The Fairey Fox was a British

light bomber A light bomber is a relatively small and fast type of military bomber aircraft that was primarily employed before the 1950s. Such aircraft would typically not carry more than one ton of ordnance. The earliest light bombers were intended to dr ...

and fighter

biplane A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...

of the 1920s and 1930s. It was originally produced in Britain for the RAF, but continued in production and use in

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

long after it was retired in Britain.

Development and design

Fox I

In 1923,

Charles Richard Fairey Sir Charles Richard Fairey (5 May 1887 – 30 September 1956), also known as Richard Fairey, was an English aircraft manufacturer. Early life Charles Fairey was born on 5 May 1887 in Hendon, Middlesex and educated at the Merchant Taylors' Sc ...

, founder and chief designer of

Fairey Aviation The Fairey Aviation Company Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer of the first half of the 20th century based in Hayes, Hillingdon, Hayes in Middlesex and Heaton Chapel and RAF Ringway in Cheshire that designed important military aircraft ...

, disappointed with his

Fawn A deer (: deer) or true deer is a hoofed ruminant ungulate of the family (biology), family Cervidae (informally the deer family). Cervidae is divided into subfamilies Cervinae (which includes, among others, muntjac, elk (wapiti), red deer, a ...

bomber, which owing to the constraints of

Air Ministry The Air Ministry was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force and civil aviation that existed from 1918 to 1964. It was under the political authority of the ...

specifications, was slower than the

Airco DH.9A The Airco DH.9A is a British single-engined light bomber that was designed and first used shortly before the end of the First World War. It was a development of the unsuccessful Airco DH.9 bomber, featuring a strengthened structure and, cruciall ...

which it was meant to replace while carrying no greater bombload, conceived the idea of a private venture bomber not subject to official limitations, which could demonstrate superior performance and handling. On seeing the Curtiss CR, powered by a

Curtiss D-12 The Curtiss D-12, sometimes identified with the military designation Curtiss V-1150, was an aircraft engine of 18.8 liter displacement. It was a water-cooled V12, producing 443 hp (330 kW) and weighing 693 lb (314 kg). It wa ...

V-12 liquid-cooled engine of low frontal area and in a low drag installation, win the 1923

Schneider Trophy The Coupe d'Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider, also known as the Schneider Trophy, Schneider Prize or (incorrectly) the Schneider Cup is a trophy that was awarded first annually, and later biennially, to the winner of a race for seaplanes and ...

race, Fairey realised that this engine would be well suited to a new bomber and acquired an example of the engine and a licence for production.Mason 1994, p.167.Jarrett 1993, pp. 27–28. Fairey began design of a bomber around this engine, with detailed design carried out by a team at first led by Frank Duncanson and then by the Belgian

Marcel Lobelle Marcel Lobelle (–1967) was a Belgian aeronautical engineer who spent his professional career working in Britain. He was born in Kortrijk, Flanders, and fought in the Belgian Army at the start of World War I, with the 1st Regiment of Grenadier ...

. The resultant aircraft, the Fairey Fox, was a single-bay

with highly staggered wings, with a composite wood and metal structure.Jarrett 1994, p.45. The Curtiss D-12 was installed in a closely cowled tractor installation, with one radiator mounted on the underside of the upper wing, and a second retractable radiator that could be wound in and out of the fuselage as required. Pilot and gunner sat close together in two tandem cockpits, with the gunner armed with a Lewis gun on a specially designed high-speed gun mounting that allowed the gun to be stowed to reduce drag, with the pilot armed with a single synchronised

Vickers machine gun The Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a Water cooling, water-cooled .303 British (7.7 mm) machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army. The gun was operated by a three-man crew but typically required more me ...

.Jarrett 1994, p.47. Up to of bombs could be carried under the wings,Taylor 1974, p.136. aimed by the gunner whose seat folded to allow use of a bombsight. The prototype Fox first flew at

RAF Hendon Hendon is an urban area in the London Borough of Barnet, northwest London northwest of Charing Cross. Hendon was an ancient manor and parish in the county of Middlesex and a former borough, the Municipal Borough of Hendon; it has been part of ...

on 3 January 1925, piloted by Norman Macmillan, quickly demonstrating good performance and handling.Taylor 1974, pp. 136–137. Despite this, there was much resistance to the new bomber within the Air Ministry, with the Fox not designed to an official specification and having several features, such as fuel tanks within the fuselage, that went against official norm, and most importantly, it featured an American engine.Jarrett 1993, p.29. However, on seeing the prototype Fox being demonstrated on 28 July 1925,

Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries that have historical British i ...

