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Airco DH.9

The Airco DH.9 (from de Havilland 9) – also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 – is a British single-engined biplane bomber that was developed and deployed during the First World War.

DH.9
Airco DH.9
Role Bomber
Manufacturer Airco
Designer Geoffrey de Havilland
First flight July 1917
Introduction November 1917
Retired 1937
Primary users Royal Air Force
Royal Flying Corps

Royal Naval Air Service
South African Air Force

Number built 4,091
Variants Airco DH.9A
Airco DH.9C
Westland Walrus

The DH.9 was a development of Airco's earlier successful DH.4, with which it shared many components. These were mated to an all-new fuselage and the BHP/Galloway Adriatic engine, which promised increased performance. Anticipating its usefulness, the type was ordered in very large numbers for Britain's Royal Flying Corps (RFC).

Upon entering service, the DH.9's performance was found to be unsatisfactory. The Adriatic engine was unreliable and failed to provide the expected power, which gave the DH.9 poorer performance than the aircraft it had been meant to replace. The performance deficit was blamed for the heavy losses they suffered over the Western Front. The redesigned DH.9A was fitted with a more powerful and reliable American Liberty L-12 engine which rectified the shortcomings of the original DH.9 model.

Development Edit

Origins Edit

During June 1917, partially as a result of attacks by German bombers on London, the War Office issued its recommendation to almost double the size of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) to a total of 200 squadrons. In early July 1917, the British Cabinet accepted the recommendation, with the intention that the majority of the new squadrons planned to be equipped with bombers.[1][2] While an order for 700 DH.4s was placed on 28 June 1917, on 23 July 1917, the Air Board were presented with drawings for a modified DH.4 that delivering greater range under a new type number, DH.9.[2]

The DH.9 was designed by de Havilland for the Aircraft Manufacturing Company in 1916 as a successor to the DH.4. It used the wings and tail unit of the DH.4 but featured a modified fuselage which moved the pilot closer to the gunner/observer and away from the engine and fuel tank, which facilitated communication and was a more optimal fighting configuration.[3] The other major change from the DH.4 was the choice of the promising new BHP/Galloway Adriatic engine, which was predicted to produce 300 hp (220 kW) to provide adequate performance to match enemy fighters.[4]

Based on the performance estimates for the DH.9 (which were initially expected to surpass those of the DH.4), and the similarity to the DH.4, which meant that it would be easy to convert production over to the new aircraft, it was decided to place a massive number of orders (totalling 4,630 aircraft) for the type prior to the aircraft even flying for the first time.[2] Existing contracts originally placed for the DH.4 were also converted to the DH.9. The Air Board had been specifically assured that there would be an initial production delay of no more than a month. According to aviation author J.M Bruce, the selection of the DH.9 "seems to have been taken in a spirit of optimism or blind faith, for its chosen engine was, in July 1917, experiencing serious manufacturing difficulties".[5]

Into flight Edit

In July 1917, the prototype (a converted DH.4) performed its maiden flight from Hendon Aerodrome, Colindale, London.[4] Trials of the type were extensive, including a number of tests performed at RAF Martlesham Heath.[2] Unfortunately, the BHP engine proved unable to reliably deliver its expected power; the engine having been de-rated to 230 hp (170 kW) in order to improve its reliability. This deficit had a drastic effect on the aircraft's performance, especially at high altitude, with it being inferior to that of the DH.4 it was supposed to replace.[2]

The poor performance of the aircraft meant that the DH.9 would have to fight its way through enemy fighters, which could easily catch the DH.9 where the DH.4 could avoid many of these attacks. As early as November 1917, some officials, such as General Hugh Trenchard, raised repeated objections to the aircraft based upon its disappointing performance; however, in his response, President of the Air Council Sir William Weir started that "it was the choice of having the DH.9 with the B.H.P. engine, or of having nothing at all.[2] Additionally, by this point, production of the DH.9 was already well underway.[2]

Multiple attempts were made to provide the DH.9 with an adequate engine; a number of aircraft were powered by the Siddeley Puma, a lightened and supposedly more powerful version of the BHP.[5] In August 1917, an order for 2,000 Fiat A12 engines was placed, intending to be delivered between January and June 1918 and used upon some production batches of the D.H9; however, deliveries of the Fiat engine were unsatisfactory.[3] Another alternative powerplant was adopted in the form of the 430 hp (320 kW) Napier Lion engine; one such Lion-engined aircraft achieved a World Altitude Record of 30,500 ft (9,300 m) on 2 January 1919.[6]

However, none of these options were deemed to be entirely satisfactory,[3] it required being redesigned into the DH.9A, for which an American V-12 Liberty engine was adopted, to transform the aircraft. According to Bruce, aside from the engine issue: "Certainly, there was little wrong with the aircraft itself".[3]

Design Edit

The Airco DH.9 was a single-engine British bomber aircraft, sharing a high level of similarities with the preceding DH.4.[3] The standard flight surfaces were broadly the same, but adopted a highly redesigned fuselage configuration, including the repositioning of the pilot's cockpit to a more rearwards position.[7] Structurally, the fuselage was similar to its predecessor; plywood cladding covered the forward fuselage, which had no internal bracing, while a conventional wire-braced box girder structure was used aft of the cockpits. Internal stowage for a pair of 230 lb (100 kg) or four 112 lb (51 kg) bombs was provided for, although little use of this capability was made operationally.[7]

While the DH.9 was deemed to be suitable for daytime bombing operations, it was found to be incapable of effective nighttime bombing due to the pilot's view being obstructed and visibility via the bombsight being unsuitable.[8] The revised cockpit positioning of the DH.9 from the DH.4 placed the pilot and the observer closer together, which was viewed by the RAF as being a considerable advantage in aerial combat; however, the pilot's visibility for ground reconnaissance was decreased as a result. Both radio sets and cameras could be installed.[8] The fuel tanks were enclosed in doped fabric, intended to drain fuel away if the tanks were hit by enemy fire. According to the testing squadron, the DH.9 possessed a high level of manoeuvrability, was relatively easy to perform landings aside from a poor view during the approach.[8]

Various improvements and supplementary equipment were trialled and occasionally adopted.[9] Tests of various engines, radiators, silencers and parachutes were conducted to evaluate their performance, however, few of these improvements were ultimately adopted. During the war, numerous customisations and improvised improvements were made to the aircraft by the maintenance crews of individual squadrons, often for the purpose of addressing the type's engine performance issues.[10] After the end of the war, many DH.9s, which had been originally delivered as bombers, were sold; these were often reconfigured to serve in different roles, including passenger and cargo transport, trainer aircraft, and as air ambulances.[11]

Operational history Edit

First World War service Edit

To boost the rate of production, quantity orders for the DH.9 were also placed with Alliance, G & J.Weir, Short Brothers, Vulcan, Waring & Gillow and National Aircraft Factories No. 1 and No. 2. The first deliveries of the type occurred during November 1917 to 108 Squadron RFC; by the end of 1917, a total of five DH.9s had been delivered and passed their final inspections.[12] The first combat engagement of the type, performed over France, was performed in March 1918 by No. 6 Squadron RNAS. By July 1918, a total of nine operational squadrons deployed to the Western Front were using the type.

