The title “Operational Flying” gives considerable latitude, although a title such as “Naval Air Operations” would be more descriptive. I propose to spend rather less than half my time talking about operations with which I was personally connected. One reason for this is that my experience of firstline flying did not extend beyond the end of 1941 and therefore can hardly be considered to be of topical interest.

After that I will say something on the subject of Naval air operations as a whole. I will also touch on such points as ship-based flying from the pilot's point of view; the way in which the carrier is fitted in as part of the fleet; the relative merits of ship– and shore-based aircraft in different circumstances; the so–called vulnerability of the carrier; and finally, a brief outline of the current types of aircraft in service and. of the capacity of a typical carrier from which they would operate.