ADF Serials - Fairey Battle

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

RAAF A22 Fairey Battle - Instructional Airframes

RAAF Fairey Battle Pages by Serial Range
Battle Index Page	K7575 to K9486	L4941 to L5798	N2027 to N2256	P2157 to P6762	R3924 to R7385	V1201 to V1277	Instructional Airframes

At least thirteen RAAF Battles are known to have been converted to instructional airframes - with two yet to be identified.

Other Battles which may have been employed as Instructional Airframes include:

L5202 1 Air Observers School allotted 41 Squadron Air Training Corps 31 May 1944 for instructional purposes, then cancelled July 1944 and then converted to components in December 1944.

L5644 1 Air Depot to Engineer School 23 November 1942 for alterations to cockpit, no further details.

L5704 From 1 Initial training School, Somers to 1 Central Recovery Depot, Werribee December 1944. (Ref 1 Central Recovery Depot A.50).

	C/N	Aircraft Serial	Model	History
Instructional Airframe No.1		L5142	Mk.I	RAF History: Built by Austin, Longbridge, 06/06/1939 19 MU, RAF St Athan, 11/01/1940 3 Bombing & Gunnery School, 02/07/1940 10 Bombing & Gunnery School, 13/08/1940 Overshot landing into ditch, Annan LG, 20/08/1940 Fairey, 22/11/1940 47 MU, RAF Sealand, 15/01/1941 To RAAF. RAAF History: 06/04/1941 Awaiting erection at 1 Air park ex UK with Merlin III 4527, 02/05/1941 Awaiting conversion to instructional aircraft due to salt water corrosion, Merlin 4527 Allotted to 1 Air Depot), 09/05/1941 Issued 1 Engineering Squadron as instructional, Converted Battle Instructional Airframe No.1. Converted to Produce (Date unrecorded).
Instructional Airframe No.2	F2463	K7705	Mk.I	RAF History: Built by Fairey (Hayes) under contract 321541/35, 22/04/38 35 Sqn, 14/10/38 226 Sqn, 25/04/40 8 MU, RAF Quedgeley, 18/06/40 Western A/W, 23/08/40 27 MU, RAF Shawbury, 05/10/40 1 Flying Training School, 11/12/40 pilot overcome by fumes, crach landed 2 miles east of Devizes, Wiltshire, 22/02/41 Instructional Airframe 2546M, ??/??/41 To RAAF, RAAF History: 29/08/41 Received at 1 Air Park, Geelong with Merlin A.1349 ex UK, 20/09/41 Allotted 1 ES ex 1 Air Depot, Laverton, 26/09/41 Issued 1 ES ex 1 Air Depot, Laverton, Converted to Instructional Airframe No2.
Instructional Airframe No.3	F2885	K9297	Mk.I	RAF History: Built by Fairey (Stockport) under contract 768880/30, 08/03/38 103 Sqn 03/11/39 Abingdon, 13/01/40 63 Sqn, 18/04/40 12 Operational Training Unit, 09/02/41 20 MU, RAF Aston Down, 01/03/41 47 MU, RAF Sealand, 24/03/41 To RAAF RAAF History: 24/05/41 Awaiting erection at 1 Air Park, Geelong ex UK with Merlin III 1635, 29/09/41 Allotted 2 Bombing & Gunnery School, Port Pirie ex 1 Air Park, Geelong (Received 14/10/41), 23/11/41 Two rounds fired into fuselage forward from tail on port side. Extensive damage to airframe, 27/12/41 L5551 collided with K9297 which was stationary. Rudder and starboard wingtip damaged. Fuselage bay aft near cockpit damaged, 24/08/42 Awaiting conversion, Converted to Instructional Airframe No 3, 22/09/43 Converted to components. The RAAF Museum website states that: "In 1940, Plt Off. R. Givens, of No 88 Sqn, RAF, flew Battle K9297 in combat over France with the AASF (Advanced Air Striking Force), and, in 1941, he flew the same aircraft, K9297, in Australia as a FltLt instructor on exchange duty with the RAAF. "
