The De Havilland Rapide.
The DH89 was developed from the four engine DH86. It was in service to the
60ies as an airliner and with the RAF.
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Ansons
of N0.217 Squadron on coastal reconnaissance, France 1940
In
1939 RAF Coastal Command's standard reconnaissance aircraft was the
Avro Anson. The Avro 652 monoplane airliner entered Imperial Airways
service in 1934 and it was from this design that the long-serving Anson
was derived. The Anson entered RAF Coastal Command service in February
1936 on general reconnaissance duties and was the RAF's first monoplane
and its first aircraft with a retractable undercarriage. On 5 September
1939 an Anson of No. 500 Squadron made the first RAF attack of the war
on a German submarine. In June 1940, three Ansons attacked over the
English Channel by nine Messerschmitt 109s succeeded in shooting down
two and damaging another of the fighters. For most of its long service,
however, the Anson was used in light transport and training roles and
most RAF and Commonwealth navigators, wireless operators and air gunners
trained on 'Annies'. The Anson officially retired from RAF service in
June 1968.
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Tiger Moth Trainer
The successful DH60 Moth trainer led to development of a strengthened military
trainer variant, the DH.60T. A new specification demanded better forward
cockpit egress in an emergency, and the top wing was staggered forward.
To offset the changed centre of gravity, both wings were given a slight
sweep. Still designated DH.60T, but named Tiger Moth, eight pre-production
aircraft were built, to be followed by the first flight of a DH.82 Tiger
Moth on 26th October, 1931. The Royal Air Force's 3 Flight Training
School received the first deliveries in May 1932. Following first deliveries
in 1939, the RAAF operated 861 Tiger Moths in all, 712 of which were
locally produced by De Havilland Australia. Yet despite sale of several
hundred in the immediate post-war years, the last RAAF Tiger Moths flew
in January 1957. |
Chipmunk Trainer
The second production Chipmunk serial WB550, delivered to Oxford University Air Squadron
at Kidlington, near Oxford, photographed on 29 September 1929. The
type was designated T10. and the total delivered to the RAF was 735.
The last being XZ884 on 1 October 1953.
Source:RAF Museum colour slideP100141 |
Sunderland Flying Boat (Coastal Command)
The Sunderland was developed from the Imperial Airways Empire civilian flying
boat. It represented a dramatic increase in fighting capability over
earlier, biplane boats. From the outbreak of war in 1939 the Sunderland
was ceaselessly at work hunting and destroying U-boats, rescuing seamen
and engaging so effectively with enemy aircraft that the Luftwaffe nicknamed
it 'the flying porcupine' . The Mark III introduced an improved hull
form and - from 1940 onwards - Sunderlands of all marks carried ASV
radar, Leigh lights for illuminating surfaced submarines, and increasingly
advanced avionics.
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Swordfish
The Fairey Swordfish Mk.1, first flown on 17 April 1934. It was a three-man
torpedo-bomber and reconnaissance biplane with a basic structure of
fabric-covered metal. The wings folded for storage on the crowded deck
of an aircraft carrier. Armament included one forward-firing Vickers
machine gun and one swiveling Vickers in the rear cockpit. Primary offensive
power took the form of depth charges, mines, bombs or, especially, a
torpedo. The Mk II model was introduced in 1943, and featured strengthened
and metal-skinned lower wings to allow the firing of rockets from underneath.
Later that year, the Mk III appeared, which featured a large ASV anti-submarine
radar unit mounted between the landing gear legs which allowed detection
of submarines up to 40 km away. For operation over the cold waters of
Canada, the Swordfish Mk IV was fitted with an enclosed cabin. |
Right:
The Handley Page Halifax was the first four-engined bomber of the RAF
to drop bombs in Germany during the second World War.
It
first entered service in December 1940, preceeding the Avro Lancaster.
The Mark 1aquired a poor reputation with aircrews, owing to inability
to maintan sufficient altitude during operations, but various modifications
were made and the record of the Halifax in Bomber Command was exceeded
only by the Avro Lancaster. Some Halifaxes were allocated to Coastal
Command and made a major contribution to the war against U-boats and
coastal shipping. Eventually over 6000 of the various marks were built.
This photograph shows a Halifax III of 423 (RCAF) Squadron, taken on
charge on 18November 1943. Unfortunately it was shot down during a raid
on Magdeburg on 21 January 1944 and the entire crew lost their lives.
Source: RAF Museum PO12020 |
Handley
Page Halifax |
Handley Page Hastings |
Left:
The Handley Page Hastings became the standard long-range
transport in the RAF after 47 Squadron was first equiped with the machine at Dishforth
in Yorkshire in September 1948. It operated throughout the Belin Airlift,
and continued in first line service until 1967. This photograph of the
prototype Hastings C.I. was taken on 23 May 1946.
Source: RAF Museum colour slide P10328 |
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The Westland Whirlwind H.A.R.4
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Left:The Westland Whirlwind H.A.R.4 was first delivered to the RAF in September
1954, a "tropicalised" version being employed in Malaysia
during the anti-terrorist campaign.The following February H.A.R.2's
were delivered to Coastal Command for search and rescue operations.
These were followed by the H.A.R.10 fitted with a turbine engine instead
of a piston engine: these also operated in Borneo, Cyprus and Germany.
This photograph shows Whirlwind H.A.R.10. serial XP353 at 22 Squadron
Manston, which were equiped with these machines until November 1981.
Source: RAF Museum PO13203
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