Identify This Canadian WWII Aircraft?

[Zambo]

Can anyone identify this Canadian WWII aircraft. 4th from the left, back row, is my father. He was stationed mainly at Ucluelet BC, Annette Island Alaska, and Pat Bay BC. I know that he flew in Stranraers, Bolingbrokes, Cansos, and briefly in Liberators. I don't know about others. The turret on the plane in the photo looks like that on a Bolingbroke, but the way the fuselage rises right in front of it is odd because the Bolingbrokes I see in photos appear to be quite evenly level along the fuselage top. It seems to me the size of the plane looks somewhat small for a Bolingbroke, but I can find no other aircraft with a turret like that.

I'm trying to add photos to a video interview I did with Dad a few years before he died.

Thanks for any help.

 

[EwenS]

It is a Fairey Battle Gunnery Trainer. A large number of these were shipped to Canada in early WW2 for use in various training roles.

Aircraft Photo of K9382 | Fairey Battle Gunnery Trainer | UK - Air Force | AirHistory.net #29856

Aircraft photo of K9382 - Fairey Battle Gunnery Trainer - UK - Air Force, taken by RAScholefield Collection at Manchester - International (EGCC / MAN) in England, United Kingdom in 1940. This aircraft was completed at Ringway as a Battle I in November 1938 and served as a light bomber with 226...

www.airhistory.net

 

[Crimea_River]

Ewen got it. I was half way through responding when he ID'd it.

Fairey Battle IT | Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Fairey Battle IT - Canada Aviation and Space Museum - Artifact No. 1967.0660 - A British single-engine light bomber

ingeniumcanada.org

 

[Wurger]

Well done !

 

[Zambo]

Man, that was quick! Thanks very much for the ID and information. Ewen, that perfect photo tells the story immediately. And Crimea_River, the write-up that goes with your post explains a great deal about that plane. Interesting to know that the rear cockpit had been replaced on them with a Bristol turret (which is what had led me to wondering about the Bolingbroke). Dad had talked about doing gunnery training, so I imagine that would have been the aircraft used. I think that was at Mont Joli. Thanks again! That was most helpful.

 

[CATCH 22]

Zambo, for anything Canadian I'll suggest searching the word together with the name Harold A. Skaarup. This is the author who collected (IMHO) the best and most interesting information about RCAF, but also RCN etc.
Check his site about Fairey Battle.
Cheers!

 

[mjfur]

RCAF Fairey Battle Serial Numbers. http://www.rwrwalker.ca/list_by_type.html#F

Canadian Military Aircraft Serial Numbers

Listing of serial numbers of aircraft used by Canadian military organizations, including RCAF, RCN, Canadian Army, Canadian Armed Forces, Air Board, and others.

www.rwrwalker.ca

 

[Zambo]

Catch 22, you're right, the Harold Skaarup site is, indeed, very informative.
mjfur, from the photo, I can tell that the plane's number ends in either 3, 5, 6, or 8 -- and then 0. But I guess I'm happy just know that it's a Fairey Battle.

 

[rinkol]

It is a Fairey Battle Gunnery Trainer. A large number of these were shipped to Canada in early WW2 for use in various training roles.

Aircraft Photo of K9382 | Fairey Battle Gunnery Trainer | UK - Air Force | AirHistory.net #29856

Aircraft photo of K9382 - Fairey Battle Gunnery Trainer - UK - Air Force, taken by RAScholefield Collection at Manchester - International (EGCC / MAN) in England, United Kingdom in 1940. This aircraft was completed at Ringway as a Battle I in November 1938 and served as a light bomber with 226...

www.airhistory.net

I recall seeing one of these at a museum in Alberta.