Instructional Airframe No.4		L5529	Mk.I	RAF History: Built by Austin, Longbridge, 28/03/1940 27 MU, RAF Shawbury, 29/06/1940 Bramcote, 01/07/1940 300 Sqn, 13/11/1940 47 MU, RAF Sealand, 15/01/1941 To RAAF. RAAF History: 06/04/1941 Awaiting erection at 1 Air Park ex UK with Merlin III 8337, 06/06/1941 Serviceable at 1 Air Park, 12/06/1941 Allotted 2 Bombing & Gunnery School ex 1 Air Park Serviceable (1 Air Depot for modification), 22/06/1941 Received 1 Air Depot ex 1 Air Park for modification, 29/06/1941 Serviceable at 1 Air Park, 27/07/1941 Received at 1 Communications Flight ex 1 Air Depot, 21/08/1941 Issued 2 Bombing & Gunnery School ex 1 Air Depot Serviceable, 01/09/1941 Received 2 Bombing & Gunnery School ex 1 Air Depot, 20/04/1942 Undercarriage collapsed on landing, extensively damaged, 20/04/1942 Grounded at 2 Bombing & Gunnery School, 24/08/1942 Awaiting conversion, Converted to Battle Instructional Airframe No.4. 22/09/1943 Converted to components.
Instructional Airframe No.5		L5031	Mk.I	RAF History: Built by Austin, Longbridge, 29/03/1939 6 MU, RAF Brize Norton, 18/01/1940 266 Sqn, 09/02/1940 245 Sqn, 02/05/1940 22 MU, 05/03/1941 Engine cut, belly landed in marshes, Skinburness, near Silloth, Repaired on site, 05/07/1941 Undercarriage jammed, belly landed, Dumfries, Dumfries, 16/09/1941 47 MU, RAF Sealand, 14/10/1941 To RAAF. RAAF History: Currently Researching, 02/01/1942 Received 1 Air Park ex UK with Merlin 3221, 02/02/1942 Awaiting erection at 1 Air Park, 21/01/1942 Allotted 3 Bombing & Gunnery School ex 1 Air Park, 24/01/1942 Issued 3 Bombing & Gunnery School ex 1 Air Park, 29/01/1942 Received 3 Bombing & Gunnery School ex 1 Air Park, 28/09/1942 Awaiting Conversion, 27/09/1942 3 BGS, overshot emergency strip & hit tree stump. Starboard mainplane, fuselage and undercarriage damaged, Converted to Instructional Airframe No 5, Converted to Components.
Instructional Airframe No.6		TBA	?	Currently researching.
Instructional Airframe No.7		TBA	?	Currently researching.
Instructional Airframe No.8		L5257	Mk.I	RAF History: Built by Austin, Longbridge, 09/08/1939 1 Air Observers School, 9 Bombing & Gunnery School, 04/06/1940 Bounced on landing, swung and undercarriage collapsed, Penrhos, Repaired on site, 9 Air Observers School, 30/07/1941 18 MU, RAF Tinwald Downs, 03/12/1941 47 MU, RAF Sealand, 21/01/1942 To RAAF. RAAF History: 19 Jun 1943 West Sale? 3 BAGS, port wing hit by starboard tailplane of Fairey Battle L5015 in formation flying, Crew: Sgt. D. Warrell (418775), LAC S.E. Young, & LAC D. O'Brien. Became Battle Instructional Airframe No.8.
Instructional Airframe No.9		L5038	Mk.I	RAF History: Built by Austin, Longbridge, 06/04/1939 6 MU, RAF Brize Norton, 05/08/1940 103 Sqn, 12/10/1940 38 MU, RAF Llandow, 27/11/1940 Austin, 04/01/1941 Parks, 11/03/1941 To RAAF. RAAF History: Currently Researching 16/05/1941 Awaiting erection at 1 Air Park ex UK with Merlin III 2917, 29/09/1941 Allotted 2 Bombing & Gunnery School ex 1 Air Park, 14/10/1941 Received 2 Bombing & Gunnery School ex 1 Air Park, 08/12/1943 Allotted 3 AOS ex 2 Bombing & Gunnery School, 13/12/1943 Received 3 AOS ex 2 Bombing & Gunnery School, 24/02/1944 Allotted 1 CRD ex 3 AOS pending approval for conversion, 10/08/1944 Aircraft selected to be converted to Instructional Airframe No 9 and to be issued to Hobart Air Training Corps Squadron, Tasmania, HQ ATC Tasmania Squadron, Hobart, 28/05/1947 Disposed of through Commonwealth Disposals Commission on No6 P.D. IV No 220 4 July 1946.
