Fairey Battle Mk I

This Battle served with Coastal Command in Iceland for a brief period from August 1940 before crashing in bad weather. Its two crew members were injured but were able to reach safety after a two-day walk which included crossing three rivers.

Fairey Battles were the monoplane successors to the Hart and Hind biplane light bombers. Their limited range and bomb load, coupled with a relatively slow top speed, meant they were outclassed by enemy fighters. During the Battle of France in 1940, they were lost at a catastrophic rate. Battles were withdrawn from frontline service by the end of that year.