Swordfish aircraft used during "Operation Torch" were assigned to provide anti-submarine patrols to protect the invasion force from enemy attack, with patrol operations commencing on 30th October whilst the task force was on approach to Gibraltar. An extremely busy period then followed for Swordfish crews, however, not everything went to plan during this time, with HMS Biter losing three of its Swordfish to landing accidents in just a few days, whilst aircraft were attempting to recover onto the carrier in rough seas. Indeed, two of these aircraft were so badly damaged that they were unceremoniously pushed over the side of the vessel into the angry seas which had caused their demise.

On 7th November 1942, the Swordfish of both A and B flights of No 833 Squadron FAA put ashore at Gibraltar and commenced anti-submarine patrol operations from the island, as the work to finalize the huge assault groups began in earnest. HMS Biter was assigned to the Central Naval Task Force aimed at Oran, and whilst her Swordfish continued to protect force vessels from U-boat attack, her complement of Sea Hurricanes would be required to provide fighter top cover for other fighter attack aircraft tasked with taking out Axis airfields following the commencement of operations.

Although enemy submarine activity posed a very real threat to the sizeable Allied assault force, the effectiveness of the Swordfish screen and the sheer size of the Allied force assigned to the operation deterred any futile attacks by enemy units, even though at least one U-boat was detected by the Swordfish in the days leading up to the main assault.

One of the most interesting aspects of the air operations during, and in the lead up to Operation Torch, was the subject of Allied air recognition markings applied to aircraft. With the potential for British, American, Vichy French, Italian and German aircraft to be in the sky at the same time, attempts had to be made to mitigate the possibility of friendly fire incidents and with many units reporting misidentification incidences during work up exercises, a solution had to be found and quickly. With the RAF roundel looking so similar to the Vichy French Air Force equivalent and the consensus being that French forces would be less aggressive towards American military intervention, it was therefore decided to give the visual impression that this was an entirely US led operation.

This spotter-reconnaissance aircraft, built by the Fairey Aviation Company for the British Royal Navy, was first flown on February 22nd, 1934. Nicknamed "Stringbag" after a housewife's string shopping bag, the Swordfish could carry an unlikely combination of loads. It could lift off a carrier deck with a standard torpedo, although this made it vulnerable to fighter attack. Its low speed and stable stance made it easy to line up for a torpedo attack, as it did against the German Bismark and on the Italian naval base at Taranto, where 21 Swordfish destroyed three battleships, a cruiser, two destroyers and other warships.

Corgi's 1:72 scale Swordfish series demonstrates this aircraft's versatility. Each release highlights its roles as a spotter-reconnaissance aircraft and a torpedo-bomber. One of the most impressive features of this model is its replicated folding wings, a feature uncommon in 1:72 scale. The wings are both pinned and keyed to insure proper alignment when fully deployed. Fine gauge wire is used to recreate the structurally significant bracing wires found between the wings and on the horizontal stabilizer. The open cockpit allows for easy viewing of the three-man crew, correctly poised for action with pivoting machine gun at the rear.

Info:    Fairey Swordfish Mk I - RNFAA No.833 NAS, V4448, HMS Biter, Gibralter, Operation Torch, November 1942