FAIREY SWORDFISH, AIR MINISTRY 105-C/96 MORSE CODE AIR TO AIR COMMUNICATION LAMP

In its Royal Navy reconnaissance and torpedo attack bomber role, the Fairey Swordfish, carrier-launched biplane was tasked with locating and attacking enemy shipping as British and German destroyer groups, played a never-ending game of cat and mouse across the frigid waters of the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

It was the antiquated Fairey Swordfish that was instrumental in locating and then damaging the German Battleship Bismarck’s steering leading, to her demise at the hands of the British battleship the King George V and destroyers Rodney, Dorsetshire and HMS Norfolk

With long distance marine radar still very much in its infancy, stealth was the key and radio silence an essential tool in evasion and surprise as Allied patrol aircraft flew from their carriers in search of the enemy.

Much like many of the RAF fighters such as the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire, the Fairey Swordfish was equipped with both VHF radio for voice communication and a cockpit mounted Morse Code Sender key connected to the aircraft identification lights above and below the fuselage.

The Morse Code sender key was used to communicate to other aircraft in the group when radio silence was essential in maintaining the element of surprise.

Like their RAF counterparts, Royal Navy Pilots were required to be able to send up to 15 words per minute via their signalling Morse Code units which enable them, to form up or alert each other of sighting in the waters below.

Behind the Fairey Swordfish pilot sat the aircraft's navigator/bomb aimer and behind him, the TAG or Telecommunication Air Gunner who could use his Bath Tub Morse Code Wireless Sender or the voice equipped VHF radio unit mounted beneath his 303 calibre mounted machine gun to communicate back to the fleet.

This Air Ministry issued 105-C/96 Morse Code Communication Lamp was mounted on the top wing just to the left of the aircraft’s VHF radio antenna  and is an amazing veteran of WWII naval airpower.

Mounted on its 100yr old mango wood display stand complete with a highly detailed 1/72 or super detailed 1/48 custom-built scale model of this iconic WWII naval biplane bomber, plus detailed Fact Sheet - you have the perfect, original gift for any aviation enthusiast.

This Fairey Swordfish Instrument comes complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in aircraft cockpit.

* Note that this Fairey Swordfish instrument is pictured with a 1/48 highly detailed scale model rather than the standard detailed, but smaller 1/72 scale. Click on the 'Model Upgrade' option at the top of this page for the larger 1/48 scale or the Super Detailed 1/32 scale upgrade.

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