Canadian Warplanes 1: Armstrong Whitworth Atlas

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3203337)  ·

Flypast of Armstrong Whitworth Atlas I aircraft of the RCAF on Air Force Day, Rockclliffe, Ontario, 14 July 1934.

(RCAF Photo)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC (Serial No. 409), Rockcliffe, Ontario, ca 1938. Ex RAF K1531. Served with No. 2 (AC) Squadron, RCAF Stations Trenton and Rockcliffe, 1935 to 1939. Category B damage at Ottawa on 14 November 1938.

The Armstrong Whitworth Atlas was a British single-engine two-seat biplane.   It served as an army co-operation aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force in the 1920s and 1930s.  It was the first purpose-designed aircraft of the type to serve with the RAF.  The prototype was first flown on 10 May 1925.  The production Atlas had a steel tube fuselage with fabric covering with single-bay swept metal wings.  It could be fitted with a hook under the fuselage to pick up messages and could carry a 460 lb (210 kg) bombload under the wings.  The Atlas continued in service in the army co-operations role until replaced with the Hawker Audax in 1935.

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. I (5), (Serial Nos. 16 (later 401), 17 (later 402), 18, (later 403), 19 (later 404), 111, Mk. I dual (1), (Serial No. 112), (later 405), Mk. IAC (10), (Serial Nos. 406-415), for a total of 16 aircraft.

Detailed records of all known RCAF and Canadian casualties in the RAF during the Second World War may be viewed on line in the Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource (CASPIR). The CASPIR website is researched, coded, maintained entirely by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) volunteers with only one staff assisting periodically. This work has taken several years, and is unlikely to be finished as continuing research leads to “new finds” and rediscovered Canadian aviation heritage and history. The CWHM volunteer team looks forward to continuing to update and correct the record as additional information and photos are received. Check here.

(RCAF Photo)

Armstrong-Whitworth Atlas Mk. I floatplane, RCAF (Serial No. 19 (later 404).  Armstrong-Whitworth Atlas Mk. I floatplane, RCAF (Serial No. 19 (later 404).  The Atlas is heading out to do a floatplane test at Rockcliffe, Ontario, c1939. 19 was fitted with floats for trials at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. Operated from RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario, late 1920s / early 1930s. Later renumbered 404.After 404. Renumbered from 19. Served with No. 2 (AC) Squadron, RCAF Stations Trenton and Rockcliffe, 1935 to 1939. Category B damage at Petawawa, Ontario on 29 July 1938, during summer exercises. With No. 118 (Coast Artillery Cooperation) Squadron at Saint John, New Brunswick in late 1939. Flew this squadron's first war mission from Saint John on 11 November 1939. Search for reported submarine, returned to base after 15 minutes due to engine trouble and bad weather. Later became instructional airframe A60.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580907)

Air Commodore Croil, explaining the controls of the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas to the Minister of National Defence, 27 July 1935.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3521019)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. I, (Serial No. 16), later (Serial No. 401), 12 Jul 1934. Registration G-CYZB reserved, only used briefly. Used at RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario. Later renumbered 401 from No. 16. Served with No. 2 (AC) Squadron, RCAF Stations Trenton and Rockcliffe, 1935 to 1939. 401 took part in exercises at Camp Petawawa, Ontario, Aug 1939. Later with Eastern Air Command. Became instructional airframe A58.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581164)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. I in flight over RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, c1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580854)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 16), 12 Jul 1934.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3203340)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 16), 14 Jul 1934.

15 Dec 1938.  Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. I (Serial No. 403), No. 2 (AC) Squadron, crashed at Cardinal, Ontario. F/O R.M. McKay and Cpl P. Wilkinson baled out safely.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3206354)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC, RCAF (Serial No. 406), Hon. Grote Stirling (fourth from left), Minister of National Defence, preparing for a flight, 27 July 1935.  The Atlas Mk. I was flown from Rockcliffe, Ontario from Apr 1935 to Nov 1939, by (Serial Nos. 401 to 413, and 415).

