WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk Arctic Patrol: Stringbags (Part 4)
Dec 18, 2025
Discover the fate of the Fairey Swordfish after its famed Taranto raid. Delve into the Arctic Convoys, where brave aircrews faced life-threatening conditions in open cockpits. Learn about the aircraft's surprising adaptability from torpedo bomber to anti-submarine warfare. Hear firsthand accounts of facing U-boats and the extreme hardships endured by pilots battling freezing temperatures. The hosts reflect on the Swordfish's critical yet often overlooked role in maritime strategy during World War II.
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From Observer To Linguist
- Robert LePage joined the Fleet Air Arm as an observer after failing the pilot medical and flew Swordfish with 816 Squadron.
- He later became a noted linguist and credited his wartime experience in shaping his life.
Escort Carriers Changed The U-Boat War
- Escort carriers like HMS Chaser embodied lessons learned and became central to anti-submarine convoy defence by 1943.
- They carried Swordfish and Wildcats tailored for loitering, ASW radar use, and fighter interception.
Carrier Boiler Explosions And Cover-Up
- HMS Chaser suffered a boiler-room explosion on 7 July, echoing the later disaster aboard HMS Dasher where hundreds died.
- The Dasher loss was largely covered up and attributed to fuel/system faults between navies.