Remembrance And War: April 2025

Sunday, 20 April 2025

THE WESTLAND WELKIN

The Westland Welkin

Was a British twin-engine

High altitude heavy fighter

The word welkin meaning

“The vault of heaven”

Peregrine and Merlin engines

It was in service from 1942

Until the end of the war

THE SUPERMARINE SEAFIRE

Brainchild of R. J. Mitchell

The Spitfire was designed

As a short-range,

High-performance

Interceptor aircraft

Was the perfect flying machine

With its elliptical wings

And Rolls-Royce Merlin engine

It was fast and maneuverable

Which helped it dominate the skies

During the Battle of Britain

A derivative of which,

The Supermarine Seafire,

Went into service in 1942

With Fleet Air Arm

Seeing its first action

In 1943 during Operation Torch,

The Allied landings in North Africa.

Then Sicily, Italy and Normandy

Also Operation Dragoon

In southern France.

Finally with the British Pacific Fleet,

For the final years of the Pacific War.

It saw action again in 1950

Against North Korean forces

The Seafire was finally withdrawn

From service during the 1950s

THE WESTLAND WHIRLWIND

The Westland Whirlwind

Was a British twin-engine fighter

A contemporary of the Spitfire

And the Hawker Hurricane

Peregrine engines

It was in service from 1938

Until the end of the 1943

THE FAIREY GANNET

The Fairey Gannet

Was a British carrier-borne

Fixed-wing aircraft

With double turboprop

Counter-rotating propellers

Operated by the Fleet Air Arm

With a crew of three

It was used primarily

For anti-submarine warfare

During the cold war

From 1949 until 1978

THE FAIREY BATTLE

The Fairey Battle was a British

Single-engine light bomber

In service with the RAF

With a crew of three it was powered

By a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine

During the “Phoney War”

It achieved the distinction

Of scoring the first aerial victory

By an RAF aircraft in the war

It was in service from 1938

Until the end of the 1949

THE FAIREY BARRACUDA

The Fairey Barracuda was a British

Carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber

Later replaced by the Griffon engine

It was the first Fleet Air Arm aircraft

To be fabricated entirely from metal

The FAA ordered so many aircraft

Blackburn Aircraft, Boulton Paul

And Westland also produced them

They served in all theatres of WW2

But its most noteworthy engagement

Was Operation Tungsten, in 1944

Attacking the German battleship Tirpitz

It was in service from 1943

Until its retirement in the 50s

THE FAIREY FULMAR

The Fairey Fulmar was a British

Carrier-borne reconnaissance fighter

Named after the Northern Fulmar,

A seabird native to the British Isles,

It served with the Fleet Air Arm

During the Second World War.

Taking part in the Battle of Cape Matapan

And participating in the pursuit

Of the German battleship Bismarck,

The Fulmars also played a part

In protecting North Atlantic convoys

And fought in the Pacific theatre

It remained in front line service

Right up until February of 1945

THE FAIREY GORDON

The Fairey Gordon was a British

2-seat light bomber/utility aircraft

Serving with the RAF in the 1930s.

Which had mostly been retired

By the start of World War 2

And replaced by the Swordfish

Adopting a training role

While some found their way

To New Zealand and Egypt

THE FAIREY SEAL

The Fairey Seal was a British

Carrier-borne 1930’s spotter-plane,

Serving with the Fleet Air Arm

Which had mostly been retired

By the start of World War 2

And replaced by the Swordfish

When it adopted a training role

While some found their way

To Ceylon and Latvia

THE FAIREY SPEARFISH

The Fairey Spearfish was a British

Carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber

Which came into service too late

In 1945 to see active service

Only five aircraft were ever built

The last one was scrapped in 1952

THE FAIREY SWORDFISH

The Fairey Swordfish was a British

Carrier-borne biplane torpedo bomber

Nicknamed the ”Stringbag”,

Primarily serving with the Fleet Air Arm

But was also an RAF favourite

Despite dating from 1930

The remained in frontline service

Throughout the Second World War.

Distinguishing itself in the Battle of Taranto

And participating in the destruction

Of the German battleship Bismarck,

Swordfishes sank a higher tonnage

Of enemy shipping during the war

Than any other Allied aircraft

They remained in front line service

Right up until V-E Day in 1945

THE FAIREY ALBACORE

The Fairey Albacore was a British

single-engine biplane torpedo bomber

Primarily serving with the Fleet Air Arm

But was also an RAF favourite

Nicknamed the ”Applecore”

