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World War I

211 Squadron in World War I

No 211 Squadron RAF formed on 1 April 1918 out of No 11 Squadron RNAS, which itself had re-formed as a bomber squadron at Petit Synthe on 10 March 1918 after a brief existence as a RNAS fighter unit from March to August 1917.

    211 Squadron RAF ‘A’ Flight Officers and mechanics with DH9 1918
    211 Squadron RAF ‘A’ Flight Officers and mechanics with DH9 1918
    (Norrie Collection, 211 Newbury Squadron ATC)

Most things in Service life have a reason and that includes the apparently simple Squadron numbers, where the old RNAS Squadrons that reappeared in the RAF gained their new numbers by the simple expedient of adding 200 to their original identity.

Movements and equipment

Date

Remarks

 

10 March 1918

Re-formed as No 11 (Naval) Squadron RNAS
Petit Synthe, Dunkirk

 

March 1918

DH4 (April 1918)

 

April 1918

DH9 (March 1919)

 

1 April 1918

Redesignated as no 211 Squadron RAF

 

24 October 1918

Iris Farm, near Clary

 

3 December 1918

Thuillies, near Charleroi

 

15 March 1919

Wyton

 

24 June 1919

Disbanded

 

Operations over Flanders 1918

Summary of operations

Item

Remarks

No

 

Aircraft: DH9, BHP engine (200hp and 230hp)

Number of replacements

64

 

Enemy aircraft

Destroyed

19

 

 

Completely out of control

16

 

Weight of bombs dropped

Tons

150

 

Reconnaissance

Sorties

100

 

Reconnaissance (photographic)

Sorties

105

 

From March to the end of August 1918, the Squadron attacked over 30 objectives in Flanders with its Airco DH9 aircraft, many repeatedly. The bombing raids were directed, for the most part, against the German submarine campaign through repeated attacks on Bruges Docks, on Zeebrugge Mole and Harbour, and on Ostende Docks. While post-war analysis eventually showed that the anti-submarine campaign was nowhere near as successful as first thought in terms of U-boats destroyed, the Germans were put to a great deal of trouble by the incessant attacks upon their port facilities.

    9 May 1918
    “The weather was fine with considerable haze. 27 tons of bombs were dropped. Enemy aircraft were fairly active in the whole front [...]
    Lt W Gillman and 2nd Lt R Lardner, 211 Sqn, whilst returning from a bomb raid encountered an EA Triplane. A few rounds were fired into the EA and it went down in flames over Zeebrugge mole.â€
    RAF Communique

    19 May 1918
    “
    The weather was fine. 32 tons of bombs were dropped. Enemy aircraft activity was slight on the front[...]
    Lt JS Forgie and 2nd Lt JS Muir, 211 Sqn, were attacked by several EA while on a bombing raid over Blanckenburghe. The Observer fire 30 rounds into one EA, which nosed-dived and caught fire on hitting the ground.â€
    RAF Communique

    13 August 1918
    “Weather fine. 21½ tons of bombs were dropped by night and 20½ tons by day. Enemy aircraft active.[...]
    A raid was carried out [...] on Varssenaere Aerodrome [...]. 211 Sqn bombed the aerodrome after the low flying attack was over, and demolished the chateau.â€
    RAF Communique

These operations were carried out while the Squadron was co-operating with the Royal Navy, and their success drew messages of congratulation from the Vice Admiral, Dover Patrol and later from GOC 5th Group RAF, Brig Gen GL Lambe.

In later operations in support of the Belgian Army, the objectives included aerodromes and associated ammunition and supply dumps. Of the final month of their bombing offensive, conducted from 28 September 1918 without escort, the Squadron’s own narrative history (AIR 1/696/21/20/211) remarked:

    “Many large formations of EA [enemy aircraft] were met during this period but the close formation kept by 211 Squadron kept its casualties at the very minimum.â€

From late October 1918, the Squadron operated purely as a reconnaissance and photographic unit, continuing to give a good account of itself against enemy aircraft in carrying out its duties. During a photographic reconnaissance sortie in the final week of the Great War, a formation of 211 Squadron DH9s shot down 3 Fokker biplanes and drove another down out of control.

