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David C Fairbanks - Pilot Profile - David Fairbanks

David C Fairbanks

Victories : 12.5
-----------------------------
Country : US
Fought in : WW2
Fought for : Allied
Died : 1975


Awarded the Distinguished Flying CrossAwarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying CrossAwarded Two Bars to the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished
Flying Cross
Bar to the
Distinguished
Flying Cross
Two Bars to the
Distinguished
Flying Cross

Spitfire and Tempest pilot. Serving with No.3 Sqn and No274 Sqn RCAF, he claimed many enemy aircraft, including two Me109s and another damaged during one sortie. On one occasion, his Tempest was hit at low altitude and flipped upside down on fire. Where this would have meant disaster for most pilots, Fairbanks flew the aircraft inverted for a time before righting it, and by doing so put out the fire, which had already damaged his aircraft. After this he successfully returned to base. Later he was shot down and taken prisoner until the end of the war. He passed away in 1975.
Citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross, gazetted 16th March 1945 :

Flight Lieutenant Fairbanks has completed a large number of sorties and has set a fine example of determination and devotion to duty throughout. On one occasion in November 1944, whilst attacking an enemy locomotive, his aircraft was badly hit and turned completely over while at a low altitude. One of the petrol tanks was pierced and a fire commenced in one of the wings. Displaying admirable coolness and great skill, Flight Lieutenant Fairbanks succeeded in righting the aircraft and set course for home. The fire in the wing died down but not before it had done much damage. Nevertheless, Flight Lieutenant Fairbanks succeeded in reaching base. This officer has invariably displayed a high degree of courage.

Citation for the Bar to the DFC, gazetted 13th April 1945 :

This officer continues to display a high standard of skill and gallantry. Within recent weeks he has destroyed five enemy aircraft, bringing his victories to eight. Flight Lieutenant Fairbanks has also effectively attacked many enemy targets on the ground. His keenness and determination have set a high example to all.

Citation for the Bar to the DFC, gazetted 14th September 1945 :

Squadron Leader Fairbanks has destroyed fifteen enemy aircraft. On two separate occasions since his last award he has shot down two aircraft in one sortie and in less than a fortnight he has destroyed six, including a jet propelled aircraft. As a flight and then a squadron commander he has led many daring and highly successful attacks on enemy communications, principally locomotives and road transport. In three weeks seventy-two enemy locomotives and vehicles were successfully attacked. By the excellent example he has set, his initiative and fine leadership, this officer has inspired the other members of his squadron and all pilots with whom he has come in contact.


Latest Allied Aviation Artwork !
A Fairey Albacore of 826 Naval Air Squadron releases its torpedo at the Battle of Cape Matapan, 28th March 1941.  With intelligence from deciphered Italian communications aiding them, the British fleet had a distinct advantage from the outset of this battle.  However, gaining a torpedo hit on the well protected battleship Vittorio Veneto came at a price - Lt Com Dalyell-Stead and the crew of his Fairey Albacore got close enough to launch their torpedo and damage the battleship, but were killed when their aircraft was brought down by the hail of anti-aircraft fire returned.  Ultimately, the battle was a massive British victory with several Italian capital ships sunk, but it was a notable victory for innovation and intelligence, with British ship-borne radar decisive in a night action, and code-breaking by Bletchley Park aiding the British fleet.

Albacore at Cape Matapan by Ivan Berryman.
A prominent aviator in the Battle of the Atlantic, Terry Bulloch flew B-24 Liberators with No.120 Sqn in an anti-submarine role.  Already awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for shooting down two German aircraft in a No.206 Sqn Lockheed Hudson over Dunkirk, he was awarded a Bar to this when he sunk U-boat U-597 in October 1942.  After another attack, this time sinking U-132 and damaging U-89, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and gained a Bar to this on leaving No.120 Sqn at the end of 1942.  Bulloch is seen here on 8th July 1943 in Liberator GR Mk.V BZ721 of No.224 Sqn having completed his hat-trick of U-boat kills, this time sinking U-514 in the Bay of Biscay.  This type had been modified by RAF Coastal Command to carry rockets, which Bulloch had used to attack the submarine, finishing it off with depth charges.  After the war, Bulloch became an airline pilot, crossing the Atlantic on more than 1,000 occasions.  He died in 2014.

