809 Naval Air Squadron adapted the music-hall song Any Old Iron to joke about the Fulmar's weight and lack of a permanently fitted rear gun. The words can sound dismissive when separated from squadron culture. Composing and preserving the song suggests a familiar piece of equipment that inspired exasperation and affection as well as technical criticism. Equipment that crews simply hated was more likely to be ignored than commemorated in verse.
Notable Point · 1:12:23-1:13:27
What 809 Squadron's Fulmar song says about service reputation
A comic 809 Naval Air Squadron song grumbles about the Fulmar's weight and armament while preserving a more affectionate service memory than pure contempt would suggest.