Hugh Trenchard Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard, (3 February 1873 – 10 February 1956) was a British military officer who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force. He has been described as the "Fat ...

, the Chief of the Air Staff, announced that "Mr Fairey, I have decided to order a squadron of these machines", thus shortcutting official channels, an initial order for 18 Foxes following.Jarrett 1993, pp. 29–30.

Second generation Foxes

In 1926 the Air Ministry drew up Specification 12/26 for a new light-bomber for the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

. Unlike previous specifications, high performance was stressed, and many of the overly prescriptive requirements which had previously limited performance removed. At first, Fairey was not informed of the new specification, and only received a copy after protesting to the Air Ministry. To meet the requirement, Lobelle's team designed the Fox IIM, effectively an all-new aircraft with a metal structure as demanded by the Specification, and powered by a Rolls-Royce F.XIB (later named the

Rolls-Royce Kestrel The Rolls-Royce Kestrel (internal type F) is a 21.25 litre (1,295 in³) V-12 aircraft engine from Rolls-Royce. It was their first cast-block engine, and used as the pattern for most of their future piston-engine designs. Used during the interw ...

. It first flew on 25 October 1929. The competing

Hawker Hart The Hawker Hart is a British two-seater biplane light bomber aircraft that saw service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and manufactured by Hawker Aircraft. The Hart was a prominent British aircraf ...

and Avro Antelope prototypes had been flying for over a year by this time, and the Hart had received an initial production order in June 1929.Taylor 1994, pp. 196–197. Although the Fox IIM was not wanted by the RAF, Fairey demonstrated it to the

Belgian Air Force The Belgian Air and Space Component (, ) is the Air force, air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces, and until January 2002 it was officially known as the Belgian Air Force (; ). It was founded in 1909 and is one of the world's oldest air services. ...

, which wanted a light bomber to replace its Breguet 19s and had already bought Fairey Firefly II fighters from Fairey which had also set up a Belgian subsidiary,

Avions Fairey Avions Fairey was the Belgian-based subsidiary of the British Fairey Aviation that built aircraft for the Belgian government. It subsequently separated from the UK parent and became SONACA. History In the late 1920s, the ''Aéronautique Mil ...

, to build the Firefly. The Fox IIM was successful, winning an initial order for 12 Fox II reconnaissance aircraft to be built in England, with further production to come from Avions Fairey.Green 1967, pp. 27–28.

Operational history

The Fox entered service with No. 12 Squadron RAF in June 1926.Taylor 1974, p.140. The Fox proved to have spectacular performance, being 50 mph (80 km/h) faster than the Fairey Fawns that it replaced in 12 Squadron, and as fast as contemporary fighters.Thetford 1994, pp. 34–35. Such was the performance of the Fox that 12 Squadron was instructed to fly no faster than 140 mph (225 km/h) during annual Air Defence Exercises in order to give the defending fighters a chance.Mason 1994, p.168. Despite this, no further RAF squadrons were equipped with the Fox, and only 28 were purchased in total, with later aircraft being powered by the Kestrel engine and surviving Curtiss engined aircraft being re-fitted with the Kestrel. 12 Squadron, which later adopted a fox's mask as squadron badge in memory of their sole usage of the aircraft, remained equipped with the Fox until 1931, being finally replaced by the Hawker Hart. Foxes remained in use as dual control trainers at the

Royal Air Force College Cranwell The Royal Air Force College (RAFC) is the Royal Air Force academy which provides initial training to all RAF personnel who are preparing to become commissioned officers. The College also provides initial training to aircrew cadets and is resp ...

until 1933.Thetford 1994, p.39. Two superannuated Fox Mk.Is took part in the 1934

MacRobertson Air Race The MacRobertson Trophy Air Race (also known as the London to Melbourne Air Race) took place in October 1934 in aviation, 1934 as part of the 1934 Centenary of Melbourne, Melbourne Centenary celebrations. The race was devised by the Lord Mayor o ...

from

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

. One of them occasioned the only fatalities of the race when it crashed in

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. The other, commanded by Australian Ray Parer (a veteran of the 1919 England to Australia Air Race), had struggled no further than