Tribute to Terry Bulloch by Ivan Berryman.
 In early May 1941, in conditions of strict secrecy because the United States was not yet at war, seventeen pilots of the US Navy had arrived in Britain and been attached to Catalina squadrons of Coastal Command.  These experienced PBY pilots were there to assist the Royal Air Force to become familiar with the Catalina, and also to gain operational experience for the US Navy.  On 26th May 1941 Catalina Z of No.209 Sqn, commanded by Flying Officer Dennis Briggs RAF, with Ensign Leonard B Smith USN as co-pilot, joined the search for the Bismarck.  At 1015 the aircraft was being flown in poor visibility at an altitude of 500ft when Ensign Smith sighted the Bismarck at a range of eight miles.  The Catalina was flown towards the contact so that a positive identification could be made and emerged from the cloud only 500 yards from the German ship.  The aircraft met a hail of anti-aircraft fire but was able to make its escape.  As a result of the sighting report from Catalina Z the Bismarck was again engaged by ships and aircraft of the Royal Navy and was sunk at 1040 on 27th May 1941.  Leonard Smith can be considered therefore, the first American to be directly involved in action in World War Two.  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (American) for his actions.

The Aircraft That Found the Bismarck by Ivan Berryman.
 Painted with the black and white markings of the D-Day invasion, P-51 Mustang 43-24823 B6-S 'Old Crow' is the personal aircraft of 'Bud' Anderson.  He flew two tours with the 363rd Fighter Squadron and is credited with 16.25 victories in 116 missions from February to December 1944.  After the war he became a test pilot, flying over 100 different aircraft types before retiring in 1972, often speaking at aviation history events ever since.  As of the time of writing in 2023, he is 101 years old and has just been promoted to the honorary rank of Brigadier General.

Tribute to Clarence 'Bud' Anderson by Ivan Berryman.

David C Fairbanks

Squadrons for : David C Fairbanks
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by David C Fairbanks. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

No.274 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : April 1918
Fate : Disbanded 7th September 1945

Supero - I oversome

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No.274 Sqn RAF

274 squadron was formed as a heavy bomber squadron at Bircham Newton in April 1918, and disbanded shortly after the Armistice. On 19th August 1940 it was reformed as a fighter squadron at Amriya with ten pilots from No.80 squadron and initially equipped with Hurricanes and Gladiators. The squadron was soon to become the first in the western desert to be fully equipped with Hurricanes. They became operational in September, destroying their first enemy aircraft (two SM79s) over Maaten Bagush on 10th September. Between December and February 1941, the squadron was employed on various duties including patrols, strafing Italian troops/transport and escort work. During February it was rested and some of its pilots ferried aircraft to Greece. In April they encountered German aircraft and were involved in the intense fighting over Tobruk. These operations continued until May, when they began strafing targets in Crete and providing cover for naval ships. Until March 1942 the squadron was involved in ground attack, protective patrols and bomber escorts. In May they began to receive the first Hurri-bombers, using them for the first time against enemy transport on 8th June 1942. There now began a period of intense activity including the battle of Alamein and more shipping patrols. This continued until the Autumn when the squadron was employed on coastal defence for the rest of 1942 and the majority of 1943. January 1944 saw a move to Italy and the beginning of a period of offensive sorties against enemy roads which continued until April. The squadron was then transferred to the UK and re-equipped with Mk IX Spitfires commencing fighter sweeps and bomber escorts until June, when it was transferred to anti V-1 patrols. In August, No.274 was re-equipped with the Hawker Tempest and commenced attacks against airfields on the continent, moving to Belgium in September. Throughout the winter it was involved on mainly armed reconnaissance patrols and had several combats with Me262 jet fighters - destroying one on the 11th February 1945. The squadron maintained its program of patrols and attacks against enemy airfields with great success, its last being on 4th May. Following VE Day (8th May 1945) No.274 Squadron moved into the Occupied Zone until September 1945 when they effectively disbanded by re-numbering as No.174 Squadron.

