When the twin-engined Hendon entered Royal Air Force service in November 1936, it was the first all-metal low winged monoplane bomber used by the RAF. Only fully equipping a single squadron,
it spent just over two years in frontline RAF service, as by January 1939, the Fairey Hendon had been replaced by the Wellington.
The Air Ministry were looking for an aircraft to replace the Vickers Virginia, so issued Specification B.19/27 on the 17th August 1927 to find its successor. The new aircraft was to be twin-engined,
have a top speed of at least 120 mph, a range of 520 miles and a service ceiling of at least 17,000 ft. The design team at Fairey, which included David Hollis Williams, came up with, what was known as the Fairey Night Bomber,
and in October 1929 a prototype was ordered. Aircraft from Vickers and Handley Page were also ordered, of these two aircraft, only one Vickers Type 150 was built, and, what would become the Handley Page Heyford, entered
service with the Royal Air Force in November 1933.
Fairey's aircraft housed a crew of four, pilot, second pilot, wireless operator and bomb-aimer, with the prototype making its first flight on the 25th November 1930, powered by Bristol Jupiter engines.
However, on the 12th March 1931 an engine failure led to the prototype crashing on landing, with all the crew surviving, although the aircraft would need to be rebuilt.
The 13th November 1931 saw the repaired prototype fly for the first time, Flight Lieutenant Christopher Staniland was at the controls, and now powered by 480-hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel IIIS engines. The following
year, in April 1932, the prototype was sent to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment for testing, and would appear at the RAF Display, Hendon on the 25th June 1932. By the end of 1935, seventy six
aircraft had been ordered and named the Hendon.
The Hendon Mk II was the only variant to enter production, with the 2nd September 1936 seeing the first example fly. Powered by 585-hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel VI engines, it had a top speed of 154 mph, range of 990 miles with a
service ceiling of 21,400 ft. Armament was three 0.303-in machine-guns, one in the nose, dorsal and rear, with a bomb load of 2,500lb. When the Hendon entered service with the Royal Air Force on the 20th November 1936 with
No. 38 Squadron, based at RAF Mildenhall, it became the first all-metal low winged monoplane bomber used by the RAF.
The Hendon would also equip No. 115 Squadron, which was reformed on the 15th June 1937, based at RAF Marham, and was made up of Hendon Mk IIs of 'B' Flight, No. 38 Squadron, which was also now based at RAF Marham, until they
were fully equipped with the Handley Page Harrow, with the 9th August 1937 seeing No. 38 Squadron setup a new 'B' Flight with the Hendon
Mk IIs no longer needed by No. 115 Squadron.
During this period, No. 38 Squadron had took delivery of their fourteenth, and what would be the last production Hendon Mk II, on the 9th July 1937, prior to this, the further sixty two aircraft that were on order had been
cancelled.
The Hendon's frontline service with the Royal Air Force lasted just over two years, when on the 12th January 1939, No. 38 Squadron gave up their last example, having been re-equipped with the Vickers Wellington.
After this, the Hendon would spend a brief time being used as ground instructional airframes, before, eventually all being scrapped.
In total, fifteen aircraft were built, one prototype and fourteen production examples.
