Fairey Battle

Entering service in 1937, the Battle introduced the Merlin I engine to RAF aircraft, and also scored the first air victory for the RAF during September 1939. But after suffering horrendous losses over four days in May 1940 was removed from front line service.

Designed to meet Air Ministry Specification P.27/32 for a monoplane, single engined, two-seater bomber, able to fly 1,000 miles with a speed of 200 mph whilst carrying a bomb load of 1,000lb, the aircraft was to be designed by Marcel Lobelle. With a revised Specification P.23/35 a production order for just over 150 aircraft was placed during 1935, before the Battle prototype had been flown. However on the 10th March 1936 the Fairey Battle Prototype flew, and had accommodation for three crew members, the pilot, navigator and rear gunner.

When the first production aircraft was built, on the 14th April 1937, it went through performance trials where it achieved a speed of 243 mph, comfortably beating the specified 200 mph, and flew 1,050 miles with a full bomb load. One major design flaw with the Fairey Battle was with the rear gunners position, as the screen intended to protect him, was poorly designed and as result a downdraught was deflected into his face, making rear visibility poor.

Whilst both the prototype and first production Battles were built at Hayes, future planes would be built at a brand new factory in Heaton Chapel, Stockport, before also being built by Austin Motors based at Longbridge, Birmingham after winning a sub-contract as a result of further orders for Battles being placed. it was with the Fairey Battle that the Merlin I engine would be introduced to RAF aircraft, as the very first order for this famous engine was placed for the Battle.

As 1937 drew to a close Fairey Battles had started to enter RAF service, firstly with No. 63 Squadron at Upwood, Huntingdonshire, before equipping Nos. 52, 88, 105 and 226. Meaning that at the start of World War Two, the RAF called call on over 1,000 Battles, and as with other aircraft a number were sent to France as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force. Recording the first RAF air victory of the Second World War, when on the 20th September 1939, a Messerschmitt BF109 was shot down.

However the following year, during May 1940, the Fairey Battle was to show it shortcomings and suffered heavy losses, during four days in May on four different missions out of a total of 118 aircraft sent on these missions, just over half the aircraft, 60, were lost. During one of these missions on the 12th May 1940 Flying Officer D.E. Garland and Sergeant T. Gray became the first RAF recipients of the Victoria Cross, which were awarded posthumously. These disastrous few days saw the Battle removed from front line service and all remaining Fairey Battle squadrons were equipped with the Vickers Wellington. The rest of the aircraft were used in a number of other roles, including target tugs, trainers and gunnery training, and some served as test-beds for other engines and propellers.

By the time the last production aircraft was delivered on the 2nd September 1940, as a target tug, 2,185 Fairey Battles had been built.

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