1 Monoplane Scout was a British monoplane fighter of the First World War. and had a personnel strength of 27,333 officers and 26,3837 other ranks. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. The pattern of bullet holes was then used to adjust the angle of the firing cams so that the pattern of shot fell safely between the propeller blades. If you’ve been looking for the answer to British fighter aircraft of the First World War, we’re happy to share that you can find it here with us. World War 1 Bi-plane flies towards stormy clouds. Powered by a 120 h. E. Men like von Richthofen, Rickenbacker, Bishop, Guynemer, Mannock, Ball, who flew airplanes with names like Spad, Fokker, Albatros, Nieuport, and Sopwith. The Sopwith 7F. The G. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. E. On April 21, 1942, in action over Malta, Flight Lieutenant Denis Barnham of No. 5 (Great Britain), and the Sopwith Triplane (Great Britain). There's lots of terminology to learn in this topic, so this activity will help reinforce your children's knowledge of it. World War I - Air Warfare, Trench Warfare, Armistice: Aircraft, including dirigibles (Zeppelins), were used for reconnaissance and bombing attacks. It was a development of the Sopwith Pup that Beardmore was then building under licence, but was specially adapted for shipboard use. The SPAD S. Airplanes, along with kites, tethered balloons. The first production aircraft had the 150hp Hispano-Suiza fitted and were designated SE5. In concept the aircraft was a monoplane version of the biplane Hansa. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword. Another British naval aircraft of the Cold War with a long service life was the British variant of the US naval F-4 Phantom the F-4K Phantom . The development of pusher configuration fighters, such as the DH. Enter a Crossword Clue. III was a British carrier-based fighter biplane of World War I. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "the wwi aircraft designed by sir thomas sopwith was the sopwith. Gloster Sparrowhawk. Prior to that, British aircraft featured the Union Jack on the wings. The only British designed monoplane fighter to see service in the First World War. 7, 2013; USA Today Archive - Aug. 1 fighter used in the early post-WW1 period. Salmson 9M radial engine, it could carry a 132 lb (60 kg) bomb load. Bristol Blenheim (RAF) long range fighter and night fighter. and has written more than a dozen articles on WWI aircraft published in their quarterly journal. The Supermarine Spitfire Vc fighter he was flying had been seriously damaged in the fight, but he managed a wheels up landing at Malta’s Hal Far Airfield. 12. The Supermarine Spitfire is a British fighter aircraft used by the RAF and many other Allied countries during World War Two. 9. 1918. Today's crossword puzzle clue is a general knowledge one: British fighter aircraft of the First World War. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Enter the length or pattern for better results. After the war, the company produced a series of Jet fighters. E. Knoller 70Biplane Fighter Prototype. Number built. During the war years the role played by aircraft would change a lot. Country: Britain. 15. 4. Ranging across five models, D. 5: Fighter: August 1916: May 1917 Airco DH. Some Australians enlisted in Britain's Royal Flying Corps and Royal Navy Air Service. Category:1910s Russian military aircraft. The aircraft version of the Vickers Gun was by far the most used weapon on British and French fighter aircraft of World War I and the interwar period with some still in use towards the end of World War II. Civil War, but the fixed-wing airplanes of World. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "Fighter aircraft carrying", 9 letters crossword clue. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. ’. B. RM2K182R1 – A Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter biplane aircraft taking off, in 1918 from a platform built on top of the midships “Q” turret on HMAS 'Australia', an Indefatigable-class battlecruisers. Enter the length or pattern for better results. The plane marked with an 'M' belonged to Oberleutnant Karl Menckhoff . Nieuport 10, used by most Entente countries as fighter, reconnaissance aircraft and trainer. Buy British Fighter Aircraft in WWI: Design, Construction and Innovation: CISS0005 (Casemate Illustrated Special) Illustrated - Special by Wilkins, Mark C. Synchronizer mechanisms thus had to be adjusted for each individual aircraft. 152. 