820 Sqn was a Fleet Air Arm unit and at the time of the photo, the FAA was part of the RAF. Its Sharks were replaced by Fairey Swordfish. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

Trials aircraft that became an instructional airframe. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

The Blackburn Shark as a landplane. Manufactured in England, 503 became the first Shark to fly in Canada on this day. Photo from: Library and Archives Canada

The Shark was in some respects more modern than the Fairey Swordfish, but apparently the wing construction was not up to diving. The Portugese navy initially refused to take delivery of its six airframes, ordered for £50,000 in 1935, and they were already withdrawn in 1938 following a fatal accident. The nose numbers then in use were type-based and not unit codes, so this should be s/n 76, which wore nose number 4 already in England. Photo from: Museu de Marinha (Portugal)

Remained in service until 1943. Photo from: Library and Archives Canada

Crashed at Alliford Bay, British Columbia, on July 19, 1940, when landing the glassy water. The RCAF bought nine already obsolete Sharks from the UK in 1938. A further 17 were built in Canada by Boeing. 525 was UK built. They were used for coastal patrols on Canada's west coast. Photo from: Library and Archives Canada