Ever since the zeppelin raids during W.W. I, Great Britain has maintained a night fighting force. However, by the 1930s, the vintage Bristol Fighters used for this defense were well past their prime. The Fairey engineers (or the engineers from Fairey as they prefer to be known) responded to Air Ministry requirement 76/31NF with a unique design which was truly cutting edge for the time any way you sliced it:
A two-place monoplane with twin-rudder configuration, the new night fighter was powered by a license-built version of the 12 cylinder monster that powered American Cadillacs of the era and possessed the most amazing, spatted landing gear yet seen. In fact, it was assumed that the mere intimidation factor of those lovely yet dangerous spats would be enough to scare off any foe. However, the new night fighter was also well-armed with two 9 mm Brownings on the engine decking and one 7.9 mm Hotchkiss gun in the rear, protecting the tail.
Dubbed the Fairey "Fantom" by a semi-literate Air Ministry typist, the new night fighter eventually equipped four RAF night fighter squadrons by 1935. This would prove fortunate timing indeed as events would later prove.
On the afternoon of December 31, 1935, a balloon full of New Year's revelers took flight from the small Dutch town of Schnueggevelt. As their altitude rose, the temperature dropped, forcing the Dutch passengers to indulge in some
oude jenever spirits to fend off the cold.
Eventually, they couldn't feel the cold, but they did feel like singing. And sing they did. This was lucky as visibility was poor that night, so while the balloon was invisible as it drifted closer to British airspace, the singing was picked up by early-warning listening devices and the alarm was raised and the RAF scrambled. Unfortunately, the RAF's new night fighters were covered by tarps and impossible to find in the inky blackness.
As adding carrots to the RAF diet to improve night vision was still years in the future, the night fighter crews scrambled around like Keystone Cops, running into each other but still not finding their aircraft.
Fortunately, the thick clouds lifted and the moon came out. The crews manned their planes and took off. Unfortunately, the moon also illuminated the balloon full of Dutch New Year's revelers as it soared majestically over St. Paul's cathedral.
By the time the Fairey Fantoms were able to give chase, a freak gust propelled the balloon back over the English Channel towards Holland and out of the clutches of the RAF.
While the RAF was embarrassed by their failure to intercept the intruder, the performance of the Fairey Fantoms was held blameless. Ironically, this incident would lead to improvements in night fighter capabilities.
Brian da Basher