(RCAF Photo via T.F.A. Leversedge)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC, RCAF (Serial No. 406). Ex RAF J9564. With the Test and Devlopment Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. Served with No. 2 (AC) Squadron, RCAF Stations Trenton and Rockcliffe, 1935 to 1938. Category A crash at London, Ontario on 28 June 1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3208140)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC, RCAF (Serial No. 408), Army Cooperation aircraft shown picking up a message at Rockcliffe, Ontario.  The aircraft has a damaged undercarriage. Ex RAF K1529. Served with No. 2 (AC) Squadron, RCAF Stations Trenton and Rockcliffe, 1935 to 1939. With No. 118 Squadron in 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3203436)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC, RCAF Army Cooperation aircraft shown picking up a message at Rockcliffe, Ontario.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580954)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC, RCAF (Serial No. 409), 19 Mar 1936. Ex RAF K1531. Served with No. 2 (AC) Squadron, RCAF Stations Trenton and Rockcliffe, 1935 to 1939. Category B damage at Ottawa on 14 November 1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580954)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC, RCAF (Serial No. 409), 19 Mar 1936.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3206351)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC, RCAF (Serial No. 409), No. 2 (AC) Squadron, Rockcliffe, Ontario, summer 1938.

(SDASM Photo)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC (Serial No. 409), No. 2 (AC) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, ca 1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3206355)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC, RCAF (Serial Nos. 407 & 408), 27 July 1935. Ex RAF J9951. Served with No. 2 (AC) Squadron, RCAF Stations Trenton and Rockcliffe, 1935 to 1939. With the Test and Devlopment Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario in October 1939, on loan from RCAF Trenton. Operated by No. 118 (B) Squadron, from RCAF Station Saint John, New Brunswick, 1939 to 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580901)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. I aircraft, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 27 Jul 1935.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3564343)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. I, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 12 Jul 1934.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581157)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC (Serial No. 409), RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, ca. 1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3387946)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC, No. 2 (AC) Sqn, at the opening of the Silver Dart Aerodrome, Petawawa, Ontario, 17 June 1936.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580902)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC, RCAF COS flight, 27 July 1935.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3545872)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC, RCAF (Serial No. 410), No. 2 (AC) Squadron, 1938. Ex RAF K1540. Served with No. 2 (AC) Squadron, RCAF Stations Trenton and Rockcliffe, 1935 to 1939. Operated by No. 118 (B) Squadron, from RCAF Station Saint John, New Brunswick, 1939 to 1940. Later became Instructional Airframe A 61.

(RCAF Photo)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC (Serial No. 411), and (Serial No. 409), Camp Petawawa, Ontario.

(RCAF Photo)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC (Serial No. 411), Camp Petawawa, Ontario. Ex RAF K1545. Served with No. 2 (AC) Squadron, RCAF Stations Trenton and Rockcliffe, 1935 to 1939.

(RCAF Photo)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC (Serial No. 409), Camp Petawawa, Ontario.

(RCAF Photo via T.F.A. Leversedge)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. IAC, RCAF (Serial No. 415). Ex RAF K1566. Served with No. 2 (AC) Squadron, RCAF Stations Trenton and Rockcliffe, 1935 to 1939. Operated by No. 118 (B) Squadron, from RCAF Station Saint John, New Brunswick, 1939.

(RCAF Photo)

Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Mk. I dual trainer, (Serial No. 405), No. 111 (CAC) Squadron, Vancouver, BC, 21 Oct 1939. 405 was renumbered from 112, c1930. Fitted with dual controls. Served with No. 2 (AC) Squadron, RCAF Stations Trenton and Rockcliffe, 1935 to 1939. Operated by No. 111 (AC) Squadron, from RCAF Station Sea Island, BC, 1939 to 1940.

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