Canadian Warplanes 4: Fairey Battle

Fairey Battle

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205817)

Fairey Battle flown in bombing and gunnery training with the RCAF Bombing and Gunnery School, July 1941.

(DND Photo, PL-3039)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 1737). Ex RAF K9265. Category B damage on 2 February 1942, while serving at No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery Training School at Fingal, or London, Ontario. Used as gunnery trainer.

The Fairey Battle is a British designed single engine light bomber, used as a trainer in the RCAF.  The Battle was powered by the same high-performance Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that powered various contemporary British fighters including the Spitfire.  It was, however significantly heavier, with its three-man crew and bomb load.  Although it was a great improvement over the aircraft that preceded it, the Battle was relatively slow and limited in range.  It was only armed with two .303 in machine guns facing the rear, and was found to be highly vulnerable to enemy fighters and anti-aircraft fire.

The Fairey Battle participated in direct combat missions during early stages of the Second World War and earned the distinction of attaining the first aerial victory of an RAF aircraft in the war.  In May 1940 the Battle suffered heavy losses, frequently in excess of 50 percent of aircraft sortied per mission.  By the end of 1940 the type had been entirely withdrawn from active combat service, and was relegated to training units overseas, with many serving in Canada.

The RCAF received its first batch of eight Battles in August 1939, at RCAF Station Borden, Ontairo.  A total of 802 Battles were eventually delivered from England, serving in various roles and configurations, including dual-control trainers, target-tugs, and gunnery trainers for both the Bombing and Gunnery schools of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan.  Canadian use of the Battle declined as more advanced aircraft, such as the Bristol Bolingbroke and the North American Harvard were introduced.  Battles remained in RCAF service until shortly after the end of the war hostilities in 1945.  No. 111 and No. 122 Squadrons of the RCAF flew Battles.

Fairey Battles were not manufactured in Canada, but they were assembled, serviced and modified here, including the installation of turrets at the Canadian Car and Foundry plant in Montreal.

Fairey Battle Mk. I (739), (Serial Nos. 1301-1320, 1601-2140, A86-A88, A99, A104, A125, A133, K7608, K7632, K7647, K9244, K9247, K9323, K9399, K9406, K9417, K9476, L4963, L4973, L4987, L5009, L5036, L5041, L5048, L5063, L5115, L5184, L5196, L5197, L5205, L5261, L5265, L5266, L5270, L5292, L5308, L5315, L5331, L5332, L5335, L5352, L5412, L5413, L5427, L5442, L5447, L5476, L5505, L5510, L5530, L5552, L5553, L5554, L5556, L5560, L5569, L5573, N2167, N2173, N2245, P2252, P2304, P2311, P2358, P6495, P6541, P6562, P6564, P6620, P6670, P6672, P6724, P6730, P6731, P6732, P6734, R3958-R3967, R3969, R3990-R3998, R4000, R4013-R4018, R4037, R4039, R4041-R4043, R4046, R4050-R4053, R7360, R7370, R7373, R7374, R7384, R7403, R7405, R7408, R7412-R7448, R7461-R7471, R7473-R7476, R7479, R7480), Mk. IIT (1), (Serial No. R7439), dual control Battle converted from Mk. I, for a total of 740 aircraft.

RCAF On Strength (740), RCAF 400 Squadron (1), Canadian Aircraft Losses (39), RCAC (1). Detailed records of all known RCAF and Canadian casualties in the RAF during the Second World War may be viewed on line in the Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource (CASPIR). The CASPIR website is researched, coded, maintained entirely by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) volunteers with only one staff assisting periodically. This work has taken several years, and is unlikely to be finished as continuing research leads to “new finds” and rediscovered Canadian aviation heritage and history. The CWHM volunteer team looks forward to continuing to update and correct the record as additional information and photos are received. Check here.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581635)

Fairey Battle being serviced, 1 March 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583645)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 1315), 8 December 1944. Ex RAF P2240. To RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario on 9 November 1939, for use by Advanced Training School. To Camp Borden with this School on 18 January 1940. To RCAF Station Ottawa in early 1940, for use by Test and Development Establishment. To Trenton for 240 hour engine inspection, 5 to 7 July 1940, then back to Ottawa. Still with Test and Development Establishment when it crashed 2 miles north-east of the Station, on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, after the engine failed on take-off from RCAF Station Rockcliffe at 15:50 on 1 August 1941. Originally classified as Category B damage. Ownership to No. 6 Repair Depot at Trenton on 16 August 1941, reclassified as Category A on that date. Had 257:05 logged time when struck off.