Conceived to replace the Swordfish,

Operated by a crew of three

It was widely used on land and sea

Taking part in the sinking of the Tirpitz

The Battle of Cape Matapan,

The Second Battle of El Alamein,

As well as the Siege of Malta

And the landings in Sicily and Salerno

And at Normandy with the Canadians

They remained in front line service

Right up until the end of the war

THE FAIREY FIREFLY

The Fairey Firefly was a British

Carrier-borne single-engine fighter

And submarine hunter aircraft

Serving with the Fleet Air Arm

Conceived to replace the Fulmar,

Operated by a crew of two

It came into service in March 1943

And took part in the sinking of the Tirpitz

They remained in service

In an anti-submarine role

THE HAWKER HART

The Hawker Hart was a British

Two-seater biplane light bomber

And served with the RAF in the 1930s

But was already obsolete

By the start of the World War 2

Playing only minor roles

Before being retired in 1943

THE HAWKER HECTOR

The Hawker Hector was a British

Army co-operation and liaison biplane

Named after the Trojan prince Hector

And served with the RAF in the late 1930s

Briefly seeing action in May 1940

During the Battle of France

But were soon replaced by Lysanders

And used for towing target tugs or gliders

THE HAWKER HORNET

The Hawker Hornet was a British

Single-seater interceptor biplane

And was a Prototype forming

The link between the F.20/27

And the famous Hawker Fury

THE HAWKER HARTEBEEST

The Hawker Hartebeest was a British

Two-seater biplane light bomber

And a variant The Hawker Audax

Used widely across South Africa

In a variety of roles in the region

Throughout the 1930s

And even though it was obsolete

By the start of the World War 2

They continued in service

Seeing action in East Africa

And also in occupied Abyssinia

THE HAWKER AUDAX

The Hawker Audax was a British

Two-seater biplane light bomber

And a variant The Hawker Hart

Used widely across the Empire

In a variety of roles and countries

Throughout the 1930s

And even though it was obsolete

By the start of the World War 2

They continued in service

Before being retired in 1945

THE HAWKER F.20/27

The Hawker F.20/27 was a British

Single-seater interceptor biplane

Developed in the late 1920s

To an Air Ministry specification

But in the end only one was built

THE HAWKER FURY

The Hawker Fury was a British

Single-seater interceptor biplane

Which was the faster more agile

Counterpart of the Hawker Hart

It was in service from 1931

With RAF Fighter Command

Until it was replaced in 1939

THE HAWKER HART

The Hawker Hart was a British

Two-seater biplane light bomber

And served with the RAF in the 1930s

But was already obsolete

By the start of the World War 2

Playing only minor roles

Before being retired in 1943

THE HAWKER TEMPEST

The Hawker Tempest was a British

Single-seat fighter-bomber

Known originally as the Typhoon II

A high-altitude interceptor

But with its Typhoon speed

It also found success as

A low-level ground attack aircraft

It entered service in 1944

And was the fastest single engine

Propeller-driven aircraft of the war

And was used in all theatres

Until its retirement in 1953

THE HAWKER SEA FURY

The Hawker Sea Fury was a British

Single-seat fighter-bomber aircraft

Operated by the Fleet Air Arm

It was too late for World War Two

And entered service in 1947

Although it did see action in Korea

THE HAWKER HOTSPUR

The Hawker Hotspur was a British

Two-seater turret fighter aircraft

Developed from the Hawker Henley

But only one was produce in 1937

THE HAWKER HENLEY

The Hawker Henley was a British

Two-seat Royal Air Force target tug

Derived from the Hawker Hurricane

Which was used for gunnery training

From 1938 till it was withdrawn in1942

THE HAWKER OSPREY

The Hawker Osprey was a British

Two-seater biplane light bomber

It was a Naval version of the Hart

And served with the FAA from 1936

But was already obsolete

By the start of the World War 2

And it played only minor roles

Before being retired in 1943

THE HAWKER HARDY

The Hawker Hardy was a British

Two-seater biplane light bomber

Being a hot weather variant

Of the Hawker Hart and served

With the RAF Mosul in 1938

Until it was withdrawn in 1941

THE HAWKER DEMON

The Hawker Demon was a British

Single-seater interceptor biplane

Which was the faster more agile

Counterpart of the Hawker Hart

It was in service from 1931

With RAF Fighter Command

Until it was replaced in 1939

THE WESTLAND WALLACE

The Westland Wallace was a British

1930s two-seat general-purpose biplane

And derived from the Westland Wapiti

And it was one of the first two Planes

To fly over Mount Everest in 1933

Its service with the Royal Air Force

Extended into the Second World War

Albeit in a training capacity

THE WESTLAND PV-3

The Westland PV-3 was a British

1930s two-seat torpedo bomber

Based on the Westland Wapiti

Which never entered production

However it was one of the first two Planes

To fly over Mount Everest in 1933

THE WESTLAND WAPITI

The Westland Wapiti was a British

Two-seat single-engine biplane

For general-purpose military use

Named after one of the deer family

It entered service with the RAF in 1928,

It remained in service until 1942

