Fairey Barracuda

Historically, Fairey's Barracuda was one of the most controversial aircraft of World War 2. Protagonists state that it was ugly, underpowered, lacked per­formance, it broke up in mid-air, couldn't pull out of a dive, pilots and their crews hated it. After four decades of talking to ex-Barracuda aircrew the author has yet to find one that actually hated the aeroplane, or had any misgivings about Hying them, indeed many appreciated its ruggedness and opera­tional capabilities. Its uglyness, if that is the right word, is in the eyes of the beholder and many wartime aircraft designed to do a spe­cific role looked no better. If it appeared ungainly on the ground, and with everything folded it looked as if it had been in an acci­dent, its appearance in the air was no worse than many other wartime combat aircraft. There were also many who felt that the Barracuda was better for the task than the American-supplied Grumman Avenger. Any in-service shortcomings were overcome gradually by progressive modifications so that early problems were eliminated. Pilots brought through Hying training on monoplanes, instead of biplanes, had no problem when introduced to the Barracuda. In fact as early as June 1943 the Ministry had identified the basic problem - incorrect handling of the aircraft and engine by pilots. Unfortunately the aircraft suffered bad press, and the stigma attached to it was carried on by later generations who knew even less about the problems and how they were over­come. This brief history attempts to set the record straight and show that the Barracuda was in fact a valuable strike aircraft.