(DND Photo)

Fairey Battle doing an engine run-up at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, in front of the Base Parachute Section on 22 Apr 1942.  There are three battery carts in front of the aircraft, including one being pulled by a technician.

(Toronto Star Photograph Archive)

Fairey Battle and a twin-engine Airspeed Oxford Mk. I (Serial No. 1514), provide the background to an RCAF Wings parade at Camp Borden in 1944. These pilots received their flying training under the Commonwealth Air Training Plan.  They were among 133,554 pilots, observers, bomb aimers, navigators and flight engineers from all parts of the Commonwealth produced by the plan.

(CFJIC, DND Photo via Don Smith)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No), target tug, 4.

(Comox Air Force Museum Photo)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF Serial No. 1655), target tug colours.

(RCAF Photo)

Fairey Battle with shark mouth.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3525930)

Armourers preparing to load practice bombs onto the wing racks of a Fairey Battle Mk. I, 44, of No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School (BGS) (Royal Canadian Airforce Schools and Training Units), RCAF Station Jarvis, Ontario, July 1941.

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Fairey Battles, a Fairchild Canada Bolingbroke, an Avro Anson, a CCF Harvard and a Grumman Goose, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 14 Apr 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4327295, and PL1225).

Pilot sitting in the cockpit of an RCAF Fairey Battle, 23 Aug 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4327181)

RCAF bombardier in a Fairey Battle, peering through his bomb sight at the target below just before pressing the bomb release held in his right hand, 9 Nov 1940.

(RCAF Photo)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. R7384). Built as a trainer, delivered new to Canada. First used by No. 31 Service Flying Training School at Kingston, Ontario. To workshop reserve at No. 6 Repair Depot on 9 September 1941. Transferred from RAF account to JATP account on 3 December 1941. Assigned to No. 9 Repair Depot at St. Jean, Quebec on 128 June 1942. Fuselage shipped to Canada Car & Foundry on 28 June 1942. To No. 2 Training Command on 20 December 1942, as a Mk. IT. Used by No. 3 Bombing & Gunnery School at MacDonald, Manitoba. To No. 8 Repair Depot, 13 March to 22 April 1943. To storage with No. 2 Training Command when completed. Issued from storage on 20 August 1943. To storage on 21 March 1944. Pending disposal from 23 June 1944. Then stored at No. 3 Bombing & Gunnery School, reported with 724:55 total time, 443:43 since overhaul. To No. 2 Air Command on 1 December 1944, still pending disposal. Allocated for public display on 10 July 1946, and issued from storage. By July 1950 stored by No. 10 Repair Depot at RCAF Station Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. To workshop reserve at Calgary on 10 April 1963, for restoration. To Rockcliffe Museum on 3 March 1964. Currently on display in Canada Air and Space Museum at Rockcliffe, Ontario. Taken on Strength No. 1 Training Command, 18 Jan 1941.

(RCAF Photo)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, front view.

(DND Archives Photo, PCN-5245Photo)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, front view.  Canada Air and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.

(RCAF Photo)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 1649) with target towing yellow and black stripe markings. Ex RAF L5601. Converted to target tug on 6 May 1940, coded "6". Involved in fatal crash at No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School at Fingal, Ontario, on 8 December 1940 (information from plaque on Cenotaph in Fingal). US pilot, F/O L.A. Hood, and crewmen AC2s Bourne and McNally were killed.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4327181)

Fairey Battle, RCAF Air Bomber peering through his bomb sight with the bomb release held in his right hand, 9 Nov 1940.  

(RCAF Photo courtesy of the Shearwater Aviation Museum)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4327184)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF, 16, Lewis gunner, 9 Nov 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4327186)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF, Lewis Gunner.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581787)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF, Browning .303-inch machinegun, rear gunner.

(Air Force Museum of New Zealand Photo Collection, MUS0901223)

Group of trainee Air Gunners looking at the Lewis gun on an RCAF Fairey Battle, while the Sergeant instructor stands by. Unknown Bombing and Gunnery School, Canada.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN  No. 3581902)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 15--), Rockcliffe, Ontario.  

