Bob Spence’s Fairey Swordfish
Invariably Attracted Attention
Report and photos by Gord McNulty
February 2025
February 2025
The Swordfish in an appearance at a CFB Borden air show.
Correction: Re the obituary for Robert J. (Bob) Spence in the In Memoriam of the January 2025 e-newsletter, I originally stated that Bob’s Fairey Swordfish C-GEVS/HS 554 was painted in Royal Navy colours. In fact, it displayed Royal Canadian Navy markings.
Britain’s Navy Wings organization has noted that Swordfish Mk II HS 554 was built in 1942 and was one of 99 Mark IIs (updated and delivered as Mk IVs) delivered to Canada by the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Swordfish in Canada served as gunnery trainers and in anti-submarine patrol work, operating from No. 1 Naval Air Gunnery School Yarmouth and Dartmouth (both RCAF administered) in Nova Scotia.
Britain’s Navy Wings organization has noted that Swordfish Mk II HS 554 was built in 1942 and was one of 99 Mark IIs (updated and delivered as Mk IVs) delivered to Canada by the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Swordfish in Canada served as gunnery trainers and in anti-submarine patrol work, operating from No. 1 Naval Air Gunnery School Yarmouth and Dartmouth (both RCAF administered) in Nova Scotia.