The DH.9's performance in action over the Western Front was typically deemed to have been a disaster; heavy losses of the type were quickly incurred, attributed to both its poor performance and to engine failures, despite the prior derating of its engine to reduce the failure rate.[12] Between May and November 1918, a pair of squadrons stationed at the Western Front (Nos. 99 and 104) had 54 of its DH.9s shot down and another 94 aircraft written off due to accidents.[13] On multiple occasions, less than half of a flight of bombers would reach their intended targets; according to Bruce, the successful missions performed by the DH.9 were frequently a product of "the courage and determination of the pilots and observers that flew them". Squadrons would often implement their own home-built enhancements to their aircraft, such as enlarged carburetor air intakes and modified fuel mixture controls.[12]

Nevertheless, the type proved capable during some engagements; on 23 August 1918, a DH.9 flown by Lieutenant Arthur Rowe Spurling of 49 Squadron, with his observer, Sergeant Frank Bell, single-handedly attacked thirty Fokker D.VII fighters, downing five of them.[14][better source needed][15][16] On 9 August 1918, Lieutenant E.A. Simpson of 49 Squadron, while flying a bombing mission upon bridges at Falvy and Bethencourt, shot down four hostile fighters while defending against repeated attacks upon the formation.[17] In another instance, Captain John Stevenson Stubbs achieved 11 aerial victories in a DH.9, including the highly unusual feat of balloon busting while flying the type.[18][better source needed]

Despite its general lack of performance, due to its large numbers, the DH.9 was introduced to nearly every theatre of the conflict prior to the signing of the Armistice of 11 November 1918, which ended the conflict.[17] Reportedly, the DH.9 was also more successful in combat against the Turkish forces in the Middle East, where they faced less aerial opposition. Stationed at coastal aerodromes across the British mainland, the type was also used extensively to perform coastal patrol missions with the aim of deterring the operations of enemy U-boats.[17]

Post war service Edit

Following the end of the First World War, a number of DH.9s operated by 47 Squadron and 221 Squadron were sent to southern Russia in 1919 in support of the White Russian Army of General Denikin, participating in the Russian Civil War.[19] In this theatre, the aircraft were often operating within challenging conditions.[20]

The last combat use of the DH.9 by the RAF was in support of the final campaign against Diiriye Guure[21] in Somalia during January–February 1920.[19] Amongst those aircraft used in Somalia, one DH.9 was modified to function as an air ambulance, being able to load and transport a single stretcher case, which was carried upon the upper longerons directly to the rear of the pilot's cockpit.[22] Further ambulance conversions were performed, including a number that were operated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force.[23]

Surprisingly, production was allowed to continue after the end of the war into 1919. In 1920, the DH.9 was finally withdrawn from service by the RAF.[24] In addition to British manufacturing, several other countries had commenced production of the type; perhaps the most significant of these was the Airco DH.9A, which was fitted with the American V-12 Liberty engine, and was produced in the thousands even though production was curtailed by the signing of the Armistice that had ended the First World War.[20] Belgium and Spain also produced the type, the latter producing hundreds of the type equipped with a 300 hp (220 kW) Hispano-Suiza engine; some of these were still in service in 1940.[23]

Following the end of the conflict, large numbers of surplus DH.9s became available at low prices and the type was widely exported; this included those aircraft that were donated to the Dominions as well as India as part of the Imperial Gift programme.[25][6][23] The South African Air Force (SAAF) received a total of 48 DH.9s, and used them extensively, including against the Rand Revolt in 1922. Several South African aircraft were later re-engined with Bristol Jupiter radial engines as the M′pala; such modified aircraft continued to serve until 1937.[26][23] One DH.9 was transported to Japan during the Sempill Mission. A large number of DH.9s were also apparently exported to China according to the ADC Aircraft.[citation needed]

Possibly the last battle use by any user was in late 1922, during the Turkish War of Independence.[27] Greeks had deployed a number of them against the Kemalists who were fighting the British supported Greek Army invading the remaining chunk of the Ottoman Empire after the 1918 Armistice of Mudros followed by the Sevres Treaty which was rejected by the nationalists. One of Greek DH.9s had made a forced landing behind Turkish lines near Muğla during the Battle of Sakarya previous year, sometime in July 1921. This machine was quickly repaired and was flown to Ankara in August 1921 by famous pilot Vecihi Hürkuş.[28] It was named "Ismet". It was deployed, as the only Turkish airplane at the time, in the last phases of the Battle of Sakarya, making a total of 23 sorties, mostly by Vecihi.[29] Same airplane continued to serve for the remaining of the War of Independence through 1922. There were three more Greek DH.9s found in excellent condition, with plenty of spare parts, near Izmir after the Greek army pulled out hurriedly, having been routed by Kemalists in August 1922. These four planes served the young Turkish Air Force until 1925.[29]

Civilian service Edit

 
DH-9 G-AUED modified with a cabin for use as an airliner

After the end of the war, large numbers of surplus DH.9s became available, having been deemed to be surplus to requirements by their original military operators; accordingly, many were resold onto civil operators, such as by early aerial transport companies. Large numbers were modified to better perform as transport aircraft, such as the cabin being suitably adapted for the carriage of passengers.[23] In this role, the DH.9 provided a useful load carrying capability and was relatively inexpensive to procure. Accordingly, in various configurations, the type saw prolific use by civil operators.[23]