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN  No. 358365)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 1315). Ex RAF P2240. To RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario on 9 November 1939, for use by Advanced Training School. To Camp Borden with this School on 18 January 1940. To RCAF Station Ottawa in early 1940, for use by Test and Development Establishment. To Trenton for 240 hour engine inspection, 5 to 7 July 1940, then back to Ottawa. Still with Test and Development Establishment when it crashed 2 miles north-east of the Station, on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, after the engine failed on take-off from RCAF Station Rockcliffe at 15:50 on 1 August 1941. Originally classified as Category B damage. Ownership to No. 6 Repair Depot at Trenton on 16 August 1941, reclassified as Category A on that date. Had 257:05 logged time when struck off.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN  No. 3581903)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 1628), 22 Sep 1941. Ex RAF L5148. Served with Test and Development Establishment at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, dates unknown. Converted to Mk. IT with turret on 15 December 1942. With No. 3 Bombing & Gunnery School at MacDonald, Manitoba in summer of 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3650789)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 2038), No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School at Paulson, Manitoba, Jan 1944. Ex RAF P6490. At No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School at Paulson, Manitoba in 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581637)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 1319), 1 Mar 1940. Ex RAF P2239. Operated by No. 115 (F) Squadron (Auxiliary), at Montreal, Quebec from 23 January 1940. To Test and Development Flight at RCAF Station Ottawa on 10 April 1940. To Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Training Command on 24 May 1940. To No. 3 Training Command on 11 December 1941, used as a target tug at No. 9 Bombing & Gunnery School at Mont Joli, Quebec. To No. 1 Air Command on 15 January 1945. Pending disposal from 9 April 1945. To Eastern Air Command on 3 May 1945, still pending disposal. By 27 November 1945 on the books of No. 6 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Unit, at Mont Joli. Noted with 1581:40 total time while in storage.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581639)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 1319), being serviced, 1 Mar 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581419)

Fairey Battle in front of a hangar at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 6 September 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No.  3589767)

Fairey Battle cockpit, 8 June 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583021)

Fairey Battle cockpit.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583019)

Fairey Battle Mk. IIT, RCAF (Serial No. R7439), with Cyclone radial engine.  Built as a trainer, delivered new to Canada. To No. 1 Training Command on 2 January 1941, for use by No. 31 Service Flying Training School at Kingston, Ontario. To No. 6 Repair Depot on 9 August 1941. Transferred from RAF account to JATP account on 3 December 1941, still at No. 6 Repair Depot. To No. 9 Repair Depot at St. Jean, Quebec on 21 July 1942. Fuselage assigned to Canada Car & Foundry Turcot works on same date, for installation of turret, but not clear if this work was actually performed at CC&F. Converted to Mk. IIT (Wright Cyclone engine) by Fairchild Aircraft from 21 November 1942. To No. 3 Training Command on 14 April 1943 as a Mk. IIT, for evaluation by Test & Evaluation Detachment at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. To No. 9 Repair Depot for scrapping on 24 April 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583020)

Fairey Battle Mk. IIT, RCAF (Serial No. R7439), with Cyclone radial engine without gun turret.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586792)

Fairey Battle Mk. IIT, RCAF (Serial No. R7439), with Cyclone radial engine and gun turret.

(DND Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Fairey Battle Mk. IIT, RCAF (Serial No. R7439), with Cyclone radial engine and gun turret.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586781)

Fairey Battle Mk. IIT, RCAF (Serial No. R7439).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583077)

Fairey Battle, RCAF, equipped with a Mk. IV Bristol gun turret and camera gun brackets, 9 Nov 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo MIKAN No. 358675)

Fairey Battle Mk. IIT, RCAF (Serial No. R7439), Consolidated PBY Canso, Avro Anson Mk. V, RCAF (Serial No. 11631), 13 June 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3589768)

Fairey Battle Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 1889), with gun turret, 8 June 1943. Ex RAF P6547. Served with Test and Development Establishment at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, dates unknown. Converted to Mk. IT, with turret, on 9 November 1942.

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.

(Kozakewich family Photo)

Todd Kazakewich sent me these photos of his father, Michael A. Kozakewich, who trained as a Wireless Air Gunner during the war.  He operated radio equipment and manned the gun turret in a Fairey Battle when these photos were taken. Crash card data indicates it was 5-3-1945. Sgt W.F.N. Harries was the pilot, LAC P.L. LaVert, WAG UT and LAC M.A. Kozabewich WAG UT were on board for a scheduled camera gun exercise, when the radiator cracked and leaked glycol causing the pilot to do a wheels up landing in the snow near Luceville, Quebec. The pilot is standing to the right, Todd's father is on the left.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3513048)

Groundcrew with a Fairey Battle Mk. I in a hangar at No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School (Royal Canadian Airforce Schools and Training Units), Royal Canadian Air Force Station Jarvis, Ontario, July 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4933624)

Film crew, bulky camera, actors Russell Arms (in cockpit) and James Cagney rehearse in a Fairey Battle aircraft on the set of the film "Captains of the Clouds", 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5255957)

RCAF Fairey Battle behind air gunners with the Free French Navy, at No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mont-Joli, Québec, 3 Sep 1944.

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