Fairey Battle

Overview

First flown in March 1936, the Fairey Battle was operationally obsolete by 1939 when it was to see active service as a front line combat aircraft. Following a gallant but hopeless exposure in France at the beginning of the war, the type was relegated to training duties, in which it contributed far more to war effort than it had as an operational asset. The Royal Canadian Air Force had received its first Battles in August 1939 when eight were shipped by rail to Camp Borden in Ontario. More were sent from England and large numbers were eventually to be employed as dual control trainers, target tugs and gunnery trainers in the many bombing and gunnery schools of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. With the introduction of Bolingbrokes and Harvards, the numbers of Battles in RCAF use declined, but they still continued in service until the end of hostilities. Nos.111 and 122 Squadrons of the RCAF also flew Battles.

Source: Canadian Combat and Support Aircraft: A Military Compendium by T.F.J. Leversedge © 2007. Translated and reproduced with permission of the author.

Technical Specifications (Mark I)

Source: Canadian Combat and Support Aircraft: A Military Compendium by T.F.J. Leversedge © 2007. Translated and reproduced with permission of the author.