Fairey IIIF

Fairey IIIF
Type:	Biplane, ; carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft, ; light bomber
Design country:	United Kingdom
Manufacturer:	Fairey Aviation
First flight:	March 19, 1926
Commissioning:	1926
Production time:	1926-1932
Number of pieces:	597

The Fairey IIIF was a single-engine, three-seat reconnaissance aircraft of the carrier-based Fleet Air Force (FAA) of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and a two-seat multipurpose aircraft of the overseas squadrons and a light day bomber of the land-based forces of the RAF. It was an aerodynamically improved variant of the Fairey III , which had been built since 1917 , of which over 300 machines had been delivered in various variants.

History and construction

The company Fairey Aviation developed the IIIF as a candidate for the 19/24 tender of the Ministry of Aviation for a three-seat reconnaissance aircraft for the carrier-based Fleet Air Arm and a two-seat multi-purpose aircraft for the ground-based Royal Air Force . The first Fairey IIIF flew on April 20, 1926. It differed from the predecessor models of the Fairey III, which had been built since 1917, by a streamlined Napier Lion engine and a fuselage in composite construction (metal / wood frame for the fuselage) and only little changed wings compared to the last built Fairey IIID . The last versions of the Fairey IIIF had an all-metal frame for the fuselage and wings.

The Fleet Air Arm received over 350 Fairey IIIFs , making it the FAA's most popular aircraft type between the world wars. Together with the land-based aircraft of the RAF, the Fairey IIIF was after the Hawker Hart family the most produced British military aircraft between the wars.

Versions

Overall, after the prototypes N198 and N225 , the RAF received the following versions of the Fairey IIIF :

Fairey IIIF Mk.I: First production version of the Fairey IIIF as a three-seater reconnaissance biplane for the FAA, powered by a Napier Lion VA engine, mixed wood and metal construction. 50 machines built ( S1139 – S1148, S1168 – S1207 ).
Fairey IIIF Mk.II: FAA reconnaissance machine with Napier Lion XIA engine. 33 machines built ( S1208 – S1227, S1250 – S1262 ).
Fairey IIIF Mk.III: FAA reconnaissance machine with Napier Lion XIA engine and covered metal structure. 269 machines built.

thus 352 machines for the FAA

Fairey IIIF Mk.IV: Two-seat multipurpose biplane of the ground-based RAF units, the delivery of which began before the FAA machines; a total of 243 machines in variants.

Fairey IIIF Mk.V

First designation of the Fairey Gordon . Prototype Fairey IIIF Mk.IVCM J9154 , first flight after conversion in 1930, and Fairey IIIF Mk.IVB K1697 , first flight after conversion in 1931. 160 series machines and around 30 conversions.

Fairey IIIF Mk.VI

First name of the Fairey Seal . Prototype Fairey IIIF Mk.IIIB S1325 , first flight after conversion on September 11, 1930. 91 series machines.

Queen IIIF: Radio controlled targeting aircraft; three machines built.

At least two civilian Fairey IIIFs with Armstrong Jaguar VIC engines (c.1272 G-AASK , cn.1315 G-AATT ) were used for surveying tasks from 1930 (first in Sudan), of which at least the first was in 1930, the second in 1934 Crash was lost.

When MacRobertson Air Race to Australia started in October 1934, the Fairey IIIF G-AABY , a 1929-built, demonstriertes already in many states demonstration aircraft manufacturer that the target in Melbourne to value machine on November 24, a month after the eleventh and final the winner reached. This machine was later used as the VH-UTT in the Australian gold fields in New Guinea.