Early air services between London, Paris and Amsterdam were operated by a fleet of DH.9s owned by Aircraft Transport and Travel. A number of DH9s were converted into floatplanes and saw use in India, Bolivia and Rhodesia.[30] Several aircraft were reconfigured to serve as trainer aircraft, being refitted with Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar engines and rubber undercarriages; designated as DH.9Js, the last of these were withdrawn and scrapped in 1936.[31]

A number of different DH.9 conversion programmes for civil use were carried out, both by Airco and its successor, the de Havilland Aircraft Company, and by other third party companies, such as the Aircraft Disposal Company.[32] Some radial powered DH.9Js continued in civil use until 1936.[33] One Dh.9 was transported to Japan during the Sempill Mission.[34] A large number of Dh.9s were also apparently exported to China according to the Aircraft Disposal Company.[35]

Variants Edit

  • DH.9 – Revised version of the DH.4 with the pilot and observer/gunner placed closer together (3,024 production aircraft built with others built in Belgium and Spain).
  • DH.9A – (also referred to as the Nine-Ack) was designed for Airco by Westland Aircraft to take advantage of the 400 hp (300 kW) American Liberty L-12 engine. Apart from the new engine and slightly larger wings it was identical to the DH.9. Initially it was hoped to quickly replace the DH.9 with the new version, but the shortage of Liberty engines available to the RAF limited the new type's service in the First World War, and it is best known as a standard type in the postwar RAF, serving as a general purpose aircraft for several years. 2,300 DH.9As were built by ten different British companies.
  • DH.9B – Conversions for civilian use as three-seaters (one pilot and two passengers)
  • DH.9C – Conversions for civilian use as four-seaters (one pilot and three passengers)
  • DH.9J – Modernised and re-engined conversions using the 385 hp (287 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar III radial engine. Used by the De Havilland School of Flying.
 
Handley Page H.P. 17 showing slots
  • DH.9J M'pala I – Re-engined conversions carried out by the South African Air Force. Powered by a 450 hp (340 kW) Bristol Jupiter VI radial piston engine.
  • M'pala II – Re-engined conversions carried out by the South African Air Force, powered by a 480 hp (360 kW) Bristol Jupiter VIII radial piston engine.
  • Mantis – Re-engined conversions carried out by the South African Air Force, powered by a 200 hp (150 kW) Wolseley Viper piston engine.
  • Handley Page HP.17 – A DH.9 experimentally fitted with slotted wings, tested 1920–1.[36]
  • USD-9/9A – DH.9s manufactured in the United States by the US Army's Engineering Division and Dayton-Wright. (1,415 ordered, only four built)[37]

Operators Edit

Military operators Edit

 
DH.9 operators
  Afghanistan
  Australia
  Belgium
  Canada
  Bolivia
  Chile
  Estonia
  India

(Part of Imperial Gift)

 
Greek DH-9
  Greece
  Kingdom of Hejaz
  • Hejaz Air Force – The Kingdom of Hejaz received 9 DH.9s and 2 DH.9Cs between 1921 and 1924. Five remained in existence (although not airworthy) in 1932.[41]
  Ireland
  Latvia
  Netherlands
  New Zealand
  Paraguay
  Peru
  Poland
  Romania
  Kingdom of Spain
  South Africa
  Soviet Union
   Switzerland
 
Turkish DH-9
  Turkey
  United Kingdom
  United States
  Uruguay

Civil operators Edit

  Australia
  Belgium
  Denmark
  Netherlands
  Romania
  Kingdom of Spain
  • Cia Espanola del Trafico Aereo
  United Kingdom
  Bikaner State

Surviving aircraft Edit

 
DH.9 F1258 at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Paris Le Bourget

Of the thousands of DH.9s built, only a few survived to be preserved:

  • F1258 is displayed at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace in Paris,[43]
  • An original DH.9 is displayed without serial number at the South African National Museum of Military History.[44] This DH.9 flew with the South African Air Force after World War I, then was operated as a civilian aircraft as ZS-AOI, before returning to the SAAF.
  • G-EAQM (original RAF serial F1278) was the first single-engined aircraft to fly from the United Kingdom to Australia and is preserved at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.[45][46]

In 2000, the remains of three DH.9s were discovered in India and two were retrieved for restoration in the UK.[47] Of these,

  • D5649 was restored and is displayed at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford.[48]
  • E8894/G-CDLI was restored to airworthy condition and is operated as a warbird by the Historic Aircraft Company in England.[49]
  • The third was retained in India and restored to a somewhat less-than-faithful condition for display at Junargh Fort in the city of Bikaner, Rajasthan.[50]

Specifications (DH.9 (Puma Engine)) Edit

 
Airco DH.9 drawing

Data from The British Bomber since 1914,[24] Aircraft Profile No. 62: The de Havilland D.H.9[51]

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Length: 30 ft 5 in (9.27 m)
  • Wingspan: 42 ft 4+58 in (12.919 m)
  • Height: 11 ft 3+12 in (3.442 m)
  • Wing area: 434 sq ft (40.3 m2)
  • Airfoil: RAF-16
  • Empty weight: 2,360 lb (1,070 kg)
  • Gross weight: 3,790 lb (1,719 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Armstrong Siddeley Puma 6 cylinder inline piston engine, 230 hp (170 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 113 mph (182 km/h, 98 kn)
  • Endurance: 4+1/2 hours
  • Service ceiling: 15,500 ft (4,700 m)
  • Time to altitude: 18 min 30 sec to 10,000 ft (3,000 m)

