"We have a runner", Swordfish attack on the Bismarck
Oil on Canvas
24 inches x 28 inches
2020
Available
This oil painting, features a historical event. In 1941, the Ark Royal launched the rather out of date, Fairey Swordfish biplanes carrying torpedoes. Flying low over heavy, stormy seas, they attacked the Bismarck battle ship. One of the torpedoes jammed the steering mechanism of the bismarck and that sealed the battle ship's fate. The title of this painting is "we have a runner"
This title comes from my researching facts for the painting. During the attack, officer Moffat, the pilot, heard his observer sitting in the compartment behind him say, "don't drop it yet" "hold, hold" "NOW" the torpedo had to land in the trough of the wave in order to run in a strait direction. When it hit the trough and dug in, the observer was heard to say "we got a runner" ,which meant the torpedoes was away and heading in the desired direction, it would take about a minute to hit it's target as the ship sailed into it's path. If you look closely at my painting, you will see the observer is looking over the side of the plane.
This oil painting, features a historical event. In 1941, the Ark Royal launched the rather out of date, Fairey Swordfish biplanes carrying torpedoes. Flying low over heavy, stormy seas, they attacked the Bismarck battle ship. One of the torpedoes jammed the steering mechanism of the bismarck and that sealed the battle ship's fate. The title of this painting is "we have a runner"
This title comes from my researching facts for the painting. During the attack, officer Moffat, the pilot, heard his observer sitting in the compartment behind him say, "don't drop it yet" "hold, hold" "NOW" the torpedo had to land in the trough of the wave in order to run in a strait direction. When it hit the trough and dug in, the observer was heard to say "we got a runner" ,which meant the torpedoes was away and heading in the desired direction, it would take about a minute to hit it's target as the ship sailed into it's path. If you look closely at my painting, you will see the observer is looking over the side of the plane.