commitment

Used by the RAF in the Middle East

The Fairey IIIF was first used by the RAF in Egypt in the version Mk.IV for use by the troops, deviating from the manufacturer's assignment of the variant numbers. The first machines went to Squadron 47 in Khartoum , where they replace old Bristol Fighters and were used for the long-range training flight Cairo - Cape Town in 1927 under the Air Commander in Sudan, Air Commodore Charles Rumney Samson , who became the first British pilot on January 10, 1912 a ship and on May 9, 1912 was the first pilot to take off from a moving ship. Four planes flew from Heliopolis to Cape Town (April 21-25) and then back again from March 30th to May 22nd . Last year, four Fairey IIIDs with Napier Lyon engines of a separately installed “Cairo to Cape” flight had already carried out a similar stage flight, to which a return flight to Great Britain was added. Staffel 47 carried out such long-haul flights again in 1928 and 1929, on which they also practiced cooperation with colonial troops in the East African colonies on the way. In 1928 a machine was lost, whereby the crew remained unharmed. In 1929 a plane crashed near Gwelo in Southern Rhodesia on the return flight, fatally injuring the crew. In October / November 1930 a long-haul flight from Egypt to Gambia was carried out, after attempts in the two previous years to Nigeria and the Gold Coast . The squadron's routine activities consisted of reconnaissance and border control flights and flights in cooperation with the Sudan Defense Force on the ground. The Season 47 decreed in 1929 also Fairey IIIF - floatplane which it receives Nile in Khartoum to reconnaissance flights along the Nile and the Red Sea began. In July 1931 there was an intensified reconnaissance of South Sudan in the rainy season, which also served the planned introduction of flying boats on the Empire mail airline to South Africa. From January 1933, the squadron replaced their Fairey IIIF with the successor model Fairey Gordon , but kept the IIIF float planes even after the subsequent conversion in July 1936 to Vickers Vincent .

Fairey IIIF s over Aden

In January 1928, for a year in upgraded Aden stationed Season 8 of Airco DH.9A also on Fairey IIIF order. The machines were used against rebel tribes, crops being destroyed by incendiary bombs and villages being destroyed after warning. After their submission, survey, medical and mail flights were also carried out. In 1932 the squadron also made a flight to Cairo and back. In April 1935, from which replaced Vickers Vildebeest developed Vickers Vincent the Fairey IIIF in the relay.

In September 1929 the Squadron 45 in Cairo converted from the Airco DH.9A to the Fairey IIIF , the last of which were only released in February 1936. This squadron carried out the South Africa flight of the Middle East Command to Pretoria, which has been practiced for years, with five planes in 1934 and was carried by two Vickers Virginia VI transporters of the 216 . Relay accompanied. The conversion of the 45 squadron to the successor Fairey Gordon remained incomplete because it did not prove itself in Egypt. This season therefore also used the Hawker Hart and the Vickers Vincent and was not again equipped with Vickers Wellesley monoplane until November 1937 .

As the fourth and final season in the British colonies, the season 14 in Amman replaced their Airco DH.9A in November 1929 by Fairey IIIF , which flew reconnaissance over Palestine . This squadron successfully carried out the RAF's annual "Cairo to Cape" flight from January 11 to February 24, 1930. In 1932 the squadron made a similar flight to East Africa that lasted an extra month and included a larger exercise program with the King's African Rifles. As early as September 1932, the season 14 was converted to the Fairey Gordon .

In addition to this squadron to assert colonial power, the RAF Flight 481 was reclassified to the 202 squadron on January 1, 1929 in Malta . This squadron of Fairey IIIF float planes was used to monitor the sea areas around the British naval base. This season also made a sightseeing flight in the eastern Mediterranean in 1933 and visited Italian, Greek and Yugoslav ports. From May 1935 twin-engine Supermarine Scapa flying boats replaced the old float planes. In August 1935, the 202 squadron singled out the Fairey IIIF as the last operational squadron .

Use in Great Britain

The RAF also stationed Fairey IIIF at home to replace the Airco DH.9A , which was still used as a day bomber . So the 207 in Bircham Newton near King's Lynn in Norfolk replaced their DH.9A in December 1927 by Fairey IIIF , which was then replaced in August 1932 by the successor Fairey Gordon .

On March 1, 1929 in Bircham Newton with Airco DH.9A, the new Squadron 35 was converted to Fairey IIIF in November , which was also replaced by Fairey Gordon in 1932 .

Used by the Fleet Air Arm

On April 1, 1923, the Royal Air Force reorganized its aircraft carrier combat units. For the first time, special flights (swarm) were set up for the use of aircraft carriers. In May 1927, the A-subflight of the N ° 443 Fleet Reconnaissance Flight on the HMS Furious was the first FAA unit to receive the Fairey IIIF . In the course of 1927, the two newly established flights N ° 445 and N ° 446 for the HMS Courageous followed in September and the flight N ° 440 for the HMS Hermes in November .

In January 1929, Flight N ° 421 was converted from Avro Bison to Fairey IIIF for HMS Furious and renumbered to N ° 447 in April . In March, Flight N ° 441 followed on HMS Argus with Fairey IIIF instead of Fairey IIID , which was assigned to HMS Glorious the following year . In April the aforementioned renumbering followed and Flight N ° 448 with Fairey IIIF , which changed their numbers with the conversion and was first used on the HMS Eagle .

