(Second, but you'd think otherwise) This is from The Swordfish Story by Sturtivant, so we're talking about Swordfish flights, in this case of Force H, in August 1940: "At 0640 L2801 of No 818 Squadron, piloted by Lt G A W Goodwin, with Mid(A) G R C Penrose RN and NA F W Dodd, was attacked at 800ft near Cagliari by two Fiat CR.32s. One aircraft delivered a long-range beam attack while the other closed from the stern, taking continual avoiding action, then after two such attacks closed in on his companion. Dodd was limited in the action he could take but managed to get in two short bursts and a long one, then, when the second aircraft closed in to between 15 and 25 yds, so the Lewis gun could not be brought to bear, Penrose took out his Webley service revolver and fired three shots. The Fiat broke away and Dodd was able to put in a long burst at less than 100 yds' range, after which the enemy aircraft was seen to spiral down from about 400ft, probably disabled."
Makes sense. The Swordfish was closer to being a WW1 aircraft than WW2. Closed cockpits make the use of sidearms somewhat hazardous, to the user.
I was amazed with them attacking the Bismark, but this gives a good explanation of why they succeeded - Fairey Swordfish - Wikipedia
Twenty-four hundred of the rugged Swordfish were built. Those biplanes were still being made while Germany was using the first jet fighters in combat. Swordfishes sank submarines, scouted, and served countless other roles throughout the war. Perhaps it's the old story of the tortoise with the hare. For less can sometimes be more. We need remember how much we can accomplish with the intelligent use of less than cutting-edge technology. No. 2455: Fairey Swordfish
Not by any account I've read! I think they may have faced more flak at Taranto than they did against the Bismark.
I thought the Lewis was replaced pre war with the Vickers K gun - which looked similar I have read an account of a desperate Hampden pilot firing his revolver at an attacking Me110
Also surprised that the attack was made by CR 32s which had largely been replaced by the CR 42 and reduced to second line duties.
Lieutenant (A) George Archibald Wycliffe GOODWIN 1910 - 16th November 1944 H.M.S. Garuda, India Casualty Appointed Pilot Officer Royal Air Force London Gazette 10th May 1938 p. 3025 Transfers from the R.A.F. to the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm on 30th January 1939 (London Gazette 7th March 1939 p.1552) Awarded a M.B.E. in the Kings Birthday Honours list in 1944 Mid (A) George Richard Christopher PENROSE R.N. F.A.A. 1919 Devonport -1986 Newton Abbot, Devon
