Robert le Page flew with the Fleet Air Arm from 1940 to 1945, mostly in
816 Squadron flying carrier-based Fairey Swordfish. He saw action
mine-laying off Cherbourg, hunting U-boats, escorting convoys in the
North Atlantic and Arctic seas and covering D-Day. Much of his early war
years were aboard HMS Dasher and he was lucky to be ashore when the
carrier mysteriously exploded and sank in the Clyde. This decimated 816
Squadron which was eventually re-equipped and then worked up to
operational readiness to fly from HMS Tracker.
His story is full of insights into wartime naval flying. For example
when they were tasked with finding and attacking German E Boats they
found that in a headwind these powerful boats could outdistance the
'Stringbag'. They devised a plan which was to glide as quietly as
possible on their approach to the quarry and power up the engine only
seconds before they attacked - a plan that was unfortunately
unsuccessful. Once when landing in rough weather his aircraft was waved
to go round again. With throttle wide open the Swordfish struggled back
into the air, but alas the tailhook snagged the top wire of the barrier
protecting other parked aircraft. The author remembered staring down
from the stalling aircraft to see a terror stricken fitter gazing up at
him. Fortunately all survived.