Armament

See also Edit

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References Edit

Notes Edit

  1. ^ Bruce 2 April 1956, p. 387.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Bruce 1965, p. 3.
  3. ^ a b c d e Bruce 1965, p. 4.
  4. ^ a b Jackson 1987, p. 97.
  5. ^ a b Bruce 1965, pp. 3-4.
  6. ^ a b c Jackson 1987, p. 100.
  7. ^ a b Bruce 1965, pp. 4-5.
  8. ^ a b c Bruce 1965, p. 5.
  9. ^ Bruce 1965, pp. 7-8.
  10. ^ Bruce 1965, pp. 6-8.
  11. ^ Bruce 1965, pp. 8-10.
  12. ^ a b c Bruce 1965, p. 6.
  13. ^ Mason 1994, p. 84.
  14. ^ "Arthur Rowe Spurling". www.theaerodrome.com.
  15. ^ Lt. Spurling Won Flying Cross, The Royal Gazette and Colonist Daily (now The Royal Gazette), Hamilton, Bermuda. 19 September 1918.
  16. ^ POTSI (archived): Sqn. Ldr. A. Rowe Spurling, DFC
  17. ^ a b c Bruce 1965, p. 7.
  18. ^ "John Stevenson Stubbs" theaerodrome.com, Retrieved: 1 May 2011.
  19. ^ a b Bruce 13 April 1956, p. 424.
  20. ^ a b Bruce 1965, p. 8.
  21. ^ Omar, Mohamed (2001). The Scramble in the Horn of Africa. p. 402. This letter is sent by all the Dervishes, the Amir, and all the Dolbahanta to the Ruler of Berbera ... We are a Government, we have a Sultan, an Amir, and Chiefs, and subjects ... (reply) In his last letter the Mullah pretends to speak in the name of the Dervishes, their Amir (himself), and the Dolbahanta tribes. This letter shows his object is to establish himself as the Ruler of the Dolbahanta
  22. ^ Bruce 1965, pp. 8-9.
  23. ^ a b c d e f Bruce 1965, p. 9.
  24. ^ a b Mason 1994, p. 86.
  25. ^ Allen, Tiggy. "Of Camels, WW1 Bombers, Elephant Stables and a Maharaja". map.sahapedia.org. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  26. ^ Jackson 1987, p. 102.
  27. ^ (PDF) (in Turkish). January 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  28. ^ "Havacılıkta ilklerin adamı: Vecihi Hürkuş".
  29. ^ a b "DH 9 .. War independence Period TUAF AIRCRAFTS [sic] Kurtulus savasi dönemi Turk HVKK UCAKLARI".
  30. ^ Bruce 1965, pp. 9-10.
  31. ^ Bruce 1965, p. 10.
  32. ^ Jackson 1973, pp. 50-52.
  33. ^ Jackson 1973, p. 56.
  34. ^ Sturtivant 1999, p. 265.
  35. ^ Sturtivant 1999, p. 261.
  36. ^ Barnes 1976, pp. 211–213.
  37. ^ (PDF). WADC/WADD Digital Collection at the Galvin Library, IIT. 1986. pp. 184–186. ISBN 978-0160022043. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2016. Plans called for the Curtiss Aeroplane and Moto Corporation of Buffalo, New York, to manufacture 4,000 USD-9As. The order was cancelled, however, when Allied victories in France during the summer of 1918 forecast Germany's ultimate defeat...at least four USD-9A airplanes were manufactured at McCook, but none were built by a contractor.
  38. ^ Bruce 13 April 1956, p. 423.
  39. ^ Gerdessen 1982, p. 76.
  40. ^ a b Bruce 13 April 1956, p. 425.
  41. ^ Andersson Air Enthusiast July/August 2004, pp. 39–42.
  42. ^ Kopański, Tomasz Jan. Samoloty brytyjskie w lotnictwie polskim 1918–1930 (British aircraft in the Polish air force 1918–1930). Bellona, Warsaw. 2001, ISBN 83-11-09315-6, pp. 55–62. (in Polish)
  43. ^ "DH.9." Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace. Retrieved: 11 April 2008.
  44. ^ Blake, Arthur."Colours in the Sky." Military History Journal, Vol 1, No 6. June 1970. The South African Military History Society. Retrieved: 11 April 2008.
  45. ^ Jackson 1987, p. 125.
  46. ^ "AWM Collection Record: P02270.029." 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Australian War Memorial, Retrieved: 11 April 2008.
  47. ^ "In pictures: 'Elephant stable' bomber." BBC News, 21 April 2007. Retrieved: 11 April 2008.
  48. ^ "Airco de Havilland DH-9".
  49. ^ "Hac: Dh9".
  50. ^ "India - Rajasthan - Bikaner - Junagarh Fort - Museum - de Havilland DH9 - 75". 10 April 2012.
  51. ^ Bruce 1965, pp. 10, 12.

Bibliography Edit

  • Andersson, Lennart. "Wings Over the Desert: Aviation on the Arabian Peninsula: Part One Saudi Arabia". Air Enthusiast, No. 112, July/August 2004. pp. 39–43. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Barnes, C.H. Handley Page Aircraft since 1907. London:Putnam, 1976. ISBN 0-370-00030-7.
  • Bruce, J. M. "Aircraft Profile No. 62: The de Havilland D.H.9". Profile Publications Ltd, 1965.
  • Bruce, J.M. "The De Havilland D.H.9: Historic Military Aircraft: No. 12, Part I". Flight, 6 April 1956. Pages 385–388, 392.
  • Bruce, J.M. "The De Havilland D.H.9: Historic Military Aircraft: No. 12, Part II". Flight, 13 April 1956. Pages 422–426.
  • Cooksley, Peter (Spring 1994). "Erratic Their Course". Air Enthusiast. No. 53. pp. 53–59. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Gerdessen, Frederik. "Estonian Air Power 1918 – 1945". Air Enthusiast, No. 18, April – July 1982. pp. 61–76. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2. London:Putnam, Second edition 1973. ISBN 0-370-10010-7.
  • Jackson, A.J. De Havilland Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam, Third edition 1987. ISBN 0-85177-802-X.
  • Klaauw, Bart van der (March–April 1999). "Unexpected Windfalls: Accidentally or Deliberately, More than 100 Aircraft 'arrived' in Dutch Territory During the Great War". Air Enthusiast (80): 54–59. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber Since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1994. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.
  • Sturtivant, R. Page, g. "The DH.4/DH.9 File". Kent: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1999. ISBN 0-85130-274-2.
  • Thomas, Andrew. "In the Footsteps of Daedulus: Early Greek Naval Aviation". Air Enthusiast, No. 94, July–August 2001, pp. 8–9. ISSN 0143-5450
  • Wauthy, Jean-Luc & de Neve, Florian (June 1995). "Les aéronefs de la Force Aérienne Belge, deuxième partie 1919–1935" [Aircraft of the Belgian Air Force]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (305): 28–33. ISSN 0757-4169.
  • Winchester, Jim, ed. Bombers of the 20th Century. London: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-386-5.

