Gallery No 7 - Fairey Fulmar

Fairey was one of the competing companies for who tendered for the UK Air Ministry specification P4/34 in 1937. The Fairey entry was similar to the existing Battle light bomber, but was smaller. After minor modifications, the design was quickly accepted and became known as the Fulmar. The first Fulmar Mk Is flew in 1940 to favourable handling reports, but since the aircraft was powered by a single Merlin engine, the speed was on the slow side and the ceiling was a little low. Some aviation authors have much criticised the Fulmar, but, as a carrier-based aircraft, it was never considered likely to run into land-based fighters. It is also worthy to note that the Fulmar had eight guns (the same as the Spitfire and the Hurricane), but carried twice the ammunition as these two aircraft, and had an endurance of five hours (much more than either the Hurricane or Spitfire).

The Fulmar was also superior to all the aircraft it replaced. The first FAA squadrons to receive the Fulmar Mk I in late 1940 were Nos. 808, 807, and 806 Squadrons on the Ark Royal, Eastleigh, and Worthy Down, respectively. The Fulmar Mk I saw extensive action in the Mediterranean against the Italian Air Force, helping to defend Malta and providing escort duties for Swordfish torpedo raids, such as at Taranto. The Fulmar was also used to develop catapult-type launching from ships, albeit that this type of launch was ultimately more applicable to other aircraft.

808 Squadron