Developed from the Fairey P.4/34 light bomber, the Fairey Fulmar was a two seat carrier based fighter of the British Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. First flying on 4 January 1940, it entered service in July 1940 with No. 806 Squadron, from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. Although lacking in performance and handicapped by the two seat requirement, it had long range and an effective armament of eight machine guns. Generally outclassed by single seat shore based fighters, it was used extensively in north Africa and the Mediterranean.
From 1942, Fulmars were replaced with single seat fighters, such as the Hawker Sea Hurricane, Supermarine Seafire and Grumman F4F Martlet (Wildcat). The last Fulmar was withdrawn from operation in February 1945.
Fairey Fulmars of 807 Squadron (in foreground) and Blackburn Skuas of 800 Squadron on the deck of HMS Ark Royal April 1941Fairey Fulmars of 807 Squadron (in foreground) and Blackburn Skuas of 800 Squadron on the deck of HMS Ark Royal April 1941Fairey Fulmar coming in to land on HMS Ark Royal 1941Fairey Fulmar coming in to land on HMS Ark Royal 1941Fairey Fulmar coming in to land on HMS Ark Royal 1941A Fairey Fulmar of 807 Squadron approaching from the far end of the deck. April 1941A Fairey Fulmar of 807 Squadron taking off. April 1941Fairey Fulmars of 807 Squadron from HMS Ark Royal April 1941Fairey Fulmar of 807 Squadron from HMS Ark Royal April 1941
HMS Formidable
Fairey Fulmar Mark Is of No. 803 Squadron from HMS Formidable, photographed from a third while flying to HMS Eagle during February 1941Fairey Fulmar Mark Is of No. 803 Squadron on the flight deck of HMS Formidable, after the Battle of Matapan, March 1941Fairey Fulmar on HMS Formidable during the Madagascar Operation 24 April – 10 May 1942Fairey Fulmars on the flight deck of HMS Formidable part of the naval covering force for the Madagascar Apr-May 1942803 Sqn FAA Fairey Fulmar on HMS Formidable during the Madagascar Operation 24 April – 10 May 1942
HMS Ravager Fulmar and Hellcat fighters in the hangerFulmar DR726 of 768 Squadron, flown by SLt. I. C. Faulconer – night deck landing February 23rd, 1944
HMS Springbank
Originally a cargo ship built in 1926 for Bank Line it was acquired by the Admiralty at the start of the war and converted to an “auxiliary anti-aircraft cruiser” by the addition of four twin 4-inch (102 mm) gun turrets and two quadruple 2 pdr (40 mm) “pom-pom”s.
Later, HMS Springbank was equipped with a cruiser athwartships catapult to enable a Fairey Fulmar fighter to be launched. From April to 27 September 1941 a Fairey Fulmar Mk.II of 804 Sqn FAA was carried. On the night of 27 September 1941 she was torpedoed by U-201 and sunk. During this time the Fulmar was launched on 2 combat missions, surviving both to be re-fitted to Springbank. On both occasions she was flown by Petty Office E.A. Taylor.
Royal Navy auxiliary anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Springbank with a Fairey Fulmar
HMS Victorious
Fairey Fulmar taking off from HMS VictoriousFairey Fulmar on HMS VictoriousFairey Fulmar May 1942 on HMS VictoriousFairey Fulmar May 1942 on HMS VictoriousRe-arming a Fairey Fulmar February 1942 on HMS VictoriousRe-arming a Fairey Fulmar 20 December 1941 on HMS VictoriousFairey Fulmar January 1942 landing on HMS VictoriousFairey Fulmar 6 January 1942 on HMS VictoriousFairey Fulmar February 1942 on HMS Victorious off IcelandFulmars on HMS Victorious March 1942 during an Arctic Convoy escort. HMS Renown in the backgroundPaymaster preparing to take off in the rear cockpit of a Fairey Fulmar from HMS Victorious April 1942Fairey Fulmars and Albacores fill the hangar of HMS Victorious, January 1942Fairey Fulmars on HMS VictoriousA Fairey Fulmar warming up on the flight deck of HMS Victorious. Note the Donald Duck painted on the nose of the plane.A Fairey Fulmar taking off from HMS VictoriousA Fairey Fulmar of 809 Squadron landing on HMS Victorious 9 April 1942Fairey Fulmar on board HMS VictoriousFairey Fulmars of 809 Sqn on board HMS Victorious 28 to 31 December 1941Fairey Fulmar on board HMS Victorious 14 to 16 March 1942Fairey Fulmar on board HMS Victorious 7 January 1942Fairey Fulmar on board HMS Victorious 2 to 9 March 1942
Land Based
Fairey Fulmar N2005Fairey Fulmar Oct 1942 NAS Lee-on-SolentFairey Fulmar planes grounded in the snow after a storm at RNAS Bonibristle 25 Jan 1942Fairey Fulmar planes grounded in the snow after a storm at RNAS Bonibristle 25 Jan 1942Fairey Fulmar Mark IFairey FulmarFairey Fulmar Mark IFairey Fulmar Mark IFairey Fulmar at HMS Spurwing
Miscellaneous Photographs of Fairey Fulmars
Fairey Fulmar undergoing catapult testsFairey Fulmar undergoing catapult testsFleet Air Arm Fairey Fulmar patrolling over a convoy.Fairey FulmarFairey FulmarFairey FulmarFairey Fulmar
Detailed Photographs of the Fairey Fulmar
Cockpit of the Fairey Fulmar.Cockpit of the Fairey Fulmar.Recruits training on a Fairey Fulmar January 1944 Maharagma CeylonEngine being removed from a Fairey Fulmar with the aid of a block and tackle against the background of jungle at Puttalam.Engine being removed from a Fairey Fulmar with the aid of a block and tackle against the background of jungle at Puttalam.