22 ft (6. RM W78YB8 – 1970s, historical, a restored WW1 RAF biplane F. Speed km/h: 113. The following is a comprehensive selection of slang terms and common abbreviations used by Royal Air Force from before. "Bam" – C. Hot air balloons had been deployed by the military for more than a century to get a bird’s-eye view of the battlefield, including during the U. The Martin-Handasyde Scout 1 was a British biplane aircraft of the early part of the First World War built by Martin-Handasyde Limited. The Sopwith company rolled out the first Camel in December 1916. The plane’s twin Vickers machine guns were mounted side by side in front of the cockpit—a first for British fighters and a design feature that became standard on British fighters. 8 Early WW1 aircraft with a single seat and pusher prop. VII’s reputation that it was specifically mentioned in the armistice agreement at the end of the war. The B. That crossword clue published 1 time/s & has 1 answer/s. Most of those fatalities were brought on by accidents (often related to poor weather conditions or mechanical issues), but many pilots also died from combat action or other. VIISingle-Seat. During the Second World War, night. Royal Flying Corps (Royal Air Force from April 1918) United States Army Air Service. Category:1910s Russian military aircraft. Explore more crossword clues and answers by clicking on the results or quizzes. Primary user. 601 Squadron was given credit for downing a German Junkers Ju-88 bomber and a Messerschmitt Bf-109 fighter. The opening months of WW1 saw radical changes. 1 was an early military biplane of typical "Farman" pattern flown by Britain's Royal Flying Corps during World War I. The Sopwith Triplane is a British single seat fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War. Four were built by Vickers at Bexleyheath, one of these was subsequently modified to become the F. 00. The Sopwith Camel became one of the most iconic aircraft in WWI due to its well-earned reputations, both good and bad, with the pilots who flew it. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. Design and development. The Germans were at the cutting edge of rocketry and deployed it most successfully during the war. 520. Aircraft technology developed so quickly that fighters would be rolled out in mass quantities, and be obsolete by the time they were actually used. Enter the length or pattern for better results. Part of. Royal Air Force (RAF), youngest of the three British armed services, charged with the air defense of the United Kingdom and the fulfillment of international defense commitments. Here are the possible solutions. g. opportunity to demonstrate the manner in which aircraft could be employed. The Hurricane was also an impressive fighter and played its part in achieving the victory of 1945. Most of the fighter planes developed in early WWI utilized a single . Search for crossword clues found in the Daily Celebrity, NY Times, Daily Mirror, Telegraph and major publications. 2B Fighter of No. Vintage grainy sepia tone added. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. 10) The Armstrong Whitworth F. 69. B. Carl Menckhoff (14 April 1883 – 11 January 1949) was a German First World War fighter ace. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues . Weird Wings of WWI: Adventures in Early Combat Aircraft Development. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. RM2A8R8NY – The Sopwith Camel, British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft introduced on the Western Front in 1917. During the first World War , the industrialization of the aircraft industry became entrenched as a vital piece of the modern war machine. The "Tabloid", so named because of its small size, caused a sensation when it made its first public appearance. Between January and November 1918, nearly 5,500 tons of bombs had been. Potez 630. The Bristol Scout was a British single-seat biplane scout and reconnaissance aircraft designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company during World War I. The Supermarine Spitfire Vc fighter he was flying had been seriously damaged in the fight, but he managed a wheels up landing at Malta’s Hal Far. Enter a Crossword Clue. 1. Shook achieved the first kill with a Camel, shooting down a German aircraft over the sea. Royal Naval Air Service. Web the crossword solver found 30 answers to wwi british fighter plane, 8 letters crossword clue. 2" type was operated as a day and night bomber and fighter by the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. M. B. 2 experimental motorjet and second jet aircraft to fly. Command of the Air. No. British aircraft defeated: 650. 1 1940 – Jet engine research. Patrol leaders would try to give themselves an element of surprise by positioning themselves above the enemy before attacking. Enter a Crossword. A dyer's son from Krefeld, he was a patriotic young man while still in school. com. Sopwith DragonBiplane Fighter. From August 1915 to March 1916, the awkward Eindekkers ruled the skies over the Western Front. 