No.3 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 13th May 1912

Tertius primus erit - The Third shall be first

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No.3 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.501 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 14th June 1929
Fate : Disbanded 10th March 1957
County of Gloucester, City of Bristol (Auxiliary)

Nil time - Fear nothing

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No.501 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.
Aircraft for : David C Fairbanks
A list of all aircraft associated with David C Fairbanks. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
SquadronInfo

Spitfire




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Manufacturer : Supermarine
Production Began : 1936
Retired : 1948
Number Built : 20351

Spitfire

Royal Air Force fighter aircraft, maximum speed for mark I Supermarine Spitfire, 362mph up to The Seafire 47 with a top speed of 452mph. maximum ceiling for Mk I 34,000feet up to 44,500 for the mark XIV. Maximum range for MK I 575 miles . up to 1475 miles for the Seafire 47. Armament for the various Marks of Spitfire. for MK I, and II . eight fixed .303 browning Machine guns, for MKs V-IX and XVI two 20mm Hispano cannons and four .303 browning machine guns. and on later Marks, six to eight Rockets under the wings or a maximum bomb load of 1,000 lbs. Designed by R J Mitchell, The proto type Spitfire first flew on the 5th March 1936. and entered service with the Royal Air Force in August 1938, with 19 squadron based and RAF Duxford. by the outbreak of World war two, there were twelve squadrons with a total of 187 spitfires, with another 83 in store. Between 1939 and 1945, a large variety of modifications and developments produced a variety of MK,s from I to XVI. The mark II came into service in late 1940, and in March 1941, the Mk,V came into service. To counter the Improvements in fighters of the Luftwaffe especially the FW190, the MK,XII was introduced with its Griffin engine. The Fleet Air Arm used the Mk,I and II and were named Seafires. By the end of production in 1948 a total of 20,351 spitfires had been made and 2408 Seafires. The most produced variant was the Spitfire Mark V, with a total of 6479 spitfires produced. The Royal Air Force kept Spitfires in front line use until April 1954.

Tempest




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Manufacturer : Hawker
Production Began : 1943
Retired : 1949
Number Built : 1395

Tempest

The Hawker Tempest was a much improved development of the Typhoon and first flew in June 1943. and started service with the RAF in April 1944. mainly serving in the attack role in Europe against ground targets including the V1 Flying Bomb installations. It remained in service after the war until 1949 when it was eventually replaced by the Jet Aircraft. but continued for another 4 years in the Indian and Pakistan air forces. In total no less than 1395 Hawker Tempests were built. Speed: 426mph at 18,500 feet, Crew One. Range 800 miles. Armament: Four 20mm Hispano cannons mounted in the wings and a bomb payload of upto 2,000 lbs.

Known Victory Claims - David C Fairbanks

DATE

PILOT

UNIT

JG

CLAIMED

LOCATION

TIME

FRONT

08/06/1944Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.501 SqnMe109Western Front
08/06/1944Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.501 SqnMe109Western Front
29/08/1944Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.274 Sqn RCAFV1Western Front
17/12/1944Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.274 Sqn RCAFMe109Western Front
17/12/1944Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.274 Sqn RCAFMe109Western Front
17/12/1944Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.274 Sqn RCAFMe109Western Front
04/01/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.3 SqnFw190Western Front
14/01/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.3 SqnMe109Western Front
14/01/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.3 SqnFw190Western Front
23/01/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.3 SqnJu52Western Front
23/01/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.3 SqnJu88Western Front
23/01/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.3 SqnJu88Western Front
11/02/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.274 Sqn RCAFAr234Western Front
14/02/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.274 Sqn RCAFMe262Western Front
16/02/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.274 Sqn RCAFMe109Western Front
16/02/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.274 Sqn RCAFMe109Western Front
22/02/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.274 Sqn RCAFFw190Western Front
22/02/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.274 Sqn RCAFFw190Western Front
24/02/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.274 Sqn RCAFFw190Western Front
28/02/1945Squadron Leader David FairbanksNo.274 Sqn RCAFFw190Western Front

Known Claims : 20

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