Instructional Airframe No.10		N2091	Mk.I	RAF History: Built Fairey at Stockport under contract 768880/38, 17/03/1939 504 Sqn, 27/07/1939 5 MU, RAF Kemble, 29/02/1940 1 Air Armament School, 20/05/1941 Fairey, 04/08/1941 47 MU, RAF Sealand, 27/08/1942 To RAAF. RAAF History: 21/11/1941 Received 1 Air Park ex UK with Merlin V 4661, 02/01/1942 Allotted 1 Bombing & Gunnery School ex 1 Air Park, 16/01/1942 Issued 1 Bombing & Gunnery School ex 1 Air Park, 17/01/1942 Received 1 Bombing & Gunnery School ex 1 Air Park, 21/07/1943 Trainee attempted to stow gun whilst magazine was still attached, and the safety catch was in the firing position, The result was several shots were fired into rear portion of the fuselage of the aircraft, Airframe hours: 940 Crew: SGT G.C.Nicholls. 424511 LAC H.F.Galvin. 429204 (Repaired) 08/12/1943 Allotted 1 Air Observers School ex 1 Bombing & Gunnery School, 13/12/1943 Received 1 Air Observers School ex 1 Bombing & Gunnery School, 05/01/1944 Allotted 2 Air Depot ex 1 Air Observers School, 13/01/1944 Received 2 Air Depot ex 1 Air Observers School, 16/06/1944 Issued Central Flying School ex 2 Central Recovery Depot, 01/06/1944 Returned to 1 Central Recovery Depot, Aircraft Unserviceable, 01/09/1944 Converted to Battle Instructional Airframe No.10., 08/11/1944 Converted to produce.
Instructional Airframe No.11		L5152	Mk.I	RAF History: Built by Austin, Longbridge, 06/06/1939 24 MU, RAF Ternhill, 30/03/1940 36 MU, RAF Sealand, 06/09/1940 To RAAF. RAAF History: Currently Researching Became Battle Instructional Airframe No.11.
Instructional Airframe No.12	F2999	K9411	Mk.I	RAF History: Built by Fairey (Stockport) under contract 768880/30, 06/12/38 52 Sqn, 26/08/39 103 Sqn, 24/02/40 8 MU, RAF Quedgeley, 07/05/40 13 MU, 23/05/40 Rollason, 30/06/40 38 MU, RAF Little Rissington, 01/09/40 47 MU, RAF Sealand, 19/09/40 To RAAF, RAAF History: 03/12/1940 Received 1 Air Park, Geelong ex UK with Merlin III 1299, 31/12/40 Temp allotted 1 Air Depot, Laverton for test of air cleaner, 07/01/41 Reallotted 1 Bombing & Gunnery School - tests completed, 21/04/41 Merlin 1299 Allotted 1 Air Depot, Laverton for repair, 28/04/41 U/S at 1 Bombing & Gunnery School (minus engine), 19/07/41 1 Bombing & Gunnery School, 08/12/42 Allotted 1 Air Observers School ex 1 Bombing & Gunnery School (Received 13/12/43), 10/01/44 At 1 Air Observers School awaiting oils seals, 24/02/44 Allotted 1 Central Recovery Depot, Werribee ex 1 Air Observers School, 15/05/44 Still at 1 Air Observers School, 10/05/44 Required for instructional purposes to ATCS. Held pending action, 31/05/44 Selected for allotment to ATC 153 SQN Charters Towers, 16/06/44 Allotted to 1 Central Recovery Depot, Werribee for issue to ATC Squadron, 31/07/44 In view of acute shortage of aircrew for this a/c requested approval for flight in mid August, 18/08/44 Awaiting ferry flight by 2 AP to HQ 153 SQN ATC Charters Towers, Converted to Instructional Airframe No 12, 17/01/46 Offered for Disposal, 08/08/46 Airframe transferred to Army Salvage Depot Townsville for subsequent sale by auction, 18/03/47 Advised by Commonwealth Disposals Commission. Sale of aircraft Townsville Grammar school for 5 pounds.
Instructional Airframe No.13	F2912	K9324	Mk.I	RAF History: Built by Fairey (Stockport) under contract 768880/30, 27/09/38 185 Sqn 10/10/38 218 Sqn, 07/03/40 10 MU, RAF Hullavington, 02/04/40 Austin, 17/07/40 38 MU, RAF Little Rissington, 01/09/40 47 MU, RAF Sealand, 19/09/40 To RAAF RAAF History: 03/12/40 Received from RAF, ??/??/41 1 Bombing & Gunnery School, 24/03/41 Forced landing after engine failure, 25/03/41 Second forced landing after engine failure, Missing the history of this aircraft from 1941-44, 14/09/44 Converted to Instructional Airframe No 13, Sold by Commonwealth Disposals Commission (Vic) to All Souls School.

The Author of this page is Brendan Cowan.

Special thanks to John Bennett for his assistance with this page.

Source: National Archives, 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.

Updated 06 December 2020

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."