21 offers from $16. Upon examining the given clues, we have managed to identify a total of 1 possible solutions for the crossword clue „British fighter aircraft of the First World War“. Designed at the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough, the first production aircraft had the 150hp Hispano-Suiza fitted and were designated SE5. My dad flew B-24s in WWII, so I have always had a soft spot for them. According to the 1965 book Fighter Aces, by Trevor Constable and Raymond Toliver, the British and the Americans never fully accepted the term Ace. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was considered by many the best fighter of the Second World War, particularly during the Battle of Britain. Wilkins' British Fighter Aircraft in World War I is a rare book. Of 2694 men who served in the Australian Flying Corps, 178 of them died. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "f14 fighter aircraft", 6 letters crossword clue. 100. It was introduced in April 1917, and eventually more than 5,200 were built. 5, and machine guns were also fitted to several French types, such as the Morane-Saulnier L and N. p. We have 1 possible answer in. Supermarine Spitfire. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues. At that time such qualities were considered desirable since the military had yet to fully acknowledge the aeroplane as a. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "ww1 aircraft", 4 letters crossword clue. The type gained the name "Elephant" from its relatively large size and lack of manoeuvrability. Which country marked their planes with a black cross? a. A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. n. It was developed by the Sopwith Aviation. About 3,500 were built. The Sopwith TF. The third "F. WWII aircraft and airplanes represented a massive leap in speed, power, and sophistication. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (5047) The MiG-23 was supposed to be the Soviet answer to the big American fighters such as the F-4 and F-111, a powerful swing-wing fighter that could also perform attack. On April 1, 1918, the Royal Air Force was formed. That symbol was soon dropped as friendly gunners commonly mistook the markings for a German cross and opened fire. United Kingdom (1918) Ground Attack Aircraft [300-500+ Built] A frontal view of a production Sopwith Salamander. 5a was one of the United Kingdom's best single-seat fighter aircraft, with its designation denoting "Scout Experimental. Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) (1924–1968) until amalgamated. The Beardmore WB. 2. 1918. British B. It was one of the most successful and influential aircraft of its time, and it played an important role in the development of military aviation. The iconic Allied aircraft of World War I (1914-1918), the Sopwith Camel, entered service in mid-1917 and helped the reclaim the skies over the Western Front from the Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Air Service). At first, the crews of planes used pistols and rifles to fight each other. One British fighter aircraft, the Sopworth Snipe, certainly carried oxygen equipment when it went out to France shortly before the Armistice. During early 1917, the French designer Louis. Aircraft Role First flight Introduced to RFC service Airco DH. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter, "Brisfit" or "Biff". 149 mph. Camouflage schemes of the AEG and Fokker Flugzeugwerke built AEG C. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator. 9 May. 87, it was powered. 4 "Buzzard" was a British-designed, single-seat fighting biplane appearing in the latter months of World War 1. A captured Sopwith Triplane was displayed to the German aircraft industry on. Modern terminology for air-to-air combat is air combat manoeuvring (ACM), which refers to tactical situations requiring the use of individual. The First RAF Mission. Photo: Keith Tarrier/Shutterstock. B. In total 525 Nieuports (of all types) were ordered by the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. In September 1914, the RFC began fitting Lewis machine-guns that were angled to fire forwards clear of the propeller. 2 and the F. This photograph, which appears to have been taken from the cabin of a Handley-Page bomber, is attributed to Tom Aitken. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "Battle of Britain fighter aircraft", 8 letters crossword clue. President Fairchild Aircraft of Canada Limited. Today's crossword puzzle clue is a general knowledge one: Iconic fighter aircraft of the First World War. 2 Predecessor to the all metal Armstrong Whitworth Siskin. 