    4 November 1918
    “Weather: mist in early morning, fine afterwards. 6½ tons of bombs dropped by night and 29½ tons dropped by day. Considerable enemy aircraft activity.[...]
     A formation of 211 Sqn, while on a photographic reconnaissance, was attacked by a formation of EA whose leader was fired on by the pilots and Observers of two machines—2nd Lts CH Dickins (c) and WJ Large, 2nd Lts WG Watson (c) and Sgt C Lamont. This EA went on fire and broke up, the pilot leaving the machine in a parachute which did not open. 2nd Lt Adam, Observer, fired at another of the EA which passed close above him. This machine fell in a spin and was seen by other officers to burst into flames on hitting the ground. 2nd Lt GE Moore, Observer, also destroyed an EA which was seen to crash by two other Observers.â€
    RAF Communique

211 Squadron personnel losses 1918
In the course of its work over Flanders from March to November 1918, the Squadron suffered the loss of 45 aircrew. Of these, 22 were killed and 25 taken prisoner or interned (Holland had remained neutral, interning aircraft and men who landed on Dutch territory). A further 18 men were wounded, while two men died of illness.

Aircrew

Killed or missing in action, died of wounds,
killed on air operations

Died of illness

Wounded

Prisoner,
 Germany

Interned,
 Holland

 

Pilots

8

 

8

5

8

 

Observers

14

 

10

5

7

 

Other

 

2

 

 

 

 

Total

22

2

18

10

15

 

Source: History of 211 Squadron RAF TNA AIR 1/696 21/20/211 amended from known aircraft and other CWGC records

Honour Roll
As 211 Squadron RAF, their first casualty of the war was 2nd Lt HM Moodie: seconded from the Seaforth Highlanders and flying as an Observer, he died of wounds on 6 April 1918.

With the casual brutality of war, their last loss in action came on the day before the Armistice: 2nd Lt JHR Smith, Observer, died after his aircraft D7362 was hit by enemy fire during a reconnaissance sortie on 10 November 1918.

The Great War had come to an end but that Winter the first, most terrible, influenza epidemic was already spreading and so in the first Spring of peace came the Squadron’s final losses: Charles Forehead and Karl Krall, both aged just 19.

Compiled from material kindly supplied by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, from Sturtivant and Page’s DH4/DH9 File, from unpublished research kindly shared by John Grech and from the 211 Squadron Returns of Casualties to All Ranks (TNA AIR 1/930/204/242/13) and Casualty Reports to Personnel and Machines (AIR 1/1930/204/242/12), this roll now records the loss of 24 men of 211 Squadron RAF in the course of World War.

Eight of the 211 Squadron dead of the Great War lie in Dunkirk Town Cemetery, where 460 Commonwealth men of the First World War rest. Five others are commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial for the nearly 1,000 Commonwealth airmen lost over the Western Front with no known grave. Wherever they lie, all are commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Name

Rank

Duty

Age

Date

Remarks & DH9 serial

Cemetery or memorial

WJ Atkinson

AC1

Observer

 

13 Jul 1918

Forced-landed at sea near Nieuport —drowned. B9346

Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern

SJ Bence

Cpl

Observer

20

14 Aug 1918

KIA, B7614

Hoogstade War

JB Blundell

2nd Lt

Observer

 

29 Sep 1918

KIA, D3093

Arras Flying Services Memorial

CL Bray

Lt

Observer

18

19 May 1918

KIA, D2784

Zeebrugge

CC Brouncker

2nd Lt

Pilot

20

4 Nov 1918

MIA, F1157

Arras Flying Services Memorial

VA Fair MC

2nd Lt

Observer

 

20 Sep 1918

KIA D565

Harlebeke

CR Forehead

2nd Cpl

 

19

15 Mar 1919

Influenza

Marcinelle New

CK Flower *

2nd Lt

Pilot

 

15 May 1918

KAO, B7600.
CWGC records 218 Squadron

Dunkirk Town

W Gilman

2nd Lt

Pilot

19

13 Jul 1918

Forced-landed at sea near Nieuport —drowned, missing. B9346

Arras Flying Services Memorial

WJ Johnson

2nd Lt

Pilot

27

13 October 1918

PoW, DoW. E8936

Niederzwehren

K Krall

LAC

 

30

28 Feb 1919

Pneumonia

Charleroi

TW Kelly

2nd Lt

Observer

19

29 Sep 1918

KIA D482

Dunkirk Town

R Lardner

2nd Lt

Observer

 