Also in 1930 with the flights N ° 442 and N ° 450 two more units with Fairey IIIF were created , which were previously equipped with Fairey IIID and Blackburn Blackburn . In 1931 flights N ° 449 and N ° 441 from Blackburn converted Blackburn and Fairey IIID and in November 1932 Flight N ° 460 from Blackburn Ripon to Fairey IIIF .

When the Fleet Air Arm was reorganized into squadrons on April 3, 1933, five squadrons with Fairey IIIF were created . The 820 squadron with nine IIIF came on the HMS Courageous , exchanged six machines for the successor Fairey Seal in June 1934 and was completely converted to Blackburn Shark in December 1934 . The 821 squadron with nine IIIFs of the HMS Courageous began immediately the conversion to the successor model Fairey Seal and gave up the last IIIF in October 1933. The 822 squadron with twelve machines of the HMS Furious kept the Fairey IIIF until July 1936, when it was briefly converted to the successor model Fairey Seal . The 823 squadron of the HMS Glorious in the Mediterranean fleet also had twelve Fairey IIIFs and returned to Great Britain in May 1934 due to the upcoming overhaul of the aircraft carriers. There the conversion to the Fairey Seal began and in December 1934 the last IIIF was handed in. The 824 squadron with nine Fairey IIIF came to the HMS Eagle , which was relocated to China Station , where it was reinforced to twelve aircraft by the Flight N ° 440 left behind by HMS Hermes . On October 8, 1934, the squadron was renamed 825 . When the carrier was relocated to the Mediterranean Sea in January 1935, the number of operational machines was reduced to six. The squadron remained on the return of the carrier to Great Britain in the Mediterranean and came in September on the HMS Glorious with twelve machines. In July 1936 the Fairey IIIF were exchanged for Fairey Swordfish .

With the conversion of squadrons 822 and 825 in July 1936, the Fairey IIIF retired after more than nine years in service on the British carriers.

As on-board aircraft on British cruisers and battleships, Fairey IIIF float planes had been in service for flights N ° 443 , N ° 444 and N ° 447 since 1931, which were renamed in 1936. The heavy cruisers HMS York and HMS Exeter used eight and five IIIFs , respectively , and the cruisers could take up to two machines on board.

The Fairey IIIF also retired as aircraft on board in 1936, most recently in Flight N ° 714 of the 4th Cruiser Squadron on the East Indies Station on the cruisers HMS Emerald , HMS Enterprise and HMS Norfolk until October 1936 and in Flight N ° 718 of the 8th. Cruiser squadrons on the America and West Indies station on their cruisers until December 1936. Both flights also had Hawker Osprey float planes from 1935 and replaced the older machines with Supermarine Walrus flying boats.

Use in the second row

For Season 24 in Hendon , two Fairey IIIF Mk.IV ( J9061 , K1115 ) were converted early on into two-seat liaison aircraft for members of the government or similar people. The British Minister of Aviation, Lord Londonderry , is said to have used the aircraft to fly to Geneva for the disarmament conference . After its time as an operational machine for active squadrons, the type still served for a considerable time in various school and training units of the RAF. The Fairey IIIF remained in service for training and support, although it was officially declared obsolete in 1940. Fairey IIIFs were still in use as target tugs in 1941 .

Use in other countries

A as in Argentina Corsair called Fairey IIIF

Argentina Argentina: In 1928, the Argentine Navy Air Force bought six new Fairey IIIF Mk.IIIM (Special) with 450 HP (336 kW) - Lorraine Dietrich Ed12 engines, which were delivered from 1929 and were called Corsair in Argentina . They had interchangeable landing gear and should also be used by the Argentine battleships as board aircraft with floats. In 1935, the machines still in existence were converted to Armstrong Siddeley Panther double radial engines and thus complied with the Fairey Seal . The last of these machines was retired in 1942.

