A personal account of flying Barracuda aircraft in the Fleet Air Arm during WWII and beyond, detailing operations against the Tirpitz and service on various carriers, including during the Suez Crisis. Characteristics ISBN-13 9780946958788 ISBN-10 0946958785 Book cover finish(es) Perfect paperback Condition Like New Author(s) Robert McCandless Publisher Ad Hoc Publications Number of pages 144 Published date 2012 Language(s) English Collection / Series From the Cockpit No 16 Size 21 x 29,7 x 1 cm Categorie(s) • AVIATION MILITAIRE• AVIATION NAVALE• APPAREILS - CONSTRUCTEURS Description Lieutenant-Commander Robert McCandless AFC joined the Fleet Air Arm under the 'Y' Scheme in November 1942 and flew Barracudas on 827 Squadron from June 1944 until May 1946, serving on board HM Ships Furious and Colossus. He saw action on a number of occasions, in particular during the 'Goodwood' series of operations flown against the German battleship Tirpitz. He returned to civilian life after the war but continued to fly with 1830 and 1831 Squadrons RNVR, until rejoining the Navy full-time in 1956. Known both as 'Jock' (at 810 Squadron) and 'Mac' (on HMS Ark Royal), he continued on flying duties, converting to jets and flying with 738 Squadron, which he later commanded. His operational flying culminated in a spell as Senior Pilot of 810 Squadron (Sea Hawks), participating in offensive sorties from HMS Bulwark during the Suez Crisis.This book is mainly about my very personal experiences while flying Barracudas in a front-line Naval Air Squadron, and I wish to dedicate it to a man whose expertise as a test pilot at Boscombe Down and whose charismatic leadership of No.8 Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Wing resulted in the saving of so many Fleet Air Arm aircrew' lives.