26 May 1918

KIA, D1693

Dunkirk Town

TF Le Mesurier
DSC & 2 bars

Capt

Pilot

21

26 May 1918

KIA, D1693

Dunkirk Town

CD Macdonald

2nd Lt

Observer

18

4 Nov 1918

MIA, F1157

Arras Flying Services Memorial

IAB McTavish*

2nd Lt

Observer

22

15 May 1918

KAO, B7600.
CWGC records 218 Squadron

Dunkirk Town

HM Moodie

2nd Lt

Observer

 

6 Apr 1918

Died of wounds, B7603

Dunkirk Town

ES Morgan

2nd Lt

Pilot

 

7 Sep 1918

KIA, crashed in sea D2918

Dunkirk Town

HM Partridge 317264

Sgt

Observer

18

25 Jul 1918

Interned but died of wounds, D2781

Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern

R Shephard*

Private First class

Observer

 

25 Jun 1918

KIA. CWGC records 211 Squadron but C2176 recorded as a 206 Squadron a/c

Arras Flying Services Memorial

R Simpson

2nd Lt

Observer

19

7 Sep 1918

KIA, crashed in sea D2918

Dunkirk Town

JHR Smith

2nd Lt

Observer

19

10 Nov 1918

KIA, D7362

Gougnies

NA Taylerson

Lt

Pilot

 

19 May 1918

KIA, D2784

Zeebrugge

AG White

Lt

Pilot

23

29 Sep 1918

KIA, D3093

Dadizeele
New British

* Discrepancies between the principal published sources are as noted, however, each of these three men appear in the relevant 211 Squadron Return of Casualties on the correct dates (TNA AIR 1/1930 204/242/13 and they may be confidently recorded as Squadron losses.

Prisoners of War and Internees
A partial roll, extracted from Sturtivant and Page’s DH4/DH9 File and partly reconciled with the Squadron Return of Casualties. More entries may follow in time.

Name

Rank

Duty

Age

Date

Remarks & DH9 serial

WL Bing

2nd Lt

Observer

 

8 Aug 1918

Interned. B7624

JJ Comerford

2nd Lt

Observer

 

27 Jun 1918

Interned. B7620 ‘A’

F Daltrey

2nd Lt

Pilot

 

25 Jun 1918

PoW. C2176 - 206 Sqn?

LK Davidson

2nd Lt

Pilot

 

8 Aug 1918

Interned. B7624

JA Dear

Lt

Pilot

 

24 Aug 1918

Interned. D7204 ‘J’

TB Dodwell

2nd Lt

Observer

 

16 Aug 1918

Interned. C6348

WG Gadd

2nd Lt

Observer

 

1 Nov 1918

PoW. D3241

JA Gray

Capt

Pilot

 

27 Jun 1918

Interned. B7620 ‘A’

RS Gude

Sgt

Pilot

 

25 Jul 1918

Interned. D2781 ‘M’

DR Harris USAS

1 Lt

Pilot

 

16 Aug 1918

Interned. B7623 ‘L’

NB Harris

2nd Lt

Observer

 

21 May 1918

PoW. B7661

W Henley-Mooney USAS

1 Lt

Pilot

 

29 Sep 1918

Wounded, interned. D565

WJ Johnson

2nd Lt

Pilot

27

13 Oct 1918

PoW, DoW. E8936 28 Sep 1918

WE Jones

Sgt

Observer

 

28 Sep 1918

PoW. E8936

RL Kingham

2nd Lt

Observer

 

24 Sep 1918

Interned. D3251

J Munro

2nd Lt

Observer

 

16 Aug 1918

Interned. B7623 ‘L’

J Olorenshaw

2nd Lt

Pilot

 

24 Sep 1918

Interned. D3251

HM Partridge 317264

Sgt

Observer

18

25 Jul 1918

Interned but died of wounds, D2781

JM Payne

2nd Lt

Pilot

 

1 Nov 1918

PoW. D3241

JFJ Peters

2nd Lt

Observer

 

24 Aug 1918

Interned. D7204 ‘J’

HE Tansley

2nd Lt

Pilot

 

21 May 1918

PoW. B7661

CH Thomas

2nd Lt

Pilot

 

10 Nov 1918

PoW. D7362

RM Wynne-Eaton

Capt

Pilot

 

16 August

Interned. C6348

Wounded in action
A partial roll, extracted from Sturtivant and Page’s DH4/DH9 File. More entries will follow in time.

