Heinkel He 111 in Spanish Service

As part of Nazi Germany’s support for the Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War, an air component of volunteer crews was established as the Legion Condor. Initial Legion Condor bomber strength was composed of Junkers Ju 52. However these proved vulnerable to Republican Polikarpov I-16 fighters. In response, Germany sent some of its latest bombers to provide a more effective attacking force. This consisted of four Dornier Do 17s, four Junkers Ju 86s and four Heinkel He 111Bs.

The He 111s combat debut was on 9 March 1937 and by October, deliveries of new machines enabled the whole of Kampfgruppe 88 to be equipped with them. As the newer He 111E model became available, B models were passed on to the Spanish Nationalist Air Force, who used them to equip Grupo 10-G-25 in August 1938.

During the Spanish Civel War, the Legion Condor received a total of 94 Heinkel He 111s. Of these 21 were lost to enemy action, 15 to accidents and one more to sabotage. The remaining 25 He 111B and 33 He 111Es were left to the new Spanish Air Force at the end of the war.

Late in 1939 Spain received three He 111Js and three He 111Hs which were used for weather reconnaissance. An additional H model was received as a pattern aircraft for the license production by CASA. CASA built 256 H-16 bombers as the CASA 2.111.

He 111B models continued operating as bombers until 1952, with the E models being retired in 1956. They continued to be used as trainers until 1958 when the last one was retired. Although mostly retired during the 1960s, some CASA 2.111s continued as transports into the early 1970s.

Heinkel He 111 B-2 Nationalist AF 1.K88 25x14 Condor Legion Spain 1938 — Heinkel He 111 B-2 Nationalist AF 1.K88 25×14 Condor Legion Spain 1938

Heinkel He 111 B 25-15 of K88 Legion Condor Spain 1938 — Heinkel He 111 B-2 Nationalist AF 1.K88 25×14 Condor Legion Spain 1938

Fairey Barracuda Fleet Air Arm Torpedo Bomber

Fairey Barracuda Torpedo Bomber

Designed as a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish and Albacore biplanes, the Fairey Barracuda first flew on 7 December 1940. It entered service on 10 January 1943, with its first action being with 10 Squadron aboard HMS Illustrious off the Norwegian coast during July 1943. Although designed as a combined dive bomber and torpedo bomber, it was more often operated as a dive bomber.

On 3 April 1944, a total of 42 Barracudas from HMS Illustrious and Furious attacked the German battleship Tirpitz in the Kåfjord, Alta, Norway. The attacked achieved 16 direct hits, putting the battleship out of action for two months. The follow-up attacks of Operation Mascot and Operation Goodwood were not successful, partly owing to the Barracuda’s slow speed.

On 21 April 1944 Barracudas of No 827 Squadron aboard HMS Illustrious attacked Japanese targets around Sumatra. It was discovered that the prevailing high temperatures in the Pacific affected the performance of the Barracuda by up to 30%. As a result, it was decided to re-equip the fleet carriers with Grumman Avenger aircraft.

Post war, the Barracuda was used as a trainer and was removed from service in the early 1950s.

In addition to the Royal Navy, the Barracuda was operated by the RAF, Royal Canadian Navy, Netherlands Naval Aviation Service (Marineluchtvaartdienst, shortened to MLD) and the French Air Force (Armée de l’air).

Variants

Mk I: First production version, Rolls-Royce Merlin 30 engine with 1,260 hp (940 kW), 30 built

Mk II: Upgraded Merlin 32 engine with 1,640 hp (1,225 kW), four-bladed propeller, ASV II radar, 1,688 built

Mk III: Anti-submarine warfare version of Mk II with ASV III radar in a blister under rear fuselage, 852 built

Mk IV: Mk II (number P9976) fitted with a Rolls-Royce Griffon engine with 1,850 hp (1,380 kW), first flight 11 November 1944, abandoned in favour of Fairey Spearfish.

