Canadian Warplanes 2: de Havilland DH.2
de Havilland DH.2
(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390122)
de Havilland (Airco) DH.2, c1918, single-seat biplane pusher fighter flown by Canadians serving in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) during the First World War.
The design of DH.2 was greatly influenced by the technologies available at the time. Britain had not yet developed a synchronisation gear to match the German system and this had compelled British fighters to adopt the pusher configuration, such as the DH.2 and the F.E.2b. Development of the type had begun before the emergence of the German's Fokker Eindecker monoplane fighter. Following the DH.2's introduction, these two aircraft became fierce adversaries. During July 1915, the prototype DH.2 its first flight. It then served until it was lost on the Western Front a month later.
Introduced to frontline service in February 1916, the DH.2 became the first effectively armed British single-seat fighter. Its availability enabled RFC pilots to counter the "Fokker Scourge" that had given the Germans the advantage in the skies during late 1915. It carried the burden of fighting and escort duties for almost two years, while numerous pilots became flying aces using the type. It was eventually outclassed by newer German fighters, contributing to the DH.2's withdrawal from first line service in France after RFC units were completely re-equipped with newer fighters in June 1917.
(RAF Photo)
de Havilland (Airco) DH.2, c1918, single-seat biplane pusher fighter flown by Canadians serving in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) during the First World War.
(André Schaefer Photo)
de Havilland (Airco) DH.2, c1917, single-seat biplane pusher fighter flown by Canadians serving in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) during the First World War. The DH.2 contributed significantly to the fact that the Allies were able to achieve air superiority in July 1916 at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme. The DH.2 had a flight time of up to two and three quarters of an hour. It took 25 minutes to climb to an altitude of 3,000 meters, and it had a service ceiling of 4,300 meters.