Name

Rank

Duty

Age

Date

Remarks & DH9 serial

DJ Avery

2nd Lt

Observer

 

3 October 1918

B7626 ‘O’

GH Baker

Lt

Pilot

 

16 Aug 1918

B7679

NG Breeze

2nd Lt

Observer

 

17 Jul 1918

B7581

CWT Coleman

2nd Lt

Observer

 

13 Jul 1918

B7624 ‘P’

W Henley-Mooney USAS

1 Lt

Pilot

 

29 Sep 1918

Wounded & interned D565

H Lindsay

Sgt Mech

Observer

 

7 Oct 1918

C1168

R Loraine

Major

Observer

 

20 Jul 1918

Squadron CO. B7624 ‘P’.

JL McAdam

2nd Lt

Pilot

 

7 Oct 1918

C1168

CH Miller

Lt

Pilot

 

13 Aug 1918

B7614

J Steel Muir

2nd Lt

Pilot?

 

7 Oct 1918

C1168

HH Palmer

2nd Lt

Pilot

 

14 Jul 1918

??

VGH Phillips

2nd Lt

Pilot

 

5 oct 1918

E8672

DF Taber

Lt

Observer

 

16 Jul 1918

D7369

AF Taylor

2nd Lt

Observer

 

5 October 1918

E8872

Gallantry Awards

Distinguished Service Order
1st Lt AF Bonnalie (United States)
2nd Lt TB Dodwell

    London Gazette 2 November 1918
    “On a recent occasion this officer, when acting as Observer, performed a very gallant and meritorious action. In diving to the assistance of another machine, his own machine commenced to fall out of control. Despite this, he continued to engage three enemy machines that were attacking him, and eventually drove them off, an operation that called for great coolness and skill as the shooting platform was most unsteady. Realising that the machine was out of control owing to the loss of lift in the tail plane, half of this being shot away, he left his cockpit, and, climbing along the wing, lay down along the cowling in front of the pilot, enabling the latter to obtain partial control of the machine and head for home. When nearing the ground he climbed back into his cockpit to allow the nose to rise, and the pilot succeeded in safely landing. The presence of mind and cool courage of this officer undoubtedly saved the machine, and deserves the highest praise.â€
    Supplement to the London Gazette 2 November 1918 Issue No 30989 p12959.

Major GRM Reid MC

2nd Bar to Distinguished Service Cross
Capt TF Le Mesurier DSC & bar

    London Gazette 18 June 1918
    For gallantry and consistent good work. He has at all times displayed the utmost gallantry in action and by his determination and skill has set a very fine example to the pilots of his squadron. On the 23rd April 1918, in spite of bad weather conditions, he successfully dropped bombs on the Ostend Docks from a height of 800 feet amidst very intense anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire. He also made valuable observations. He has taken part in many bomb raids and has destroyed or driven down out of control several enemy machines.

Distinguished Flying Cross
Capt H Axford
Lieut CH Dickins
Lieut JF Drake
Capt WD Gairdner
Capt HM Ireland

    London Gazette 2 November 1918
    “On the 29th August this officer was leader of a large formation detailed for a long distance bombing raid on certain enemy docks. A strong and adverse wind was blowing and thick clouds almost obscured the ground, rendering the task of reaching such a distant object one of great difficulty. Carefully studying the compass and making what he considered due allowance for the wind he led his formation to a point which he judged would be in the vicinity of the objective. A break in the clouds showed that he was correct, and the docks were effectually bombed. During the five months Captain Ireland has been with his present squadron he has led forty-three long distance raids, and the foregoing is only one instance of many in which he has shown judgement, skill and determination of a very exceptional nature.â€

Capt HN Lett
Lieut ES Morgan

Distinguished Flying Medal
222589 Sergeant F Wilkinson

Mentioned in despatches
Major GRM Reid DSO MC
Capt TF Le Mesurier DSC & bar

Commanding Officers

Name

Rank

Dates

Remarks

HG Travers DSC

Major

 6 March 1918 to 28 May 1918

 

R Loraine DSO MC

Major

29 May 1918 to 20 July 1918

Wounded 20 Jul 1918 B7624 ‘P’

GRM Reid DSO MC

Major

25 July 1918 to 9 March 1919

Later of 206 and 45 Squadrons, Egypt, AOC Aden 193 to 1941, AOC West Africa. Retired 1946.

