ADF Serials - Fairey Battle

ADF-SERIALS
Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History

RAAF A22 Fairey Battle - Index Page

In the early stages of the Empire Air Training Scheme, it was planned to allocate some 900 aircraft to Australia for training purposes including 500 Avro Ansons and 400 Fairey Battles. In the end, while the scheme was expanded enormously, the RAAF was allocated 367* Fairey Battles from RAF stocks of which 365 were received and taken on RAAF charge. In RAAF service, all Battles retained their RAF Serials despite being allocated the RAAF prefix A22 (which was actually noted on their status cards in many instances).

While the arrival of the early Battle consignments in 1940 were announced to the Australian public as having a secondary combat capability, the reality was these aircraft were overwhelming used for target towing, bombing, gunnery, target towing, observer and pilot training duties as well as some use as communications and trials aircraft.

The first four Battles (P2167, P2169, P5239, P5247) were delivered to No 1 Aircraft Park at Geelong on 30 April 1940, and Flight Lieutenant J. Lerew tested the first of the assembled aircraft (P5239) on 29 June 1940.

Fairey Battle deliveries continued until the last Battle (V1202) was received at No 2 Aircraft Park on 7 December 1943.

Many Battles also arrived ex RAF having suffered from signifigant corrosion or damage prior to receipt by the RAAF. Considerable effort was expended in trying rectify the problems and several of them were written off or relegated to instructional airframe use either on arrival or after lengthy attempts to make them serviceable.

Units operating the Battle included 1 Bombing & Gunnery School/1 Air Observers School (Cootamundra and Evans Head), 2 Air Observers School (Mount Gambier), 2 Bombing & Gunnery School/3 Air Observers School (Port Pirie), 3 Bombing & Gunnery School/AGS (West Sale), 1 Operational Training Unit, CFS, Central Gunnery School (Sale, Mildura and Cressy), 1 Communications Flight/1 Communications Unit, 3 Communications Flight, 6 Communications Unit, 7 Communications Unit, 4 Service Flying Training School (Geraldton), 6 Service Flying Training School (Mallala), 12 Squadron, 22 Squadron, 24 Squadron, 35 Squadron. At least 13 Battles were also used as instructional airframes.

By 1944/45 most Battles had been either written off or placed in storage for disposal and the last of them were administratively written off by 1949.

Partial remains of a handful ex RAAF Battles survive today, with the most complete being N2188 which is undergoing long term restoration with the team at the South Australian Aviation Museum in Port Adelaide.

* Different sources record varying total figures of Battles allotted from the RAF and received by the RAAF in Australia. This is quite understandable due to the many record keeping anomalies related to the service of these aircraft. We have noted and explained where possible the anomalies on these pages.