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

when news came through that the race winner had completed the course. Parer and co-pilot Geoff Hemsworth continued an epic and eventful journey, taking nearly four months to reach Melbourne.Taylor 1974, p.142. The first Fox IIs entered service with the Belgian Air Force in early 1932 as a reconnaissance aircraft, with one winning the "Circuit of the Alps" race for two-seat military aircraft at the 1932 Zurich Aviation meeting.Taylor 1974, p.197. The Fox continued in production at Avions Fairey at

Gosselies Gosselies (; ) is a town of Wallonia and a district of the municipality of Charleroi, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowl ...

for much of the 1930s, forming the backbone of the Belgian Air Force, being used as reconnaissance, reconnaissance-bomber and two-seater fighters. Later aircraft were fitted with enclosed canopies and more powerful

Hispano-Suiza 12Y The Hispano-Suiza 12Y was an aircraft engine produced by Hispano-Suiza for the French Air Force before the Second World War. The 12Y became the primary French 1,000 hp (750 kW) class engine and was used in a number of famous aircraft ...

engines.Green 1967, pp.28–32. Over 100 Foxes were still in front-line service with the Belgian Air Force at the time of the German invasion on 10 May 1940.Garcia 2001, p.67. Although massively outclassed by the aircraft of the ''

Luftwaffe The Luftwaffe () was the aerial warfare, aerial-warfare branch of the before and during World War II. German Empire, Germany's military air arms during World War I, the of the Imperial German Army, Imperial Army and the of the Imperial Ge ...

'' they flew about 75 sorties and even claimed one kill of a

Messerschmitt Bf 109 The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a monoplane fighter aircraft that was designed and initially produced by the Nazi Germany, German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt#History, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW). Together with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the ...

.Green 1967, pp. 32–33.

Variants

;Fox I :Mixed construction light bomber for RAF. Powered by 450 hp (338 kW)

engine (also known as Fairey Felix). 25 built (including prototype).Jarrett 1994, p.48.Thetford 1994, p.38. ;Fox IA :Fox I powered by 490 hp (366 kW)

engine. Three built as new plus eight conversions. ;Fox IIM :Metal construction light bomber powered by 480 hp (358 kW) Rolls-Royce Kestrel IB. One prototype. ;Fox II :Production version of IIM for Belgium.

Supercharged In an internal combustion engine, a supercharger compresses the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to produce more power for a given displacement. It is a form of forced induction that is mechanically powered (usually by ...

Kestrel IIS engine. 12 built by Fairey in Britain, and a further 31 under licence by Belgian Avions Fairey at

(including two Fox IIS dual control aircraft).Taylor 1974, p.206.Green 1967, p.28. ;Fox III :Designation used for British built, Kestrel powered demonstrator (later designated Fox IV) and for Belgian built dual control trainer (also Fox Trainer) powered by 360 hp (270 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Serval engine.Green 1967, p.29. ;Fox IIIS :Fox Trainer converted with Kestrel IIMS. Five additional production aircraft by Avions Fairey.Taylor 1974, p.200. ;Fox III :Kestrel IIS and two forward-firing machine guns. 13 built at Gosselies. ;Fox IIIC :(C for Combat) – Bomber/reconnaissance version for Belgium powered by Kestrel IIS, with provision for underwing bombs, two forward-firing machine guns and enclosed cockpit.Green 1967, p.30. 48 built in Belgium, including one Fox Mk IIICS dual-control trainer. Last few fitted with 600 hp 448 kW) Kestrel V engine. ;Fox IV :Used for British built demonstrator (ex Fox III). ;Fox IV :Fox II converted with

brs engine. First flew 31 January 1934. ;Fox IV :British built

floatplane A floatplane is a type of seaplane with one or more slender floats mounted under the fuselage to provide buoyancy. By contrast, a flying boat uses its fuselage for buoyancy. Either type of seaplane may also have landing gear suitable for land, ...

