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Fairbanks, David Charles DFC & Bar(2) (Squadron Leader)

Prisoner of War 1945-February-28

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date (age unknown)

Decorations: DFC & Bar(2)


Distinguished Service Cross 2 Bar
Service
RCAF
Unit
274 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Supero I conquer
Base
Manston
Rank
Squadron Leader
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
J/9069

After training, he was posted as a flight instructor to the No. 13 Service Flying Training School. After a year as a flight instructor, he got a posting in the UK to the No. 501 Squadron RAF at RAF Hawkinge, flying the Spitfire Mk V's. He scored his first victory on 8 June 1944, shooting down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 near Le Havre[1] It was also the only victory he scored on a Spitfires.[2] When 501 Squadron was re-equipped with Tempests, he was posted to No. 274 Squadron RAF. Before moving to Europe, Fairbanks shot down two V-1 flying bombs. Over the next two-and-a-half months, he scored 11 1/2 victories. Thus, he achieved with a remarkable tactic - at about 5 o' clock every day, he would orbit the airbase in the Rhine at 3,000 feet and regularly, dive to ground level for a few seconds, before climbing back to altitude. As the airfield was the most frequently-used base by Luftwaffe fighters, he would usually make contact with a Bf 109 or Focke-Wulf Fw 190. This tactic, although effective, meant he frequently lost his No 2's.[3] On 19 November 1944, Fairbanks was hit by ground fire. His fuel tank ignited and burned away his fuselage, but he was able to return to Volkel safely. He was posted to No. 3 Squadron in December 1944, then back to No. 274 Squadron on 9 February 1945 as squadron leader. Two days later, he downed an Arado Ar 234 jet reconnaissance bomber, the first of its type to be downed by the allies.[citation needed] On his way back from a train busting mission on 28 February 1945, Fairbanks was leading a section of 6 aircraft, including flying ace (and later author) Pierre Clostermann to attack 40 Fw 190s and Bf 109s. He was shot down by a Fw 190 and captured. He spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war.[

source: Wikipedia

Tempest NV943

Hawker Tempest

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (RAF Photo)
Hawker Tempest Mk. V, RAF (Serial No. NV596)

The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the Second World War. The Tempest, originally known as the Typhoon II, was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, intended to address the Typhoon's unexpected deterioration in performance at high altitude by replacing its wing with a thinner laminar flow design. Since it had diverged considerably from the Typhoon, it was renamed Tempest. The Tempest emerged as one of the most powerful fighters of World War II and was the fastest single-engine propeller-driven aircraft of the war at low altitude.

Upon entering service in 1944, the Tempest was used as a low-level interceptor, particularly against the V-1 flying bomb threat, and as a ground attack platform, in which it supported major events such as Operation Market Garden. Later, it successfully targeted the rail infrastructure in Germany and Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground, as well as countering such attacks by German fighters. The Tempest was effective in the low-level interception role, including against newly developed jet-propelled aircraft such as the Messerschmitt Me 262.

The further-developed Tempest II did not enter service until after the end of hostilities. It had several improvements, including being tropicalised for combat against Japan in South-East Asia as part of the Commonwealth Tiger Force.

The Tempest was a single engine fighter aircraft that excelled at low-level flight. In service, its primary role soon developed into performing "armed reconnaissance" operations, often deep behind enemy lines. The Tempest was particularly well suited to the role because of its high speed at low to medium altitudes, its long range when equipped with two 45-gallon drop tanks, the good firepower of the four 20mm cannon and the good pilot visibility. The three-piece windscreen and side windows of the Tempest had directly benefited from examination of captured Focke-Wulf Fw 190s, improvements included the careful design and positioning of the frame structure, blind spots being reduced to an absolute minimum. It had a bullet-resistant centre panel made up of two layers, the outer 1.5 in (38 mm) thick and the inner 0.25 in (6.5 mm). Wikipedia

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Hawker Tempest

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

last update: 2021-09-16 20:27:49

Tempest Mk. V NV943



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