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FAIREY BATTLE

Fairey Battles of 226 Squadron.
Type: Three-seat light bomber.
Origin: Fairey
Models: Mk. I to IV
First Flight:
    Prototype: March 10, 1936
    Production Mk. I: June 1937
Final Delivery: January 1941
Withdrawal from service: 1949
Number Produced: 2,419
Engine:
  Model: Rolls-Royce Merlin II
  Type: 12-Cylinder liquid cooled Vee
  Number: One    Horsepower: 1,030 hp
Dimensions:
Wing span: 54 ft. (16.46m)
Length: 42 ft. 1.75 in. (12.85m)
Height: 15 ft. 6 in. (4.72m)
Wing Surface Area: N/A
 Weights:
Empty: 6,647 lb. (3015 kg)
Loaded: 10,792 lb. (4895 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 241 mph (388 km/h)
Initial Climb: 920 ft/min (280 m/min)
Service Ceiling: 25,000 ft. (7620m)
Range (Loaded, economy setting):
    900 miles (1448 km)
Armament:
One fixed .303 in. Browning in right wing.
One .303 in. Vickers K manually aimed from rear cockpit.

Payload:
Bomb load up to 1,000 lb. (454 kg.) in four cells in outer wings.
    The Battle was the pride of the RAF light bomber force and high expectations were had by all involved. Unfortunately these hopes and expectations were shattered almost as fast as the squadrons that deployed it in combat. When war broke out the Battle was one of the first bomber types to see action with ten squadrons being deployed to France on September 2, 1939. These aircraft were thrown into combat on May 10, 1940 and immediately began suffering horrendous losses. Some squadrons suffered more than 50% losses and within six months the surviving Battle squadrons were withdrawn from combat. These aircraft were deployed to Canada and Australia and used as trainers (most were fitted with dual controls), or as target tugs.

    The Battle was designed in response to specification P.27/32 as a replacement for the biplane Hart and Hind. Compared to these aircraft the Battle was an extremely advanced and modern design and proved to be twice as capable as the aircraft it replaced. Unfortunately this level of performance proved to far below what was needed against the latest generation of single-engined fighters. The crews of these aircraft fought bravely but were easy prey for the Bf 109E fighters of the Luftwaffe.
    The Battle was a decent aircraft to fly and had no inherent faults, it was just a sitting duck when faced with modern fighters, not unlike the situation face by the Ju 87 Stuka during the Battle of Britain. The Battle continue to serve in utility role until 1949.


Sources:
Gunston, Bill - The Encyclodepia of the Worlds Combat aircraft, 1976, Chartwell Books, Inc., NY
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