THE BRISTOL BULLPUP

The Bristol Bullpup was a British

Single-seat biplane fighter Aircraft

Intended for use by the RAF

During the inter-war period

But was not selected for service

And only a prototype was ever built

THE BRISTOL BULLDOG

The Bristol Bulldog was a British

Single-seat biplane fighter Aircraft

In use with the Royal Air Force

During the inter-war period

From 1928 up until 1937

THE WESTLAND INTERCEPTOR

The Westland Interceptor was a British

Single seat monoplane fighter aircraft

Built during the inter-war period

But was not selected for service

As the Air Ministry selected

Its main competitor the Hawker Fury

THE VICKERS JOCKEY

The Vickers Type 151 Jockey was a British

Experimental low wing monoplane interceptor

Designed and built during the inter-war period

However only one prototype was ever built

And that crashed in Suffolk during a test flight

THE VICKERS VENOM

The Vickers Type 279 Venom was a British

Low-wing monoplane, single-seat, single-engine,

Fighter aircraft armed with an eight-gun array

Based on the Type 151 Jockey fighter

Designed and built during the inter-war period

Envisaged by the Air Ministry for use in the tropics

But was ultimately rejected due to the Aquila engine

THE SAUNDERS A.10

The Saunders A.10 was a private venture

Four-gun, single-seat, single-engine biplane

Designed and built during the inter-war period

Which never got past the prototype stage

THE DE HAVILLAND DH.77

The de Havilland DH.77 was a British

Single-seat monoplane fighter

A fast-climbing interceptor

Intended for use by the RAF

During the inter-war period

But was not selected for service

As the Air Ministry selected

Its main competitor the Hawker Fury

THE GLOSTER SS.19. GAUNTLET

The Gloster Gauntlet was a British

Single-seat biplane fighter aircraft

In use with the Royal Air Force

From the middle of the 1930s

Until they were withdrawn in 1943

THE MARTIN-BAKER MB 2

The Martin-Baker MB 2 was a British

Private-venture fighter prototype

Based on an earlier civil aircraft

Which was rejected by the RAF

And never entered serious production

THE GLOSTER F.5/34

The Gloster F.5/34 was a British

single-seat, single-engine monoplane

All metal fighter of the 1930s

Armed with eight machine guns

Intended for use by the RAF

During the late inter-war period

In the end it was surpassed

By the Hawker Hurricane

THE ARMSTRONG WHITWORTH A.W.35 SCIMITAR

Was a British single-engine biplane fighter

Intended for use by the RAF

During the inter-war period

But was not selected for service

Although four Scimitars went to

The Norwegian Army Air Service

But they never saw action

THE ARMSTRONG WHITWORTH A.W.16

The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.16

Was a British single-seat biplane fighter

Intended for use by the RAF

During the inter-war period

But was not selected for service

As the Air Ministry selected

The Gloster Gladiator instead

ARMSTRONG WHITWORTH A.W.14 STARLING

The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.14 Starling

Was a British single-seat biplane fighter

Intended for use by the RAF

During the inter-war period

But was not selected for service

As the Air Ministry selected

Its main competitor the Bristol Bulldog

THE FAIREY FOX

The Fairey Fox was a British

Light bomber and fighter biplane

Produced for use by the RAF

During the inter-war period

And remained in service until 1945

THE FAIREY PINTAIL

The Fairey Pintail was a British

Two-seater, single-engine

Floatplane fighter from the 1920s

Intended for use by the RAF

as a reconnaissance fighter

But in the end, it was rejected

And the only orders placed were

By the Imperial Japanese Navy

Wednesday, 16 April 2025

THE FAIREY FAWN

The Fairey Fawn was a British

Single-engine light bomber

Biplane of the inter-war period

Serving with the Royal Air Force

Between 1924 and 1929

THE AVRO 604 ANTELOPE

The Avro 604 Antelope was a British

Two-seat single-engine bomber biplane

Intended for use by the RAF

During the inter-war period

But was not selected for service

As the Air Ministry selected

Its main competitor the Hawker Hart

THE DE HAVILLAND DH.65 HOUND

The de Havilland Hound was a British

Two-seat single-engine bomber biplane

Intended for use by the RAF

During the inter-war period

But was not selected for service

Due to its wooden construction

And underperformance against

Its main competitor the Hawker Hart

THE DOUGLAS HAVOC

The Douglas A-20 Havoc was an American

Fighter interceptor, also known as a DB-7

With three crew, pilot, observer and gunner

The Havoc served with the Royal Air Force

After the Battle of France was lost

And operated throughout the war

Finally being retired in 1949

THE DOUGLAS BOSTON

The Douglas A-20 Boston was an American

Light bomber, also known as a DB-7

With three crew, pilot, bombardier and gunner

The Boston served with the Royal Air Force

After the Battle of France was lost

And operated throughout the war

Finally being retired in 1949

THE BLACKBURN B.44

The Blackburn B.44 was a British

Single-engine fighter aircraft

Which was notable in two ways

Firstly it was a flying boat fighter

And it possessed a retractable hull

However due to engine supply issues

It never made it into production