HMS Eagle was already old when war was declared in September 1939 but her new Swordfish biplanes were soon flying escort to vital Australian troop convoys in the wastes of the Indian Ocean. When the war moved to the Mediterranean, Eagle's meagre air group bolstered by a few Sea Gladiator biplanes held in the ring with Cunningham's superb fleet through the dark days of 1940 to 1941. Her aircraft took part in the naval victories of Calabria and Taranto; worked from desert air strips with great success and hounded the Italian Navy out of the Red Sea.
Following further ocean patrols in the South Atlantic, Eagle joined the famous Force 'H' at Gibraltar and did more than any other ship to sustain Malta during the islands' greatest ordeal, before being lost in action during the greatest of all convoy battles, Operational Pedestal, in August 1942.
Eagle's War presents an almost day-by-day account of her battles and actions as soon through the eyes of former crew members and is a fitting tribute to all who served abroad her or flew from her decks.
