Fairey Swordfish back on the UK display circuit

[Stratofreighter]

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Swordfish back on the UK display circuit

The Royal Navy Historic Flight’s Fairey Swordfish LS326 has made its first public appearance in eleven years.

October 14: At Duxford’s Autumn Airshow on October 10 the Royal Navy Historic Flight’s Fairey Swordfish Mk II LS326 made its first public appearance after an eleven year lay-off due to engine problems.

Built in 1943 at Sherburn-in-Elmet, LS326 served with 836 Squadron (the largest ever Fleet Air Arm Squadron) on board the MAC ship Rapana on North Atlantic Convoy duties.

On retirement it was used for training and communications duties from the Royal Naval Air Station Culham near Oxford and Worthy Down near Winchester.

In 1947 Fairey Aviation bought LS326 and remained in storage until rebuilt in 1955, afterwards kept in flying condition at White Waltham registered as G-AJVH and painted in Fairey’s blue and silver colour scheme.

In 1959 it was repainted for a starring role in the film Sink the Bismarck and in 1960 was presented to the Royal Navy by the Westland Aircraft Company and has been with the Historic Flight ever since.

During the spring of 2000 corrosion was discovered in the wing spars so LS326 was immediately grounded.

After a nine-year rebuild by a volunteer team LS326 flew again on July 1, 2008 but a series of niggling engine problems prevented it from displaying during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.