External links Edit

  • – British Aircraft Directory

airco, from, havilland, also, known, after, 1920, havilland, british, single, engined, biplane, bomber, that, developed, deployed, during, first, world, 9role, bombermanufacturer, aircodesigner, geoffrey, havillandfirst, flight, july, 1917introduction, novembe. The Airco DH 9 from de Havilland 9 also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH 9 is a British single engined biplane bomber that was developed and deployed during the First World War DH 9Airco DH 9Role BomberManufacturer AircoDesigner Geoffrey de HavillandFirst flight July 1917Introduction November 1917Retired 1937Primary users Royal Air ForceRoyal Flying Corps Royal Naval Air ServiceSouth African Air ForceNumber built 4 091Variants Airco DH 9AAirco DH 9CWestland WalrusThe DH 9 was a development of Airco s earlier successful DH 4 with which it shared many components These were mated to an all new fuselage and the BHP Galloway Adriatic engine which promised increased performance Anticipating its usefulness the type was ordered in very large numbers for Britain s Royal Flying Corps RFC Upon entering service the DH 9 s performance was found to be unsatisfactory The Adriatic engine was unreliable and failed to provide the expected power which gave the DH 9 poorer performance than the aircraft it had been meant to replace The performance deficit was blamed for the heavy losses they suffered over the Western Front The redesigned DH 9A was fitted with a more powerful and reliable American Liberty L 12 engine which rectified the shortcomings of the original DH 9 model Contents 1 Development 1 1 Origins 1 2 Into flight 2 Design 3 Operational history 3 1 First World War service 3 2 Post war service 3 3 Civilian service 4 Variants 5 Operators 5 1 Military operators 5 2 Civil operators 6 Surviving aircraft 7 Specifications DH 9 Puma Engine 8 See also 9 References 9 1 Notes 9 2 Bibliography 10 External linksDevelopment EditOrigins Edit During June 1917 partially as a result of attacks by German bombers on London the War Office issued its recommendation to almost double the size of the Royal Flying Corps RFC to a total of 200 squadrons In early July 1917 the British Cabinet accepted the recommendation with the intention that the majority of the new squadrons planned to be equipped with bombers 1 2 While an order for 700 DH 4s was placed on 28 June 1917 on 23 July 1917 the Air Board were presented with drawings for a modified DH 4 that delivering greater range under a new type number DH 9 2 The DH 9 was designed by de Havilland for the Aircraft Manufacturing Company in 1916 as a successor to the DH 4 It used the wings and tail unit of the DH 4 but featured a modified fuselage which moved the pilot closer to the gunner observer and away from the engine and fuel tank which facilitated communication and was a more optimal fighting configuration 3 The other major change from the DH 4 was the choice of the promising new BHP Galloway Adriatic engine which was predicted to produce 300 hp 220 kW to provide adequate performance to match enemy fighters 4 Based on the performance estimates for the DH 9 which were initially expected to surpass those of the DH 4 and the similarity to the DH 4 which meant that it would be easy to convert production over to the new aircraft it was decided to place a massive number of orders totalling 4 630 aircraft for the type prior to the aircraft even flying for the first time 2 Existing contracts originally placed for the DH 4 were also converted to the DH 9 The Air Board had been specifically assured that there would be an initial production delay of no more than a month According to aviation author J M Bruce the selection of the DH 9 seems to have been taken in a spirit of optimism or blind faith for its chosen engine was in July 1917 experiencing serious manufacturing difficulties 5 Into flight Edit In July 1917 the prototype a converted DH 4 performed its maiden flight from Hendon Aerodrome Colindale London 4 Trials of the type were extensive including a number of tests performed at RAF Martlesham Heath 2 Unfortunately the BHP engine proved unable to reliably deliver its expected power the engine having been de rated to 230 hp 170 kW in order to improve its reliability This deficit had a drastic effect on the aircraft s performance especially at high altitude with it being inferior to that of the DH 4 it was supposed to replace 2 The poor performance of the aircraft meant that the DH 9 would have to fight its way through enemy fighters which could easily catch the DH 9 where the DH 4 could avoid many of these attacks As early as November 1917 some officials such as General Hugh Trenchard raised repeated objections to the aircraft based upon its disappointing performance however in his response President of the Air Council Sir William Weir started that it was the choice of having the DH 9 with the B H P engine or of having nothing at all 2 Additionally by this point production of the DH 9 was already well underway 2 Multiple attempts were made to provide the DH 9 with an adequate engine a number of aircraft were powered by the Siddeley Puma a lightened and supposedly more powerful version of the BHP 5 In August 1917 an order for 2 000 Fiat A12 engines was placed intending to be delivered between January and June 1918 and used upon some production batches of the D H9 however deliveries of the Fiat engine were unsatisfactory 3 Another alternative powerplant was adopted in the form of the 430 hp 320 kW Napier Lion engine one such Lion engined aircraft achieved a World Altitude Record of 30 500 ft 9 300 m on 2 January 1919 6 However none of these options were deemed to be entirely satisfactory 3 it required being redesigned into the DH 9A for which an American V 12 Liberty engine was adopted to transform the aircraft According to Bruce aside from the engine issue Certainly there was little wrong with the aircraft itself 3 Design EditThe Airco DH 9 was a single engine British bomber aircraft sharing a high level of similarities with the preceding DH 4 3 The standard flight surfaces were broadly the same but adopted a highly redesigned fuselage configuration including the repositioning of the pilot s cockpit to a more rearwards position 7 Structurally the fuselage was similar to its predecessor plywood cladding covered the forward fuselage which had no internal bracing while a conventional wire braced box girder structure was used aft of the cockpits Internal stowage for a pair of 230 lb 100 kg or four 112 lb 51 kg bombs was provided for although little use of this capability was made operationally 7 While the DH 9 was deemed to be suitable for daytime bombing operations it was found to be incapable of effective nighttime bombing due to the pilot s view