HN Lett

Capt

10 March 1919 to 24 June 1919

 

Flight Commanders

Name

Rank

Service

Dates

 Remarks

TF Le Mesurier DSC & Bar

Capt

RNAS

10 March 1918 to
26 May 1918

 Killed in action 26 May 1918. D1693

PE Beasley

Capt

RNAS

9 March 1918 to
2 July 1918

 

HM Ireland DFC

Capt

RNAS

7 March 1918
to 6 October 1918

Canada

JA Gray

Capt

RNAS

27 May 1918 to
27 June 1918

 Interned, Holland 27 June 1918.
B7620 ‘A’

HN Lett DFC RFC

Capt

RFC

2 July 1918 to
(11 January 1919)

 

RM Wynne-Eyton MC

Capt

RFC

5 July 1918 to
16 August 1918

 Interned, Holland 16 August 1918. C6348

WD Gairdner DFC

Capt

RNAS

17 August 1918 to
 (11 January 1919)

 

H Axford DFC

Capt

RFC

7 October 1918 to
(11 January 1919)

 Canada

Other aircrew
A partial roll, compiled from records immediately to hand, for aircrew other than those already listed.

Name

 

Duty

Known service

 Remarks, including DH9 serial

AM Adam RAF

2nd Lt

Observer

August to November 1918

B7626. 1/3rd share Fokker destroyed 4 November 1918

DA Alexander

2nd Lt

Observer

August 1918

 

RM Alston

2nd Lt

Observer

October 1918

 

H Axford

Lt

Pilot

July 1918

 

AB Bedford

2nd Lt

Observer

August 1918

 

WF Blanchfield

Lt

Pilot

November 1918

E8880. Fokker DVII 9 November 1918

AF Bonnalie

1st Lt

Pilot

August 1918

United States

DL Bradley

2nd Lt

Observer

May 1918

 

CO Carson

2nd Lt

Pilot

August 1918

Canada

CH Dickins DFC

2nd Lt

Pilot

August 1918

Canada. B7626. 1/3rd share Fokker destroyed 4 November 1918

JF Drake

Lt

Pilot

July to November 1918

 

JS Forgie

Lt

Pilot

May 1918

 

EG Gaff

Lt

Pilot

Nov 1918

 

WD Gairdner DFC

Capt

Pilot

September 1918

Flight Commander

GC Hope

2nd Lt

Pilot

August 1918

 

PM Keary

2nd Lt

Pilot

October 1918

 

C Lamont

Sgt

Observer

November 1918

D551. 1/3rd share Fokker destroyed 4 November 1918

WJ Large

2nd Lt

Observer

November 1918

E8962. 1/3rd share Fokker destroyed 4 November 1918

HW Lett

Lt

Pilot

Jun 1918

 

TR Lole

2nd Lt

Observer

November 1918

E8880. Fokker DVII 9 November 1918

RG Marshall

Sgt

Observer

November 1918

 

JH McLellan

2nd Lt

 

November 1918

 

RFC Metcalfe

Lt

Pilot

May 1918

 

CH Miller

Lt

Pilot

August 1918

Wounded 13 August 1918

GJ Moore

2nd Lt

Observer

November 1918

B7581. 1 Fokker destroyed 1 November 1918

HW Newsham

Pvt

Observer

August 1918

 

BJ Paget

Lt

Observer

November 1918

B7603. 1 Fokker out of control 4 November 1918

HB Shaw

2nd Lt

Observer

August 1918

 

PC Silversten

Sgt

Observer

August 1918

 

WC Snowdon

2nd Lt

 

November 1918

 

WG Watson

2nd Lt

Pilot

November 1918

Canada. D551. 1/3rd share Fokker destroyed 4 November 1918

SC Welch

1st Lt

Pilot

August 1918

 

F Wilkinson

Cpl

Observer

July, August 1918

 

Ground Officers

Name

 

Duty

Dates

Remarks

S Hobbs

2nd Lt

Equipment

10 March 1918 to
(11 January 1919)

 

White

2nd Lt

Engines

9 March 1918 to
2 July 1918

 

2nd Lt Towler DSM

2nd Lt

Rigging

13 March 1918
to 10 June 1918

 

WA Herbert

Capt

Armament

13 March 1918
to 25 September 1918

 

AE Dark

Lt

Armament

26 September 1918 to
(11 January 1919)

 

Tapper

Capt

Records

13 March 1918 to
24 May 1918

 