Take-off of a Chilean aircraft on board

Chile Chile: Chile's Navy received four Fairey IIIF float planes, which were also to be used as aircraft on board by the Almirante Latorre . Through the reorganization of responsibilities, the machines then belonged to the Chilean Air Force in the 1930s.
Egypt 1922 Egypt: Egypt acquired a single, used Fairey IIIF in 1939 .
Greece Greece: The Greek Navy ordered ten Fairey IIIF float planes in 1929, which later came to the Greek Air Force through reorganization and were still operational in 1941. During the German attack in 1941, the remaining seven machines were caught by surprise and shot down.
Ireland Ireland: The Irish Air Corps purchased a single Fairey IIIF Mk.II F.968 in 1928 , planned as the S1262 , which was delivered in March 1928. On September 10, 1934, the plane crashed near Dublin . Two crew members died and the third was seriously injured. The planned procurement of four more Mk. IVs (c / ns F.969, F.970, F.1135, F.1136) machines was canceled for economic reasons.
New Zealand New Zealand: The Royal New Zealand Air Force bought two Fairey IIIF Mk.IIIM as early as 1928 , which were delivered in 1929 (c / ns F.1133, F.1134). The second machine was fitted with floats in 1930 and crashed on October 29, 1930, with the three occupants uninjured. A Mk.IIIB S1805 (cn F.1542) was procured as a replacement and was delivered in mid-1933. In 1940 this machine was still operational, but was soon taken out of service.
Soviet Union Soviet Union: The Soviet Air Force acquired a Fairey IIIF for comparison and trial purposes.

Further development

The further development of the Fairey IIIF focused on renewed replacement of the engine. The decision was made for the Panther IIA double radial engine of 525 hp produced by Armstrong-Siddeley . Series IIIFs, which made their first flights in 1930, were modified as prototypes. New floats have been developed for the Panther-powered variants. Instead of the initially planned names Fairey IIIF Mk.V and Mk.VI , it was decided to use new names.

The ground-based variant was named Fairey Gordon and was used by seven squadrons of the RAF. The carrier-based variant and the aircraft on board the ships of the Royal Navy were called Fairey Seal and were used by five carrier squadrons.

Technical specifications

Parameter	Fairey IIID	Fairey IIIF	Fairey Seal
crew	3	2-3	3
length	11.28 m	11.20 m (36 ft 9 in)	10.25 m
span	14.05 m	13.95 m (45 ft 9 in)
height	3.96 m	4.32 m (14 ft 2 in)	3.89 m
Wing area		40.8 m² (439 ft²)	41.2 m²
Empty mass	1473 kg	1752 kg (3855 lb)	1633 kg
Takeoff mass	2231 kg	2746 kg (6041 lb)	2727 kg
Top speed	171 km / h	193 km / h (120 mph)	222 km / h
Service ceiling	5182 m	6098 m (20000 ft)	6705 m
Range	885 km	2432 km (1313 nm)	966 km
Engine	Eagle VIII; 375 hp	Lion XI; 570 hp (423 kW)	Panther IIA; 525 hp (386 kW)
Armament	2 MG
Bomb load		up to 227 kg (500 lb)

literature

David Brown: HMS Eagle , Warship Profile 35, 1973
Philip Jarrett: Fairey IIIF , Airplane Monthly, March / April 1994, Vol 22 No 3 / Issue 251/2. London: IPC., ISSN 0143-7240 .
Philip Jarrett: Database: Fairey IIIF , Airplane Monthly, November 2011, Vol 39 No 11 Issue 463. London: Kelsey Publishing Group, ISSN 0143-7240 .
Peter Lewis: The British Bomber since 1914 , Putnam London, 3rd edition 1980, ISBN 0-370-30265-6
Francis K. Mason: The Fairey IIIF , Profile 44, 1965
Kenneth Munson: Bomber 1919–1939 , Orell Füssli; Zurich, 1971
Ray Sturtivant: The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm , Air-Britain Tonbridge, 1984, ISBN 0-85130-120-7
Harold Anthony Taylor: Fairey Aircraft since 1915 , Putnam London, 1988. ISBN 0-370-00065-X .
Owen Thetford: Aircraft of the Royal Navy since 1912 , Putnam London, 4th edition 1978, ISBN 0-370-30021-1
Owen Thetford: Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918 , Putnam London, 7th edition 1979, ISBN 0-370-30186-2
Owen Thetford: Fairey IIIF and Gordon in Service , Airplane Monthly, May 1994, Vol 22 No 5 Issue 253. London: IPC, ISSN 0143-7240 .
Randall AR Tonks: HMS Exeter , Heavy Cruiser Warship profile 13, 1971

Web links

Commons : Fairey III - collection of images, videos and audio files

Fairey III (Russian)
Fairey III (engl.)
Fairey IIIF (Engl.)
The Argentine FaireyIIIF MK.IIIM Corsair and MK.IV Seal
History of the Chilean naval aircraft (span.)
Fairey IIIF in Greek service
Procurement of Fairey IIIF by Ireland (English; PDF; 320 kB)
Story of the three New Zealand Fairey IIIF (Engl.)