being obstructed and visibility via the bombsight being unsuitable 8 The revised cockpit positioning of the DH 9 from the DH 4 placed the pilot and the observer closer together which was viewed by the RAF as being a considerable advantage in aerial combat however the pilot s visibility for ground reconnaissance was decreased as a result Both radio sets and cameras could be installed 8 The fuel tanks were enclosed in doped fabric intended to drain fuel away if the tanks were hit by enemy fire According to the testing squadron the DH 9 possessed a high level of manoeuvrability was relatively easy to perform landings aside from a poor view during the approach 8 Various improvements and supplementary equipment were trialled and occasionally adopted 9 Tests of various engines radiators silencers and parachutes were conducted to evaluate their performance however few of these improvements were ultimately adopted During the war numerous customisations and improvised improvements were made to the aircraft by the maintenance crews of individual squadrons often for the purpose of addressing the type s engine performance issues 10 After the end of the war many DH 9s which had been originally delivered as bombers were sold these were often reconfigured to serve in different roles including passenger and cargo transport trainer aircraft and as air ambulances 11 Operational history EditFirst World War service Edit To boost the rate of production quantity orders for the DH 9 were also placed with Alliance G amp J Weir Short Brothers Vulcan Waring amp Gillow and National Aircraft Factories No 1 and No 2 The first deliveries of the type occurred during November 1917 to 108 Squadron RFC by the end of 1917 a total of five DH 9s had been delivered and passed their final inspections 12 The first combat engagement of the type performed over France was performed in March 1918 by No 6 Squadron RNAS By July 1918 a total of nine operational squadrons deployed to the Western Front were using the type The DH 9 s performance in action over the Western Front was typically deemed to have been a disaster heavy losses of the type were quickly incurred attributed to both its poor performance and to engine failures despite the prior derating of its engine to reduce the failure rate 12 Between May and November 1918 a pair of squadrons stationed at the Western Front Nos 99 and 104 had 54 of its DH 9s shot down and another 94 aircraft written off due to accidents 13 On multiple occasions less than half of a flight of bombers would reach their intended targets according to Bruce the successful missions performed by the DH 9 were frequently a product of the courage and determination of the pilots and observers that flew them Squadrons would often implement their own home built enhancements to their aircraft such as enlarged carburetor air intakes and modified fuel mixture controls 12 Nevertheless the type proved capable during some engagements on 23 August 1918 a DH 9 flown by Lieutenant Arthur Rowe Spurling of 49 Squadron with his observer Sergeant Frank Bell single handedly attacked thirty Fokker D VII fighters downing five of them 14 better source needed 15 16 On 9 August 1918 Lieutenant E A Simpson of 49 Squadron while flying a bombing mission upon bridges at Falvy and Bethencourt shot down four hostile fighters while defending against repeated attacks upon the formation 17 In another instance Captain John Stevenson Stubbs achieved 11 aerial victories in a DH 9 including the highly unusual feat of balloon busting while flying the type 18 better source needed Despite its general lack of performance due to its large numbers the DH 9 was introduced to nearly every theatre of the conflict prior to the signing of the Armistice of 11 November 1918 which ended the conflict 17 Reportedly the DH 9 was also more successful in combat against the Turkish forces in the Middle East where they faced less aerial opposition Stationed at coastal aerodromes across the British mainland the type was also used extensively to perform coastal patrol missions with the aim of deterring the operations of enemy U boats 17 Post war service Edit Following the end of the First World War a number of DH 9s operated by 47 Squadron and 221 Squadron were sent to southern Russia in 1919 in support of the White Russian Army of General Denikin participating in the Russian Civil War 19 In this theatre the aircraft were often operating within challenging conditions 20 The last combat use of the DH 9 by the RAF was in support of the final campaign against Diiriye Guure 21 in Somalia during January February 1920 19 Amongst those aircraft used in Somalia one DH 9 was modified to function as an air ambulance being able to load and transport a single stretcher case which was carried upon the upper longerons directly to the rear of the pilot s cockpit 22 Further ambulance conversions were performed including a number that were operated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force 23 Surprisingly production was allowed to continue after the end of the war into 1919 In 1920 the DH 9 was finally withdrawn from service by the RAF 24 In addition to British manufacturing several other countries had commenced production of the type perhaps the most significant of these was the Airco DH 9A which was fitted with the American V 12 Liberty engine and was produced in the thousands even though production was curtailed by the signing of the Armistice that had ended the First World War 20 Belgium and Spain also produced the type the latter producing hundreds of the type equipped with a 300 hp 220 kW Hispano Suiza engine some of these were still in service in 1940 23 Following the end of the conflict large numbers of surplus DH 9s became available at low prices and the type was widely exported this included those aircraft that were donated to the Dominions as well as India as part of the Imperial Gift programme 25 6 23 The South African Air Force SAAF received a total of 48 DH 9s and used them extensively including against the Rand Revolt in 1922 Several South African aircraft were later re engined with Bristol Jupiter radial engines as the M pala such modified aircraft continued to serve until 1937 26 23 One DH 9 was transported to Japan during the Sempill Mission A large number of DH 9s were also apparently exported to China according to the ADC Aircraft citation needed Possibly the last battle use by any user was in late 1922 during the Turkish War of Independence 27 Greeks had deployed a number of them against the Kemalists who were fighting the British supported Greek Army invading the remaining chunk of the Ottoman Empire after the 1918 Armistice of Mudros followed by the Sevres Treaty which was rejected by the nationalists One of Greek DH 9s had made a forced landing