Fleet Air Arm strength in ww 2

[Fanair]

Hello,

Please do you know where I could find documents giving the number of aircraft by types, in service in the FAA in WW 2 ?

Thank you very much

Alain

[Larry]

A good starting point is to get a copy of Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939-45 by Ray Sturtivant and Mick Burrow, published by Air Britain Publications 1995 - ISBN 0 85130 232 7.

This book lists not only all the types including operational aircraft, trainers and ex-RAF types, but also the operational use and fate of each aircraft.

Hopefully your library may be able to obtain a copy if you cannot buy one.

http://www.air-britain.com/

[Fanair]

Thank you very much Larry, I 've the very good books of Ray Sturtivant they are the best about FAA.

But what I'm looking for is the number of aircraft (by type) in first and second line service at some dates: September 1939,June 44, May & August 45...

Alain

[Juha]

Hello Alain
According to FAA Museum in early 1990s FAA had on 3 Sept 1939
Recon Seaplanes
Walrus 47
Seafox 10
Swordfish 9

Carrier Fighters
Skua 24
Roc 3
Sea Gladiator 12

Carrier Torpedo Bombers
Swordfish 145

Eric M. Brown in his Duels in the Sky gives a slightly different figures
Type __Strenght_onboard Carriers
Skua ____30______18
Sea Glad _18______12
Swordfih 180_____147
few Rocs

HTH
Juha

[Fanair]

Thank you very much JUHA, in war at sea vol 2 by Roskill I found:

Sep 39 40 41 42 43 44 45
-Fighters................. 36 78 129 252 339 645 739

-Bombers................. 140 169 198 209 349 549 205

-Reconnaissance....... 56 63 60 85 19 2 15

-Total...................... 232 310 387 546 707 1196 959

(front line strength only)

Alain