Mk V: Griffon 37 engine with 2,020 hp (1,510 kW), payload increased to 2,000 lb (910 kg), ASH radar under the left wing, revised tailfin, 37 built

Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Operations

Ship-Base Barracudas

Land-Base Barracudas

Variants

Other Operators

Other Variants and Uses

HMS Atheling

HMS Colossus

HMS Emperor

HMS Formidable

HMS Furious

HMS Glory

HMS Illustrious

HMS Implacable

HMS Indefatigable

HMS Indomitable

HMS Pretoria Castle

HMS Puncher

Having snapped its tail hook, this Barracuda was flipped onto its nose by the barrier — A Barracuda nosed into HMS Puncher’s flight deck

HMS Queen

HMS Rajah

A Fairey Barracuda slams hard onto Rajah’s flight deck bounces into the air its tail wheel flying off July 1944

HMS Ravager

HMS Smiter

HMS Theseus

HMS Trumpeter

HMS Venerable

HMS Vengeance

HMS Victorious

Land-Base Barracudas

HMS Ariel – Warrington

HMS Ariel was a Royal Navy air radio mechanics training establishment.

HMS Condor – Arbroath

Visitors to HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath looking at a Fairey Barracuda 19 September 1945

HMS Cormorant – Gibraltar

HMS Daedalus – Lee-on-Solent

A Leading Wren radio mechanic after testing in-flight aircraft radio equipment at Lee-on-Solent Fleet Air Arm Station

Fairey Barracuda at Lee-on-Solent Royal Naval Air Station 13-17 September 1943 — A Leading Wren radio mechanic after testing in-flight aircraft radio equipment at Lee-on-Solent Fleet Air Arm Station

HMS Merlin – Donibristle

Wren Radar Mechanics preparing for a radar test flight in a Fleet Air Arm Fairey Barracuda at Royal Naval Air Station Donibristle

HMS Urley Ronaldsway – Isle of Man

Fairey Barracuda Mk.II DR116 of 710 Sqn Ronaldsway Aug 1945

Fairey Barracuda II MD892 713 Squadron FAA from Ronaldsway Aug 1945 — Fairey Barracuda Mk.II DR116 of 710 Sqn Ronaldsway Aug 1945

RNAS Trincomalee – Sri Lanka

A Fairey Barracuda torpedo-bomber being hoisted on board a transport barge for shipment to the aircraft carrier, RNAS China Bay, Sri Lanka September 1944

A Fairey Barracuda torpedo-bomber moored on a barge ready for transport to an aircraft carrier. RNAS China Bay, Sri Lanka — A Fairey Barracuda torpedo-bomber being hoisted on board a transport barge for shipment to the aircraft carrier, RNAS China Bay, Sri Lanka September 1944

Variants

Prototypes

Fairey Barracuda Mk.I

Prototype Fairey Barracuda P9642 — Prototype Fairey Barracuda Mk.I P9642

Fairey Barracuda Mk.II

Fairey Barracuda Mk.III

Fairey Barracuda TR.III 300MF of 750 Sqn St Merryn 1951 — Fairey Barracuda Mk III MD837

Fairey Barracuda Mk.V

Other Operators

Fairey Barracuda in Netherlands Naval Aviation Service

Fairey Barracuda from 860 squadron landing on Nairana

Fairey Barracuda in French Air Force Service

Other Variants and Uses

Lifeboat Trials

A Fairey Barracuda Mk III was modified to enable it to carry a lifeboat which could be dropped to downed aircrew or sailors. The lifeboat, was 17 ft, 9 ins long, and was dropped by parachute. The lifeboat was self-righting and self-baling. It was equipped with sails and an outboard engine which gives it a range of 120 miles at 4 knots.

A trial was undertaken at the Naval Air Station at Lee-on-Solent in September 1945. Although 24 lifeboats were built, there are no records of them being used operationally.

Fairey Barracuda Mk.II with a lifeboat fitted

A Fairey Barracuda Mk III carrying the lifeboat — Fairey Barracuda Mk.II with a lifeboat fitted

Special Operations

In July 1944, Fairey Barracuda Mk.II P9575 was fitted with “Cuda Floats”. These were intended to carry a paratrooper, while a container under the fuselage contained equipment. Although trialed successfully, they were not deployed operationally.

In addition to the Cuda Floats, the Barracuda was used to trial an airborne delivered radio station which was contained in a pod beneath the fuselage.