Clapp

1st Lt

Records

25 May 1918 to
26 June 1918

United States

GF Bishop

Lt

Records

7 July 1918 to
(11 January 1919)

 

Personnel of 211 Squadron RAF 13 November 1918
Personnel of 211 Squadron RAF 13 November 1918 (Norrie Collection, 211 Newbury Squadron ATC)

Officers of 211 Squadron RAF 13 November 1918
Officers of 211 Squadron RAF 13 November 1918 (Norrie Collection, 211 Newbury Squadron ATC)

    Front row: Palmer, Miller, Tyler, Blanchfield, Hope, McClellan, Taber, Axford, Gairdner, Major Reid, Lett, Bishop, Mousley, Drake, Paget, Moore, Large, Norrie.
    Back row: Drudge, Thomas, Lole, Bedford, St. Ogger, Dickins, Snowden, Robinson, Keary, Stevenson, Watson, Gill, White, Tyrol, Watts, Adam, Dark.
    A print of this same image, held in the collection of Arthur Bernard Bedford (who is fourth from the left, rear), was captioned with these names on the rear. Thanks to John Grech and the Bedford family for this added information.

Airco DH9
Intended as a long-range bomber to replace the Airco DH4 and in part identical in design, the DH9 was hobbled from the start by poor engine selection. Even de-rated to a wholly inadequate 230hp, the untried BHP (later Siddeley Puma) engine was far less reliable than the DH4's 375hp Rolls-Royce Eagle V12.

Engine apart, the main difference in the DH9 design was that instead of being separated by the fuel tank, the pilot’s and Observer’s cockpits were now placed back-to-back and aft of the tank. While this proximity was an advantage in combat and more liked by the crews, it could not compensate for the poor performance in speed and altitude essential against enemy fighters or flak.

Trenchard and de Havilland were unable to convince the Controller of Supplies in the Ministry of Munitions, Sir William Weir PC (later President of the Air Council), to halt large-scale production of an aircraft type known from the outset to be of inferior performance and reliability. Their efforts in attempting to rectify such a poor decision have been well recorded.

Still, of the new design, Jane’s 1918 edition of All the World’s Aircraft remarked with blithe if inaccurate optimism:

    “The total weight empty has been reduced by almost 100lb...and the total load carried has been increased by about 500lbs at the cost of a slight loss in speed and climb...â€

But in fact—if it could be coaxed to do so at all— it took a DH9 three times longer than the DH4 to reach 15,000 feet and when it got there, it was fully 30mph slower.

In production, whether as the Galloway BHP, the Siddeley BHP or as the Siddely Puma, no amount of fiddling could wring either better reliability from the engine or raise its power-rating to anything like that originally hoped for or required. In service, the DH9s thus suffered too-frequent engine failure and struggled to reach or exceed 13,000ft bombed-up, at which height they were vulnerable to AA and fighter interception.

Eventually, redesigned to take a 400hp Packard Liberty V12, the aircraft became the robust and justly famous DH9A or "Nine-Ack". But not before RFC and RAF Squadrons were forced to fight and die in their wallowing DH9s over the Western Front in 1918. Fortunately the DH9 crews were able to give a good account of themselves in the right conditions, recording a number of victories.

Specifications

General

Bomber. Single-engined, two-bay biplane, conventional wire-braced wooden box-girder fuselage construction with ply-clad unbraced forward section, fabric covered

Crew

Pilot and Observer, seated back to back

Engine

230hp Galloway BHP, Siddeley BHP or Siddely Puma (240hp at 1400ft)

Armament

One fixed .303in Vickers machine gun with Constantinesco CC interrupter gear firing forward above the forward fuselage.
One or two .303in Lewis machine guns on Scarff No 2 ring in rear cockpit
2x230lb or 4x112lb or smaller bombs, in the internal bomb-bay or under the fuselage or on wing racks

Weights

Empty 2200lb (DH4 2300lb)
Military load 570lb
Loaded 3670lb (DH4 3470lb)

Range

Endurance 4.5hrs

Service ceiling

15000ft

Rate of climb

20min to 10000ft (DH4 9min)
45min to 15000ft (DH4 17min) (with 2x230lb bombs)
67min to 16500ft (DH4 20min)

Speed
 

With full bomb load
112mph at 10000ft (DH4 134mph)
97mph at 15000ft (DH4 126mph)
Landing speed: 57 mph (DH4 52mph)

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