5. VII . Primarily used by No 27 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, the G100 and the G102 proved unsuccessful as fighters in 1916 but were particularly useful in the low level bomber role in 1917. . Attempts to use machine guns inevitably followed, but they were too heavy for the light planes in use at the very start of the war. III 3 1917 german fighter biplane aircraft of First World War WW1 in the. The Sopwith Aviation Company (based at Brooklands) was created in June 1912 by Thomas Octave Murdoch (Tommy, later Sir Thomas) Sopwith, a wealthy sportsman interested in aviation, yachting and motor-racing, when he was 24 years old. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order (1-to-Z). E. Illustrated with detailed artworks of combat aircraft and their markings, 'The Essential Aircraft Identification Aircraft of WWI' is a comprehensive study of the aircraft that fought in the Great War of 1914–18. SE5A First World War fighter aircraft Biggleswade, UK - June 7, 2015: A reproduction of an SE5A fighter. It was last seen in British general knowledge crossword. The First Air-to-Air Missiles. DAYTON, Ohio — Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Here are the possible solutions for "British fighter aircraft" clue. Royal Aircraft Factory SE5A Among the best of the British fighter WW1 aircraft, they continued to fly after the war. British B. At the beginning of the First World War, 66 pilots of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) flew their aircraft across the English Channel to support the army at the front. Command of the Air. Siddeley Deasy S. 9 (1 F. com. E. 5 Gunbus, which entered action in 1915, featured one. Longest serving and one of the highest scoring fighter pilots of the British Empire during the First World War, James McCudden is a recipient of the honorary Victoria Cross for his remarkable 57 aerial winning streaks. Below are 12 important aircraft from the First World War, including bombers, fighters and reconnaissance planes. At the heart of this performance lay a formidable engine, the Hispano-Suiza 8. Browse 3,740 world war 1 aircraft photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. IV was designed to meet Admiralty Specification N. 3. A Bristol Bulldog the primary British fighter in the Interwar period . The Sopwith Tabloid and Sopwith Schneider (floatplane) were British biplanes, originally designed as sports aircraft and later adapted for military use. All front-line D. F-35B Lightning II the current UK naval fighter made by Lockheed Martin. The onset of the 20th century came with a lot of innovation in technology and engineering, which resulted in the allied and axis. 26A. It was used by the Royal Flying Corps and its successor, the Royal Air Force, during the First World War. 100. The term ace (now commonly flying ace) was first used by French newspapers during World War I, describing Adolphe Pégoud as l'as ('the ace'), after he downed five German aircraft. Iconic UK Airfields from WW1. Web today's crossword puzzle clue is a general knowledge one: The crossword solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. SPEYER, GERMANY - OCTOBER 2022: grey gray Pfalz D. We will try to find the right answer to this particular crossword clue. Biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. Croix de guerre (France) Silver Medal of Military Valor (2, Italy) Other work. Category:1910s Italian military aircraft. Fokker Eindecker e. The Martinsyde F. The next day he got two more probable kills during a dogfight with a squadron of 15 Germans. The Bristol Badger was designed to meet a British need for a two-seat fighter - reconnaissance aeroplane at the end of the First World War. It was used for bombing and reconnaissance including the Battle of the Somme before being eventually replaced in the same role by the RE8. Some of the most famous British aircraft of the First World War include the Sopwith Camel, a single-seat biplane used as a fighter aircraft; the Royal Aircraft Factory. H. British Fighter Aircraft Ww1 Crossword - For a list of royal air fo… Web the crossword solver found 30 answers to wwi british fighter plane, 8 letters crossword clue. Airco DH. 7 mm Lewis. Object Details. Carl Menckhoff (14 April 1883 – 11 January 1949) was a. The later SE5a had the 200 or 220hp Hispani-Suiza or 200hp Wolseley Viper engine. When the world went to war in 1914 the Wright Brothers had only made the world's first powered flight little. Fighter aces in World War II had tremendously varying kill scores, affected as they were by many factors: the pilot's skill level, the performance of the airplane the pilot flew and the planes they flew against, how long they