(Fox Floatplane). Six were produced for the

Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...

vian Air Force to serve during the Colombia-Peru War of 1933, but by the time they had been delivered (in October 1933),Taylor 1974, p.202 the war was over.von Rauch 1984, p.4. They later (with the floats removed) carried out observation duties in the

Ecuadorian–Peruvian War The Ecuadorian–Peruvian War, known locally as the War of '41 (), was a South American border war fought between 5–31 July 1941. It was the first of three military conflicts between Ecuador and Peru during the 20th century. During the war, ...

in 1941. ;Fox VIR :Reconnaissance version powered by 860 hp (642 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Ydrs engine. 24 built for Belgium and two for Switzerland. ;Fox VIC :Two-seat fighter version of VIC. 52 built.Green 1967, p.31. ;Fox VII :Single-seat fighter version of the Fox Mk.VIR (also known as the Mono-Fox or KangourouAvions Fairey comes of age
. ''

Flight Flight or flying is the motion (physics), motion of an Physical object, object through an atmosphere, or through the vacuum of Outer space, space, without contacting any planetary surface. This can be achieved by generating aerodynamic lift ass ...

'', 2 May 1952, p.52. Provision for six machine guns. Only two aircraft were built. One converted back to Fox VI standard and one used as personal aircraft by

Willy Coppens Willy Omer François Jean baron Coppens de Houthulst, DSO MC (6 July 1892 – 21 December 1986) was Belgium's leading fighter ace and the champion " balloon buster" of World War I. He was credited with 37 confirmed victories and six prob ...

.Taylor 1974, pp. 203–204. ;Fox VIII :Final production version ordered as a result of international tensions in 1938. Based on VI but with three-bladed propeller and provision for four underwing guns. 12 built, with final aircraft completed 25 May 1939.Green 1967, pp. 31–32.

Operators

; *

Peruvian Air Force The Peruvian Air Force (, FAP) is the branch of the Peruvian Military of Peru, Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of aerial warfare, air power. Additional missions include assistance in safeguarding i ...

Peruvian Navy The Peruvian Navy (, abbreviated MGP) is the branch of the Peruvian Military of Peru, Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to from the Peruvian littoral. Additional missions include ...

; *

Swiss Air Force The Swiss Air Force (; ; ; ) is the air component of the Swiss Armed Forces, established on 31 July 1914, three days after the outbreak of World War I, as a part of the Swiss Army, army and in October 1936 as an independent service. In peaceti ...

– Switzerland received two Fox VIR for evaluation.Taylor 1974, p.202. ; *

** No. 12 Squadron RAF

Specifications (Fairey Fox VIR)

Notes

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Garcia, Dionisio. "Air Force on the Edge: Belgian Military Aviation in 1940". ''

Air Enthusiast ''Air Enthusiast'' was a British, bi-monthly, aviation magazine, published by the Key Publishing group. Initially begun in 1974 as ''Air Enthusiast Quarterly'', the magazine was conceived as a historical adjunct to ''Air International'' magaz ...

'', No. 96, November/December 2001. 65–68. * Green, William. ''War Planes of the Second World War:Volume Seven Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft''. London: Macdonald, 1967. * Jarrett, Philip. "By Day and By Night: Fairey Fox", Part 1. ''Aeroplane Monthly'', December 1993. London:IPC. pp. 26–31. ISSN 0143-7240. * Jarrett, Philip. "By Day and By Night: Fairey Fox", Part 2. ''Aeroplane Monthly'', January 1994. London:IPC. pp. 44–48. ISSN 0143-7240. * Mason, Francis K. ''The British Bomber since 1914''. London: Putnam, 1994. . * Pacco, John. "Fairey Fox" ''Belgisch Leger/Armee Belge: Het militair Vliegwezen/l'Aeronautique militaire 1930–1940''. Artselaar, Belgium, 2003, pp. 39–48. . * von Rauch, Herbert. "A South American Air War...The Letcia Conflict." ''

''. No. 26, December 1984 – March 1985. 1–8. . * Taylor, H A. ''Fairey Aircraft since 1915''. London: Putnam and Company, 1974. . * Thetford, Owen. "By Day and By Night: Fairey Fox", Part 3. ''Aeroplane Monthly'', February 1994. London: IPC. pp. 32–39. ISSN 0143-7240. * * {{Fairey aircraft 1920s British bomber aircraft 1930s British bomber aircraft

Fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...

Single-engined tractor aircraft Biplanes Aircraft first flown in 1925 Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear

Development and design

Fox I

Second generation Foxes

Operational history

Variants

Operators

Specifications (Fairey Fox VIR)

See also

Notes

References

Notes

Bibliography