FAIREY GORDON -
The Fairey Gordon was a general-purpose air-craft and day bomber developed
for RAF use from the Fairey IIIF, first flown on March 3, 1931, and featuring
an uncowled 605 hp Panther IIA radial, one aft-mounted Lewis 0.303-in
(7.7-mm) gun on Fairey high-speed mount, a fixed forward-firing Vickers
gun and up to 500 Ib (227 kg) of bombs. Production for RAF totalled 154
Mk I (plus about 80 earlier IIIFs converted) and 24 Mk II with taller,
more rounded fin-and-rudder and other changes; some served as float-planes.
Up to 30 still serving in Middle East (Nos 6, 45 and 47 Squadrons) in
1939 and a few in UK as target tugs at air armament schools. Six transferred
to Royal Egyptian Air Force and, in April-August 1939, 49 Mk Is and Us
to RNZAF of which 30 in service when Pacific War opened in December 1941.
Max speed, 145 mph
(233 km/h) at 3,000 ft (914 m). Gross weight, 5,906 Ib (2,679 kg). Span,
45ft 9 in (13.95 m). Length, 36 ft 9 in (11.20m).