served, their opportunity to meet the enemy in the air (Allied to Axis disproportion), whether they were the formation's leader or a wingman,. The Vickers F. Nieuport-Delage NiD. It was a single-engined two-seat biplane floatplane, and was a larger development of the successful W. World War I was the first major conflict involving the large-scale use of aircraft. Of particular note was the Buzzard's high speed, being one of the fastest aircraft developed. It was equipped with walls Li W for a viper v8 water-cooled in-line piston with 200 horsepower driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose and had a top speed. Entries are listed below by maximum reported speed (descending) by specific production model. 1918. I fighter plane; Recent usage in crossword puzzles: LA Times - Dec. The Sopwith B. Curtiss Mohawk (RAF) Curtiss Kittyhawk and Tomahawk (RAF) de Havilland Mosquito (RAF) night fighter & fighter. The tri-colour cockade badge of Revolutionary France was the inspiration of WW1 aircraft insignia. Immediate pre-war and post-war types and X-planes are also included in this listing. Aircraft are listed for the following organizations: Canadian Aviation Corps (1914–1915) which operated a single Burgess-Dunne tailless floatplane. 1917. An enemy aircraft that crashed in enemy held territory obviously could not be verified by the victor's ground troops. There are a total of [ 239 ] WW1 Aircraft Timeline entries in the Military Factory. The Sopwith Snipe was built instead to replace the Camel. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. This page is drawn up from various sources and collated. Though Germany fell decisively behind France and Britain in aircraft production in 1917, and thus lost the war in the air, perhaps the definitive single-seat fighter of World War I was the Fokker D. 9 + 8 F. The end of war may have brought peace to France, yet the country itself and its infrastructure had been ravaged by four years of warfare, and the scars left behind were not just. German fighters examined and tested by the British after the war didn't fare quite as well, with max G tending to be in the 2-3 G range, beyond which the rear wing spar would fail. 5 was powered by a 150 HP engine, but this was. The fuel tank size was increased in comparison to its predecessors, which gave up to an hour more endurance. " Cybermodeler "For the aviation buff who wants to delve into biplane building, this book is. It went into service with the Luftwaffe (German air force), in April 1944, the same month the first British fighter aircraft, the Gloster Meteor, became operational. 2: Fighter: July 1915: 1915 Airco DH. "Barron" – John Worrall, British World War II RAF pilot. In an effort to arrive at the correct answer, we have thoroughly scrutinized each option and taken into account all relevant information that could provide us with a clue as to which solution is the most accurate. VII of 1918. The pattern of bullet holes was then used to adjust the angle of the firing cams so that the pattern of shot fell safely between the propeller blades. SPEYER, GERMANY - OCTOBER 2022: black 152 17 German Air Force Fokker DR-1 Triplane military aircraft WW1 1917 in the Technikmuseum. [1] The guiding principles in the design were compactness and a wide field of fire from both cockpits. British aircraft fly 18 defensive sorties, but fail to make contact with the German aircraft; the British flights, however, demonstrate the feasibility of using the Sopwith Camel as a night fighter. The Hawker Nimrod is a British carrier-based single-engine, single-seat biplane fighter aircraft built in the early 1930s by Hawker Aircraft. Below are 12 important aircraft from the First World War, including bombers, fighters and reconnaissance planes. Vickers Limited. Everyday low. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "Battle of Britain fighter aircraft", 8 letters crossword clue. When it became clear to the British that the Pup was being outclassed by newer German fighters, British turned to Sopwith Aviation once again to provide a replacement that was better than the German aircraft. It is rare that ISD gives an instant five-star rating to any new volume, but Mark C. Aviation portal; This is a list of aviation-related events from 1914. He is considered the ace-of-aces of the war, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories. Armament: 1. At the outbreak of the war powered aircraft flight was just over a decade old, and its exploitation for military purposes around 5 years old. To be considered a fighter ace, a pilot must have shot down a number of enemy aircraft during an aerial battle. Then a second crew member, the gunner, was added. After flight. ‘I attended the first session of the WW1 AHT Winter Chats Programme 2022, and it was a fascinating insight into the development of the scout (fighter) aircraft of WW1 during 1914-1915. 