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| Aviation Art Collecton - No.820 Sqn |
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| Aircraft for : No.820 Sqn FAA | ||
| A list of all aircraft known to have been flown by No.820 Sqn FAA. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name. | ||
| Squadron | Info | |
Swordfish 
Manufacturer : Fairey Number Built : 2399 | Swordfish Torpedo bomber and reconnaissance biplane, crewed by three, with a top speed of 154mph, reduced to 136mph as a float plane. Maximum ceiling 19,000 feet, reduced as a float plane. Armed with a .303 Vickers machine gun fixed forward and one in the rear cockpit. One 1610lb torpedo or up to 1500lb bomb load. At the outbreak of world war two the fleet air arm had 13 operational squadrons. The Fairey Swordfish has earned its place in history for major contributions to naval warfare, during the Norwegian campaign, and especially during the raid on Taranto. In November1940, twenty Swordfish took off from HMS Illustrious to attack the Italian fleet in their Harbour of Taranto. At Least nine torpedoes hit their targets. Seven Italian ships were badly damaged including the battleships, Caio Duillio, Littorio and Conte De Cavour. This was followed in February 1942, by a heroic but suicidal attack on German battlecruisers in the English Channel by six Swordfish of 825 squadron from RAF Manston. All aircraft and crews were lost. This resulted in a Victoria Cross for the leader Lieutenant Commander E Esmonde. The next major event was the torpedo attack on the Bismarck by Swordfish from HMS Ark Royal, which badly damaged the steering gear of the Bismarck which helped in the final destruction of the German battleship by Royal Navy battleships. The Fairey Swordfish was also used in anti-submarine and anti-shipping roles. The Swordfish sunk more enemy ships (by tonnage) than any other aircraft acting in the same role. By the end of the war the Fleet Air Arm still had nine active squadrons, but these were finally disbanded in May 1945. A total of 2399 Swordfish were built. | |
| Signatures for : No.820 Sqn FAA | ||
| A list of all signatures from our database who are associated with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking their name. | ||
| Name | Info | |
  Lieutenant Commander John William Jock Moffat RN Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Commander John William Jock Moffat RN | Lieutenant Commander John William Jock Moffat RN John Moffat was born in Kelso in 1919 and at the outbreak of WWII, was sent to Sydenham, Belfast where a training school, set up by Short Brothers, was based. John learnt to fly in a Miles Magister. During 1939, he was sent to No.1 Flying Training School at Netheravon and here he was taught to fly advanced open-cockpit aircraft such as Hawker Hinds and Audaxes. Commissioned into the RNVR as a sub-lieutenant he was moved to Eastlee (now Southampton Airport) to the Naval Fighter School, learning fighter techniques in Blackburn Skuas and Rocs and the well-known Gloster Gladiator. In 1940, John was moved to Sanderling, the Royal Naval air station at Abbotsinch (now known as Glasgow Airport). In 1941, on board HMS Ark Royal stationed at Gibraltar, they were ordered to assist in the hunt for Bismarck and Prinz Eugen. The aircraft headed first to HMS Sheffield who gave them signals by Aldis Lamp on the position of the Bismarck. John Moffat served on HMS Ark Royal, HMS Argus, HMS Furious and HMS Formidable, and served with 759 Sqn, 818 Sqn, 820 Sqn and 824 Sqn. | |
Ralf Wykes-Sneyd Click the name above to see prints signed by Ralf Wykes-Sneyd | Ralf Wykes-Sneyd Commanding Officer of Prince Andrew's unit, 820 Naval Air Squadron, during the Falklands Conflict. Subsequently awarded the Air Force Cross, with the following citation : Lieutenant Commander Wykes-Sneyd commanded 820 Squadron with flair and distinction. During the Falkland Island crisis, 820 Naval Air Squadron flew for 64 days out of 66 on a continuous 24-hour basis. The majority of the flying inside the Total Exclusion Zone was at night, in poor weather or in fog. Throughout this exceptionally protracted marathon effort the serviceability of the Squadron was exceptional with barely a sortie missed. During this period, in which his Squadron flew over 1400 sorties, he showed outstanding leadership, drive and professionalism. His own flying skills were exceptional, setting a standard which inspired equally fine achievements from his Squadron. Lieutenant Commander Wykes-Sneyd's personal qualities of cool determination and resolution in preventing submarine attack, together with the remarkable record of his Squadron, mark him out as an outstanding Squadron Commanding Officer under the most testing conditions. | |
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