behind Turkish lines near Mugla during the Battle of Sakarya previous year sometime in July 1921 This machine was quickly repaired and was flown to Ankara in August 1921 by famous pilot Vecihi Hurkus 28 It was named Ismet It was deployed as the only Turkish airplane at the time in the last phases of the Battle of Sakarya making a total of 23 sorties mostly by Vecihi 29 Same airplane continued to serve for the remaining of the War of Independence through 1922 There were three more Greek DH 9s found in excellent condition with plenty of spare parts near Izmir after the Greek army pulled out hurriedly having been routed by Kemalists in August 1922 These four planes served the young Turkish Air Force until 1925 29 Civilian service Edit nbsp DH 9 G AUED modified with a cabin for use as an airlinerAfter the end of the war large numbers of surplus DH 9s became available having been deemed to be surplus to requirements by their original military operators accordingly many were resold onto civil operators such as by early aerial transport companies Large numbers were modified to better perform as transport aircraft such as the cabin being suitably adapted for the carriage of passengers 23 In this role the DH 9 provided a useful load carrying capability and was relatively inexpensive to procure Accordingly in various configurations the type saw prolific use by civil operators 23 Early air services between London Paris and Amsterdam were operated by a fleet of DH 9s owned by Aircraft Transport and Travel A number of DH9s were converted into floatplanes and saw use in India Bolivia and Rhodesia 30 Several aircraft were reconfigured to serve as trainer aircraft being refitted with Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar engines and rubber undercarriages designated as DH 9Js the last of these were withdrawn and scrapped in 1936 31 A number of different DH 9 conversion programmes for civil use were carried out both by Airco and its successor the de Havilland Aircraft Company and by other third party companies such as the Aircraft Disposal Company 32 Some radial powered DH 9Js continued in civil use until 1936 33 One Dh 9 was transported to Japan during the Sempill Mission 34 A large number of Dh 9s were also apparently exported to China according to the Aircraft Disposal Company 35 Variants EditDH 9 Revised version of the DH 4 with the pilot and observer gunner placed closer together 3 024 production aircraft built with others built in Belgium and Spain DH 9A also referred to as the Nine Ack was designed for Airco by Westland Aircraft to take advantage of the 400 hp 300 kW American Liberty L 12 engine Apart from the new engine and slightly larger wings it was identical to the DH 9 Initially it was hoped to quickly replace the DH 9 with the new version but the shortage of Liberty engines available to the RAF limited the new type s service in the First World War and it is best known as a standard type in the postwar RAF serving as a general purpose aircraft for several years 2 300 DH 9As were built by ten different British companies DH 9B Conversions for civilian use as three seaters one pilot and two passengers DH 9C Conversions for civilian use as four seaters one pilot and three passengers DH 9J Modernised and re engined conversions using the 385 hp 287 kW Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar III radial engine Used by the De Havilland School of Flying nbsp Handley Page H P 17 showing slotsDH 9J M pala I Re engined conversions carried out by the South African Air Force Powered by a 450 hp 340 kW Bristol Jupiter VI radial piston engine M pala II Re engined conversions carried out by the South African Air Force powered by a 480 hp 360 kW Bristol Jupiter VIII radial piston engine Mantis Re engined conversions carried out by the South African Air Force powered by a 200 hp 150 kW Wolseley Viper piston engine Handley Page HP 17 A DH 9 experimentally fitted with slotted wings tested 1920 1 36 USD 9 9A DH 9s manufactured in the United States by the US Army s Engineering Division and Dayton Wright 1 415 ordered only four built 37 Operators EditMilitary operators Edit nbsp DH 9 operators nbsp AfghanistanAfghan Air Force 18 aircraft including 16 built by Duks Aircraft Works acquired from 1924 nbsp AustraliaRoyal Australian Air Force One used by the RAAF from 1920 to 1929 No 1 Flying Training School RAAF nbsp BelgiumBelgian Air Force 18 aircraft 38 nbsp CanadaCanadian Air Force nbsp BoliviaBolivian Air Force nbsp ChileChilean Air Force Received 20 6 nbsp EstoniaEstonian Air Force operated 13 from 1919 to 1933 39 nbsp India Part of Imperial Gift nbsp Greek DH 9 nbsp GreeceRoyal Hellenic Naval Air Service 40 nbsp Kingdom of HejazHejaz Air Force The Kingdom of Hejaz received 9 DH 9s and 2 DH 9Cs between 1921 and 1924 Five remained in existence although not airworthy in 1932 41 nbsp IrelandIrish Air Service Irish Air Corps nbsp LatviaLatvian Air Force nbsp NetherlandsRoyal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force operated 36 some of which were re engined with Pratt amp Whitney Wasp radial engine withdrawn in 1934 40 nbsp New ZealandRoyal New Zealand Air Force Three Airco DH 9s in service with the New Zealand Permanent Air Force from 1923 to 1929 as advanced training aircraft nbsp ParaguayParaguayan Air Force nbsp PeruPeruvian Air Force nbsp PolandPolish Air Force 20 received in 1920 used during the Polish Soviet war until 1929 42 nbsp RomaniaRoyal Romanian Air Force nbsp Kingdom of SpainSpanish Air Force nbsp South AfricaSouth African Air Force Part of the Imperial Gift Some locally modified with Jupiter engines and named Mpala nbsp Soviet UnionSoviet Air Force nbsp SwitzerlandSwiss Air Force nbsp Turkish DH 9 nbsp TurkeyTurkish Air Force four aircraft in service from 1921 to 1924 nbsp United KingdomRoyal Flying Corps Royal Naval Air Service Royal Air Force nbsp United StatesAmerican Expeditionary Force United States Marine Corps nbsp UruguayUruguayan Air ForceCivil operators Edit nbsp AustraliaQantas nbsp BelgiumSabena SNETA nbsp DenmarkDet Danske Luftfartselskab nbsp NetherlandsKLM nbsp RomaniaSNNA nbsp Kingdom of SpainCia Espanola del Trafico Aereo nbsp United KingdomAircraft Transport and Travel Handley Page Transport nbsp Bikaner StateMaharaja Ganga SinghSurviving aircraft Edit nbsp DH 9 F1258 at the Musee de l Air et de l Espace Paris Le BourgetOf the thousands of DH 9s built only a few survived to be preserved F1258 is displayed at the Musee de l Air et de l Espace in Paris 43 An original DH 9 is displayed without serial number at the South African National Museum of Military History 44 This DH 9 flew with the South African Air Force after World War I then was operated as a civilian aircraft as ZS AOI before returning to the SAAF G EAQM original RAF serial