Individual evidence

^ Taylor: Fairey Aircraft, p. 145.
↑ Jarrett: Fairey IIIF Part I, pp. 60f.
^ Thetford: Aircraft Royal Navy , p. 124.
↑ Thetford Airplane Monthly 1994, p. 33.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Taylor, p. 165.
↑ ^a ^b ^c Mason: Fairey IIIF, pp. 8,12
^ Mason, Fairey IIIF, pp. 4.12
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Mason, Fairey IIIF, pp. 5.12
^ ^A ^b Lewis: British Bomber , p. 192
↑ ^a ^b Lewis, p. 200
↑ ^a ^b Mason, p. 9
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Thetford, RAF, p. 243
^ Mason, p. 4
↑ "8 Squadron Moves to Aden" ( Memento from September 21, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
↑ ^a ^b Thetford, Airplane Monthly, May 1994, pp. 34f.
^ "Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Air" Flight international, Vol XXII, No. 1107, March 14, 1930, p. 300.
↑ Thetford, Airplane Monthly 1994, p. 202.
↑ Sturtivant, Squadrons FAA, p 466
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Sturtivant, p. 468
↑ Sturtivant, pp. 467f.
↑ Sturtivant, pp. 243, 247
↑ Sturtivant, pp. 250, 252
↑ Sturtivant, pp. 253f.
↑ Sturtivant, pp. 256f.
↑ Sturtivant, p 258, 266, 269
^ Mason, The Fairey IIIF , pp. 8f.
↑ Tonks, HMS Exeter , pp. 4ff
↑ Sturtivant, p. 42.
↑ Sturtivant, pp. 45f.
↑ Thetford, RAF, p. 245
^ Thetford, p. 128.
↑ Corsair / Seal in Argentine service ( Memento from September 21, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Jarrett: Airplane November 2011, p. 85.
^ Greek IIIF
↑ Irish Fairey IIIF ( Memento of March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
↑ Machines of the RNZAF

[1] Taylor: Fairey Aircraft, p. 145.

[2] Jarrett: Fairey IIIF Part I, pp. 60f.

[Thetford_Naval-3] Thetford: Aircraft Royal Navy , p. 124.

[Thetford_Aeroplane-4] Thetford Airplane Monthly 1994, p. 33.

[Taylor165-5] Taylor, p. 165.

[profileN-6] Mason: Fairey IIIF, pp. 8,12

[7] Mason, Fairey IIIF, pp. 4.12

[profile-8] Mason, Fairey IIIF, pp. 5.12

[Gordon-9] A ^b Lewis: British Bomber , p. 192

[Seal-10] Lewis, p. 200

[Civil-11] Mason, p. 9

[RAF-12] Thetford, RAF, p. 243

[13] Mason, p. 4

[8sqd_aden-14] "8 Squadron Moves to Aden" ( Memento from September 21, 2013 in the Internet Archive )

[Thet_Aeromay94-15] Thetford, Airplane Monthly, May 1994, pp. 34f.

[16] "Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Air" Flight international, Vol XXII, No. 1107, March 14, 1930, p. 300.

[Thetford_Service-17] Thetford, Airplane Monthly 1994, p. 202.

[18] Sturtivant, Squadrons FAA, p 466

[Flights-19] Sturtivant, p. 468

[20] Sturtivant, pp. 467f.

[21] Sturtivant, pp. 243, 247

[22] Sturtivant, pp. 250, 252

[23] Sturtivant, pp. 253f.

[24] Sturtivant, pp. 256f.

[25] Sturtivant, p 258, 266, 269

[26] Mason, The Fairey IIIF , pp. 8f.

[27] Tonks, HMS Exeter , pp. 4ff

[28] Sturtivant, p. 42.

[29] Sturtivant, pp. 45f.

[30] Thetford, RAF, p. 245

[31] Thetford, p. 128.

[32] Corsair / Seal in Argentine service ( Memento from September 21, 2013 in the Internet Archive )

[Aero_database-33] Jarrett: Airplane November 2011, p. 85.

[34] Greek IIIF

[35] Irish Fairey IIIF ( Memento of March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive )

[36] Machines of the RNZAF