11. Sopwith Camel - Single-seat British fighter plane. Enter a Crossword Clue. R. That same year, it flew in several aerial displays in Britain, powered by the world's oldest airworthy Rolls-Royce aero engine. 15. Today's crossword puzzle clue is a cryptic one: British fighter aircraft. F. We will try to find the right answer to this particular crossword clue. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues. 4. E. The crossword solver is on. The aircraft defending London that day were spearheaded by the Supermarine Spitfire, an iconic single-seat fighter plane which had only entered service a few months before the start of World War. The crossword clue 'British fighter aircraft of the First World War' published 1 time⁄s and has 1 unique answer⁄s on our system. E. Tip: Use ? for unknown answer letters, ex: UNKNO?N. 12,. This was done by fitting a wooden disc to the propeller hub and firing the guns through it. The Scout had a wooden frame covered in fabric and. The Pup was eventually outclassed by newer. Navy’s aviation program began the war as ill-prepared as the army’s. It is rare that ISD gives an instant five-star rating to any new volume, but Mark C. Handley Page 0/400 - Long range British bomber. The quest for an effective fighter airplane to achieve air superiority during World War 1 resulted in a series of pusher fighter planes, designed with the engine at the rear and the machine gun at the front. Ambrosini Sagittario 1953 – Swept wing research aircraft. Fighter is biplane with machinegun on wings. 100 "Elephant" and the G. The aircraft are the Royal Aircraft Factory S. The T. The First RAF Mission. Q 57567. 29. Fokker D. The Fokker DR-1 tri-plane was one of Germany's most famous fighter aircraft in WW1. The British maintain air superiority over the battlefield for three months, but then lose it to the Germans, led by Boelcke’s Jagdstaffel 2. We will try to find the right answer to this particular crossword clue. In the five months of the battle, the RFC loses 782 aircraft and 576 pilots and lose air superiority over the battlefield. 1916. 69. Speed km/h: 113. Battle of britain fighter aircraft. Answers for f 15 fighter aircraft crossword clue, 3 letters. At the start of the war the land and sea forces used the aircraft put at their disposal primarily for reconnaissance, and air fighting began as the exchange of shots from small arms between enemy airmen meeting one another in the course of reconnoitering. 9, 1999;19-feb-2021 - Explora el tablero "WWI: British fighter pilots" de Esteban Canevari, que 226 personas siguen en Pinterest. Enter a Crossword Clue Sort by Length # of Letters or Pattern The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "wwi fighter plane", 4 letters crossword clue. Autocannons have a longer effective range and greater terminal. World War One was the first war in which air power made a significant impact. 2 was a single-seat pusher biplane fighter aircraft which operated during the First World War. Sopwith Salamander. 9: Bomber: July 1917: November 1917 Airco DH. His first aerial victory dates from August 1916, but since April 1917 he scored one kill after the other. British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft. Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (German: [ˈmanfreːt fɔn ˈʁɪçthoːfn̩]; 2 May 1892 – 21 April 1918), known in English as Baron von Richthofen or the Red Baron, was a fighter pilot with the German Air Force during World War I. B Fighter D8096, in generic WW1 western front markings, served in. The British and French launch the Battle of the Somme begins. Caproni-Campini N. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "Battle of Britain fighter aircraft (8)", 8 letters crossword clue. A total of 12,000 men were taken. Explore more crossword clues and answers by clicking on the results or quizzes. Unveiled at the London Aero Show in 1913, this British two-seat pusher military biplane was designed to fulfill the role of ‘scouting. Enter the length or pattern for better results. . WWI dogfight in sepia. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Crew: 1; Length: 22 ft 9 in (6. 7mm) Vickers Gun such as the Sopwith Triplane. While it was ordered in small numbers for the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service, it was not used operationally. Supermarine Spitfire. May 1917 [1] Status. The inherent stability of the BE2c which had proved its undoing in the deadly skies over France was perfectly suited to the night-fighting role against large relatively slow-moving targets. 3.