F1278 was the first single engined aircraft to fly from the United Kingdom to Australia and is preserved at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra 45 46 In 2000 the remains of three DH 9s were discovered in India and two were retrieved for restoration in the UK 47 Of these D5649 was restored and is displayed at the Imperial War Museum Duxford 48 E8894 G CDLI was restored to airworthy condition and is operated as a warbird by the Historic Aircraft Company in England 49 The third was retained in India and restored to a somewhat less than faithful condition for display at Junargh Fort in the city of Bikaner Rajasthan 50 Specifications DH 9 Puma Engine Edit nbsp Airco DH 9 drawingData from The British Bomber since 1914 24 Aircraft Profile No 62 The de Havilland D H 9 51 General characteristicsCrew two Length 30 ft 5 in 9 27 m Wingspan 42 ft 4 5 8 in 12 919 m Height 11 ft 3 1 2 in 3 442 m Wing area 434 sq ft 40 3 m2 Airfoil RAF 16 Empty weight 2 360 lb 1 070 kg Gross weight 3 790 lb 1 719 kg Powerplant 1 Armstrong Siddeley Puma 6 cylinder inline piston engine 230 hp 170 kW Performance Maximum speed 113 mph 182 km h 98 kn Endurance 4 1 2 hours Service ceiling 15 500 ft 4 700 m Time to altitude 18 min 30 sec to 10 000 ft 3 000 m Armament Guns Forward firing 303 in 7 7 mm Vickers machine gun and 1 or 2 303 in 7 7 mm Lewis guns on scarff ring in rear cockpit Bombs Up to 460 lb 210 kg bombsSee also EditRelated development Airco DH 4 Airco DH 9AAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Breguet 14References EditNotes Edit Bruce 2 April 1956 p 387 a b c d e f g Bruce 1965 p 3 a b c d e Bruce 1965 p 4 a b Jackson 1987 p 97 a b Bruce 1965 pp 3 4 a b c Jackson 1987 p 100 a b Bruce 1965 pp 4 5 a b c Bruce 1965 p 5 Bruce 1965 pp 7 8 Bruce 1965 pp 6 8 Bruce 1965 pp 8 10 a b c Bruce 1965 p 6 Mason 1994 p 84 Arthur Rowe Spurling www theaerodrome com Lt Spurling Won Flying Cross The Royal Gazette and Colonist Daily now The Royal Gazette Hamilton Bermuda 19 September 1918 POTSI archived Sqn Ldr A Rowe Spurling DFC a b c Bruce 1965 p 7 John Stevenson Stubbs theaerodrome com Retrieved 1 May 2011 a b Bruce 13 April 1956 p 424 a b Bruce 1965 p 8 Omar Mohamed 2001 The Scramble in the Horn of Africa p 402 This letter is sent by all the Dervishes the Amir and all the Dolbahanta to the Ruler of Berbera We are a Government we have a Sultan an Amir and Chiefs and subjects reply In his last letter the Mullah pretends to speak in the name of the Dervishes their Amir himself and the Dolbahanta tribes This letter shows his object is to establish himself as the Ruler of the Dolbahanta Bruce 1965 pp 8 9 a b c d e f Bruce 1965 p 9 a b Mason 1994 p 86 Allen Tiggy Of Camels WW1 Bombers Elephant Stables and a Maharaja map sahapedia org Retrieved 3 September 2022 Jackson 1987 p 102 Vecihi Hurkus Brosur PDF in Turkish January 2009 Archived from the original PDF on 25 October 2010 Retrieved 5 May 2023 Havacilikta ilklerin adami Vecihi Hurkus a b DH 9 War independence Period TUAF AIRCRAFTS sic Kurtulus savasi donemi Turk HVKK UCAKLARI Bruce 1965 pp 9 10 Bruce 1965 p 10 Jackson 1973 pp 50 52 Jackson 1973 p 56 Sturtivant 1999 p 265 Sturtivant 1999 p 261 Barnes 1976 pp 211 213 From Huffman Prairie to the Moon The History of Wright Patterson Air force Base PDF WADC WADD Digital Collection at the Galvin Library IIT 1986 pp 184 186 ISBN 978 0160022043 Archived from the original PDF on 20 February 2016 Plans called for the Curtiss Aeroplane and Moto Corporation of Buffalo New York to manufacture 4 000 USD 9As The order was cancelled however when Allied victories in France during the summer of 1918 forecast Germany s ultimate defeat at least four USD 9A airplanes were manufactured at McCook but none were built by a contractor Bruce 13 April 1956 p 423 Gerdessen 1982 p 76 a b Bruce 13 April 1956 p 425 Andersson Air Enthusiast July August 2004 pp 39 42 Kopanski Tomasz Jan Samoloty brytyjskie w lotnictwie polskim 1918 1930 British aircraft in the Polish air force 1918 1930 Bellona Warsaw 2001 ISBN 83 11 09315 6 pp 55 62 in Polish DH 9 Musee de l Air et de l Espace Retrieved 11 April 2008 Blake Arthur Colours in the Sky Military History Journal Vol 1 No 6 June 1970 The South African Military History Society Retrieved 11 April 2008 Jackson 1987 p 125 AWM Collection Record P02270 029 Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Australian War Memorial Retrieved 11 April 2008 In pictures Elephant stable bomber BBC News 21 April 2007 Retrieved 11 April 2008 Airco de Havilland DH 9 Hac Dh9 India Rajasthan Bikaner Junagarh Fort Museum de Havilland DH9 75 10 April 2012 Bruce 1965 pp 10 12 Bibliography Edit Andersson Lennart Wings Over the Desert Aviation on the Arabian Peninsula Part One Saudi Arabia Air Enthusiast No 112 July August 2004 pp 39 43 ISSN 0143 5450 Barnes C H Handley Page Aircraft since 1907 London Putnam 1976 ISBN 0 370 00030 7 Bruce J M Aircraft Profile No 62 The de Havilland D H 9 Profile Publications Ltd 1965 Bruce J M The De Havilland D H 9 Historic Military Aircraft No 12 Part I Flight 6 April 1956 Pages 385 388 392 Bruce J M The De Havilland D H 9 Historic Military Aircraft No 12 Part II Flight 13 April 1956 Pages 422 426 Cooksley Peter Spring 1994 Erratic Their Course Air Enthusiast No 53 pp 53 59 ISSN 0143 5450 Gerdessen Frederik Estonian Air Power 1918 1945 Air Enthusiast No 18 April July 1982 pp 61 76 ISSN 0143 5450 Jackson A J British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2 London Putnam Second edition 1973 ISBN 0 370 10010 7 Jackson A J De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 London Putnam Third edition 1987 ISBN 0 85177 802 X Klaauw Bart van der March April 1999 Unexpected Windfalls Accidentally or Deliberately More than 100 Aircraft arrived in Dutch Territory During the Great War Air Enthusiast 80 54 59 ISSN 0143 5450 Mason Francis K The British Bomber Since 1914 London Putnam Aeronautical Books 1994 ISBN 0 85177 861 5 Sturtivant R Page g The DH 4 DH 9 File Kent Air Britain Historians Ltd 1999 ISBN 0 85130 274 2 Thomas Andrew In the Footsteps of Daedulus Early Greek Naval Aviation Air Enthusiast No 94 July August 2001 pp 8 9 ISSN 0143 5450 Wauthy Jean Luc amp de Neve Florian June 1995 Les aeronefs de la Force Aerienne Belge deuxieme partie 1919 1935 Aircraft of the Belgian Air Force Le Fana de l Aviation in French 305 28 33 ISSN 0757 4169 Winchester Jim ed Bombers of the 20th Century London Airlife Publishing Ltd 2003 ISBN 1 84037 386 5 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Airco DH 9 DH9 at Imperial War Museum Duxford AAirco D H 9 British Aircraft Directory Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Airco DH 9 amp oldid 1161695436, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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