The Albacore was a single-engined biplane torpedo bomber that served with the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Entering service with the FAA in March 1940, it would go on to equip fifteen Naval
Air Squadrons. Its use by the RAF saw it perform anti-shipping patrols on D-Day in June 1944. The Fairey Albacore was retired from frontline service in January 1945.
On the 8th September 1936, the Air Ministry released Specification M.7/36, with this new aircraft expected to replace the Fairey Swordfish.
After evaluating a number of designs, on the 11th February 1937, Fairey were given the green light to finesse their design to meet a different specification, S.41/36. The result was the Marcel Lobelle design, known as the
Albacore, which was ordered into production before a prototype had flown, when an order for two prototypes and ninety eight aircraft was placed on the 6th May 1937.
Flying from Fairey's Great West Aerodrome, with Flight Lieutenant Dixon at the controls, the Albacore prototype made its maiden flight on the 12th December 1938. Housing a crew of three. pilot, observer and air gunner, it
featured folding wings, back along the fuselage, and an arrestor hook. This was followed on the 23rd and 24th May 1939 with deck landing trials on HMS Ark Royal (91). With production of the aircraft underway, the Aeroplane and
Armament Experimental Establishment would take delivery of the first production aircraft for testing during 1940. An Albacore would also be tested with floats during March 1940 by the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment,
but no further development took place.
The Albacore Mk I was powered by the 1,130-hp Bristol Taurus XII engine, its top speed was 161 mph, range 930 miles, with a service ceiling of 20,700 ft. Armament was either two or three 0.303-in machine-guns, one forward
firing and one or two rear-firing. Bomb load was either 2,000lb bombs or torpedoes. It would be No. 826 Naval Air Squadron, based at RNAS Ford, who would be the first to be equipped with the type, when they took delivery
of twelve on the 15th March 1940. It would be the same squadron who performed the Albacore's first operational sortie,
when they attacked transport links at Westende, Belgium and patrolled for E-boats on the 31st May 1940. No. 829 Naval Air Squadron was formed the following month on the 15th June 1940 and from the 26th November 1940, Nos. 826
and 829 Naval Air Squadron would be stationed aboard HMS Formidable (67).
At the peak of its service, the Albacore equipped fifteen squadrons serving with the Fleet Air Arm during 1942, operating from the Arctic Circle, Western Desert, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean. Operating in a number of
different roles, including anti-submarine patrol. With newer aircraft entering service, the FAA began replacing their Albacores, and when No. 841 Naval Air Squadron disbanded on the 1st December 1943, the aircraft's
frontline service with the FAA ended.
The Royal Air Force would also use the type, firstly with No. 36 Squadron based at Java during December 1941 and during Operation Overlord, commonly known as D-Day, on the 6th June 1944, No. 415 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air
Force would perform anti-shipping patrols near the French Coast during the morning and evening, losing no aircraft. The RAF continued to use the type until the 23rd January 1945 with No. 119 Squadron, when they relinquished
their last Albacore.
In total, 800 Albacores were built during its four year production run between 1939 – 1943.
