And now for some real
ugly ducklings 😁
Imagine 80 years ago training as an aspirant Naval Aviator or Observer in this
Fairey Fulmar at RNAS Yeovilton - Somerset
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This aircraft-carrier-based Recce aircraft, named after a seabird, was only used during World War II developed from the Fairey Battle.
In fact an RAF
Fairey Battle was the very first aircraft to shoot down a German aircraft, a Messerschmitt Bf-109 over France during the "Phoney War", a victory for the gunner Sergeant F. Letchford ( 20 SEP 1939 )... so ugly planes but sometimes effective !
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If You think it couldn't get worse
☕
Here's the lesser-known
Blackburn Skua another aircraft-carrier-based single engine two-seater aircraft, in fact the first Royal Navy all-metal monoplane, again named after a seabird ( which divebombs potential predators that come too close to its nest ).
Again sometimes effective, as the
Blackburn Skua was the first Fleet Air Arm aircraft to shoot down a German aircraft, a Dornier Do 18 flying boat with crew of 4 over the North Sea, by Naval aviator Lt B S McEwen (+ observer) of Naval Air Squadron 803 ( 26 SEP 1939 )
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