Pages.by.Serial.Range	Quantity	Serials
K7575 to K9486 Airframe Histories	49	K7575, K7600, K7607, K7613, K7619, K7622, K7638, K7643, K7649, K7659, K7672, K7676, K7687, K7705, K7710, K9177, K9206, K9219, K9227, K9228, K9232, K9262, K9282, K9290, K9291, K9297, K9322, K9324, K9346, K9362, K9368, K9371, K9375, K9380, K9388, K9393, K9411, K9422, K9426, K9429, K9435, K9442, K9443, K9444, K9447, K9464, K9468, K9478, K9486.
		*Anomalies:* K9219 The form E/E.88 for K9219 is incorrectly marked as L9219 which was an RAF Blenheim IV. K9288 Noted in some references as an RAAF airframe but this aircraft went to the RCAF as 2054. K9323 Noted in some references as an RAAF airframe but this aircraft went to the RCAF. K9347 The RAAF raised an accident report for 09/03/1942 with this erroneous serial. K9392 Noted in some references as an RAAF airframe, which is understandable as the status card for N9392 is incorrectly marked as "K9392". The real K9392 served with the RAF from 19/11/1938 and was then transferred to the SAAF on 09/07/1941 where it became 981.
L4941 to L5798 Airframe Histories	185	L4941, L4954, L4958, L4970, L4974, L4975, L4982, L4985, L4998, L4999, L5005, L5006, L5012, L5013, L5015, L5017, L5018, L5022, L5023, L5028, L5029, L5031, L5038, L5044, L5046, L5049, L5050, L5052, L5061, L5069, L5070, L5082, L5087, L5094, L5096, L5105, L5108, L5117, L5122, L5124, L5128, L5129, L5134, L5142, L5143, L5151, L5152, L5156, L5158, L5163, L5170, L5173, L5202, L5212, L5215, L5217, L5221, L5223, L5244, L5251, L5257, L5258, L5262, L5267, L5274, L5278, L5291, L5302, L5305, L5311, L5313, L5320, L5322, L5326, L5354, L5357, L5358, L5382, L5385, L5387, L5390, L5403, L5407, L5409, L5417, L5425, L5434, L5435, L5444, L5452, L5471, L5478, L5488, L5522, L5527, L5529, L5533, L5551, L5594, L5595, L5596, L5599, L5600, L5602, L5603, L5604, L5609, L5610, L5617, L5626, L5629, L5633, L5636, L5639, L5640, L5644, L5650, L5651, L5652, L5653, L5654, L5655, L5656, L5657, L5658, L5659, L5660, L5665, L5670, L5675, L5676, L5677, L5678, L5679, L5683, L5684, L5687, L5689, L5692, L5693, L5694, L5695, L5697, L5700, L5701, L5702, L5703, L5704, L5709, L5710, L5721, L5723, L5725, L5727, L5728, L5734, L5735, L5736, L5738, L5741, L5751, L5754, L5756, L5757, L5758, L5759, L5760, L5763, L5764, L5765, L5770, L5772, L5774, L5778, L5779, L5781, L5785, L5789, L5790, L5791, L5792, L5794, L5696, L5797, L5698. L5696 & L5698 Were both allotted to the RAAF in the UK and dispatched from 47 MU (RAF Sealand) on on 18/10/1940 aboard SS Hertford. These airframes almost reached their destination, but were lost or damaged on 07/12/1940 when the Hertford struck a mine from the German Raider Pinguin at the entrance to Spencer Gulf off Liguanea Island, South Australia.
		*Anomalies:* L2166 Noted in some references as an RAAF airframe, which is understandable as the form E/E.88 for N2166 was marked "L2166" in error. L5240 Noted in some references as an RAAF airframe. Went to SAAF on 28/02/1941 as 946. L5285 Noted in some references as an RAAF airframe. Went to SAAF on 09/07/1941. L5777 Noted in some references as an RAAF airframe. Went to SAAF as 1051. L9219 The form E/E.88 for K9219 is incorrectly marked as L9219 which was an RAF Blenheim IV.
N2027 to N2256 Airframe Histories	37	N2027, N2038, N2039, N2045, N2053, N2054, N2063, N2064, N2065, N2066, N2089, N2090, N2091, N2092, N2096, N2710, N2124, N2163, N2166, N2170, N2176, N2179, N2182, N2188, N2223, N2225, N2228, N2229, N2233, N2236, N2240, N2244, N2247, N2250, N2251, N2255, N2256.
		*Anomalies:* N2017 Noted in some references as an RAAF airframe and an E/E.88 exists showing a Battle serialled N2017 as being received on 14/10/1942 with no further information recorded. In fact, this production batch began at N2020 and the serials N2017 to N2019 were never a allocated to any RAF airframe. It appears that this card was raised in error. N9323 Noted in some references as an RAAF airframe. The form E/E.88 for K9323 was erroneously marked N9323. The real N9323 was an RAF Tiger Moth. N2258 was an RAF Gloster Gladiator II.
P2157 to P6762 Airframe Histories	47	P2157, P2166, P2167, P2168, P2169, P2245, P2263, P2264, P2276, P2300, P2305, P2317, P2322, P2354, P2363, P2364, P2365, P5234, P5239, P5240, P5242, P5243, P5247, P5249, P5273, P5275, P5281, P5289, P6481, P6483, P6484, P6489, P6493, P6499, P6503, P6509, P6531, P6536, P6602, P6622, P6631, P6642, P6664, P6677, P6720, P6729, P6762.
		Anomalies: P2145 Quoted in some references as an RAAF Battle. The real P2145 was an RAF Hampden I. P2263 The form E/E.88 for P2263 was labeled incorrectly as "L2263". The real L2263 was an RAF Walrus. P5143 Noted in some references as an RAAF airframe. The form E/E.88 for L5143 was labelled incorrectly as "P5143". The real P5143 was an RAF Lockheed Hudson I. P6728 Incorrectly quoted in some sources as an RAAF Battle. RAF service only.
R3924 to R7385 Airframe Histories	26	R3924, R3925, R3927, R3928, R3929, R3931, R3934, R3936, R3939, R3944, R3948, R3949, R3951, R3954, R3956, R3957, R4002, R4006, R4008, R4009, R4012, R4019, R4049, R7377, R7380, R7385.
		Anomalies: R5956 Currently Researching - Probably a card marked in error for R3956.
V1201 to V1277 Airframe Histories	23	V1201, V1202, V1203, V1206, V1207, V1208, V1209, V1210, V1219, V1221, V1227, V1232, V1233, V1235, V1237, V1238, V1241, V1242, V1243, V1250, V1270, V1271, V1277.
		*Anomalies:* V1216 Noted in some references as an RAAF airframe. Went to SAAF on 02/03/1942 SAAF.
Totals	365	Received by RAAF from RAF
	2	Dispatched by RAF to RAAF but not received (L5696 & L5698)
	367	Allotted and dispatched by RAF to RAAF
Instructional Airframes	13	Airframes renumbered as Battle Instructional Airframes drawn from the aircraft listed above. Battle Instructional Airframe No.1 (L5142), Battle Instructional Airframe No.2 (K7705), Battle Instructional Airframe No.3 (K9297), Battle Instructional Airframe No.4 (L5529), Battle Instructional Airframe No.5 (L5031), Battle Instructional Airframe No.6 (Unidentified), Battle Instructional Airframe No.7 (Unidentified), Battle Instructional Airframe No.8 (L5257), Battle Instructional Airframe No.9 (5038), Battle Instructional Airframe No.10 (N2091), Battle Instructional Airframe No.11 (L5152), Battle Instructional Airframe No.12 (K9411), Battle Instructional Airframe No.13 (K9324).

The Author of this page is Brendan Cowan.

Source: National Archives, Dean Normans Aircrew Project, Aircraft Status Cards, British Military Aircraft Serials 1911-1979 Bruce Robertson, www.ozatwar.com, Fairey Battle in the R.A.A.F. John Lever, The Battle File. Air-Britain.

Emails: Warwick Henry, Mike Draper, Greg Hyde, Keith Hayles, Wynnum Graham, Dean Norman, Gordon Birkett, Grahame Higgs, Bob Livingstone, Michael Louey John Bennett, Geoffrey Sinclair.

Special thanks to Gordon Birkett for the artwork for P5239.

Updated 8 September 2022

It is our policy to only show historical events, no current operational information will be displayed on this website.
"The ADF-Serials team give permission to use the content of this page, excluding images, providing that it contains an acknowledgement to the adf-serials team and any other listed sources."