artist.

 Size: A3

Stock: Top quality art paper

A dramatic part of British aviation history mounted on a handmade wooden plinth.

This is a very rare, substantial and unusual statement piece for the home or office. 

The Sea Fury was the pinnacle of piston powered Royal Naval aviation and traced it's lineage back through the Typhoon and Tempest. A 2500hp power house, multi-purpose aircraft that was as capable as a fighter with four 20mm cannon as it was as a bomber carrying up to two 1000lb bombs or a complement of up to 16 rockets.

Although the Sea Fury first flew in 1945, it had the misfortune to be introduced into squadron service in 1947 at a time when jet technology was coming of age. Its service life was consequently brief. It was retired from the Fleet Air Arm in 1953, but not before it had played a noteworthy role in Korea where one aircraft shot down a MiG15 jet fighter.

With a maximum speed of c.460mph and superb all-round performance, this sleek and eye catching aircraft has become an icon.

A very few remaining airworthy examples are on the display circuit or are used for racing at Reno.

615 were produced for the Fleet Air Arm with c. 250 more providing good service for the navies of  Canada, Australia and the Netherlands.

N.B.

1) Please note that these are black on one side and silver on the other

2) Each propeller stub is in excess of 20kg.

Base diameter approx 22cms