The FAA is born (1937)
With war in Europe looking ever closer and the Spanish civil war beginning, the Minister for Co-Ordination of Defense, Sir Thomas Inskip, returns full control of all embarked aviation to the Royal Navy. The first of the new fleet carriers is laid down on the 27th of April 1937 as yard number 732 at Vickers-Armstrongs Barrow in Furness yard. With the FAA under Royal Navy control, the Head of Aviation, Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Dowding, contacts the Fairey Aviation Company, the Gloster Aircraft Company, and the Blackburn company about building a fighter for the Navy. Both Fairey and Blackburn tell the Admiralty that they are unable to build a new fighter due to them building and designing follow-on aircraft for the Skua dive bomber and Swordfish TBR, respectively. Gloster submit their G.34 design for the navy's first monoplane fighter.
Gloster calls the new fighter the Goshawk. After informal discussions with his brother Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Dowding learns that the RAF are trying to get cannons for their new fighter, the Spitfire. It is hoped that the Goshawk will be armed with four 20 mm Hispano cannons, but due to problems with the modification and production of the cannon, it's decided that the Mk.I Goshawk will have to be armed with four Oerlikon FF 20 mm cannon.
Gloster calls the new fighter the Goshawk. After informal discussions with his brother Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Dowding learns that the RAF are trying to get cannons for their new fighter, the Spitfire. It is hoped that the Goshawk will be armed with four 20 mm Hispano cannons, but due to problems with the modification and production of the cannon, it's decided that the Mk.I Goshawk will have to be armed with four Oerlikon FF 20 mm cannon.
Last edited: