Performance: Maximum speed 238 mph, Range 985 miles, Service ceiling 27,500 ft Armament: 2 x 0.3 inch machine guns Bombload 232 lbs Grumman F2F Dimensions: Wingspan 28 ft 6 ins, Length 21 ft 5 ins, Height 9 ft 1 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1935 Number built: 55 The Grumman F2F was a biplane fighter aircraft with retractable undercarriage that was the standard fighter for the United States Navy between 1936 and 1940, and was designed for both carrier and land based operations. The Navy ordered 54 in May 1934, with the first aircraft being delivered in January 1935. One additional aircraft was ordered to replace one that crashed in March 1935, the final aircraft being delivered in August 1935. The F2F served in front-line squadrons from 1935 to late 1939, when the Grumman F3F began to enter service. By September 1940 the F2F had been replaced and relegated to training duties. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,691 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,847 bs Powerplant: One 700 hp Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp radial engine Performance: Maximum speed 188 mph, Range 790 miles, Service ceiling 19,000 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 360 lbs Avro Anson Dimensions: Wingspan 56 ft 6 ins, Length 42 ft 3 ins, Height 13 ft 1 in Crew: 3/4 Entered service: 1936 Number built: 10,245 The Avro Anson was based on an earlier design for Imperial Airways to meet a requirement from the Air Ministry for a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. An initial order for 174 aircraft was placed in July 1935, with the type entering service with the Royal Air Force in 1936. Shortly after the outbreak of World War Two the Anson was soon found to be obsolete in front line service, but soon found its true role as a multi-engined aircrew trainer, and became the mainstay of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan throughout the war. Later marks of the Anson remained in service with the R.A.F. until 1968. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 5,512 lbs, Maximum take-off 8,500 lbs Powerplant: Two 350 hp Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX radial engines Performance: Maximum speed 188 mph, Range 790 miles, Service ceiling 19,000 ft Armament: None Bombload none Avro C.19 Dimensions: Wingspan 56 ft 6 ins, Length 42 ft 3 ins, Height 13 ft 1 in Crew: 2 + 6 passengers Entered service: 1946 Number built: 628 After the end of Second World War, Avro continued to develop the Anson, and in December 1945 the Mk XIX took to the air for the first time. Aimed at both the civilian and military market they were simply known as the Avro Nineteen. The Nineteen was adopted by the R.A.F. as the C.19 transport and communications aircraft, but were fitted with metal wings in place of the original wooden ones. Other marks for the R.A.F. were the T.Mk 20, T.Mk 21 and T.Mk 22 which was used navigation, radio and communications trainers. The aircraft remained in service with the R.A.F. until 1968. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 5,512 lbs, Maximum take-off 8,500 lbs Powerplant: Two 420 hp Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX radial engines Performance: Maximum speed 190 mph, Range 660 miles, Service ceiling 19,000 ft Crew: 2 Payload: 6 passengers Avro Nineteen Dimensions: Wingspan 56 ft 6 ins, Length 42 ft 3 ins, Height 13 ft 1 in Entered service: 1946 Number built: 56 After the end of Second World War, Avro continued to develop the Anson, and in December 1945 the Mk XIX took to the air for the first time. Aimed at both the civilian and military market they were simply known as the Avro Nineteen, and were quite successful in the civil market during the immediate post war period, being used as a light transport aircraft by a range of small charter airlines, while many were used as an executive aircraft for the large corporations. Countries which saw civilian operations with the Nineteen included the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Denmark. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: : Empty 6,512 lbs, Maximum take-off 10,500 lbs Powerplant: Two 420 hp Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX radial engines Performance: Maximum speed: 135 mph, Range 600 miles, Service ceiling 18,500 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 600 lbs Supermarine Walrus Dimensions: Wingspan 45 ft 10 ins, Length 37 ft 7 ins, Height 15 ft 3 ins Crew: 3/4 Entered service: 1936 Number built: 746 The Supermarine Walrus was a British single engined amphibious biplane aircraft designed by R. J. Mitchell which first flew in 1933. The aircraft was based on the earlier Supermarine Seagull, and entered service in 1936 with the Royal Navy where they were mainly deployed as a fleet spotter and reconnaissance aircraft, most being catapault launched from cruisers or battleships. The aircraft remained in service throughout World War Two, and was most notably used by the Royal Air Force as an air/sea rescue aircraft, in which role they saved over 1,000 downed airmen from the sea. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 4,900 lbs, Maximum take-off 8,050 lbs Powerplant: One 680 hp Bristol Pegasus VI radial engine Performance: Maximum speed: 143 mph, Range 522 miles, Service ceiling 16,500 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Ordnance load up to 1,670 lbs Fairey Swordfish Dimensions: Wingspan 45 ft 10 ins, Length 37 ft 7 ins, Height 15 ft 3 ins Crew: 3/4 Entered service: 1936 Number built: 2,396 The Fairey Swordfish was designed to meet Air Ministry Specification S.9/30 for a two seat carrier borne torpedo bomber and three seat spotter/reconnaissance aircraft. After extensive trials an order for 86 machines was placed in May 1935, with the aircraft first entering service with No. 825 squadron of the Fleet Air Arm in July 1936. In September 1939 the Swordfish equipped thirteen squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm, eleven serving on the five fleet carriers of the Royal Navy. The Swordfish remained in service throughout World War Two, and even outlived its intended replacement, the Fairey Albacore. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 4,195 lbs, Maximum take-off 7,680 lbs Powerplant: One 690 hp Bristol Pegasus IIIM radial engine Performance: Maximum speed 225 mph, Range 1,200 miles, Service ceiling 26,000 ft Crew: 2 Payload: 6 passengers Beech C-45 Expediter Dimensions: Wingspan 47 ft 8 ins, Length 34 ft 2 ins, Height 9 ft 8 ins Entered service: 1939 Number built: 4,526 The C-45 Expediter utility transport was the U.S. military version of the popular Beechcraft Model 18 light commercial aircraft which first flew in 1937. 4,526 of these aircraft were built for the Army Air Forces between 1939 and 1945 in four versions, and apart from the C-45 Expediter there was the AT-7 Navigator navigation trainer, the AT-11 Kansan bombing-gunnery trainer, and the F-2 for aerial photography and mapping. During the early 1950s, Beech completely rebuilt 900 C-45s for the Air Force. They received new serial numbers and were designated C-45G or C-45H, and remained in service until 1963. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 6,175 lbs, Maximum take-off 8,727 lbs Powerplant: Two 450 hp Wasp Junior radial engines Performance: Maximum speed 225 mph, Range 1,200 miles, Service ceiling 26,000 ft Crew: 2 Payload: 6 passengers Beechcraft Model 18 Dimensions: Wingspan 47 ft 8 ins, Length 34 ft 2 ins, Height 9 ft 8 ins Entered service: 1937 Number built: 9,000+ The Beechcraft Model 18 is a 6 to 11 seat, twin-engined light aircraft which first flew in 1937. The aircraft proved popular with with the up and coming feeder airlines and military alike, and was to remain in production through various marks until November 1969 with over 9,000 being built, making it one of the world's most widely used light aircraft. Sold worldwide as an civilian executive, utility, cargo and passenger aircraft, with tailwheels, nosewheels, skis, or floats. It was also used as a military aircraft, where it was produced in four versions, the C-45 Expediter transport, the AT-7 and AT-11 aircraft trainers, and the F-2 mapping aircraft. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 5,910 lbs, Maximum take-off 9,700 lbs Powerplant: Two 450 hp Wasp Junior radial engines
Performance: Maximum speed 327 mph, Range 600 miles, Service ceiling 34,000 ft Armament: 8 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload none
Hawker Hurricane Mk I
Dimensions: Wingspan 40 ft, Length 31 ft 5 ins, Height 13 ft 11½ ins, Crew: 1 Entered service: 1937 Number built: 14,583 (all mks)
The Hawker Hurricane was the first monoplane fighter to enter service with the R.A.F., although it was not the first monoplane fighter in British service, this honour going to the Bristol M.1C in 1916. The first production Hurricane Mk Is were issued to No. 111 Squadron in November 1937, and by the time of the Battle of Britain in the late summer of 1940 they were the most numerous aircraft in Fighter Command. The aircraft was continually developed from its introduction, but by 1941 they were used primarily in the ground attack role, in particular in the North African desert and the Burma campaign in the Far East. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 4,670 lbs, Maximum take-off 6,660 lbs Powerplant: One 1,030 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin II engine Performance: Maximum speed 340 mph, Range 600 miles, Service ceiling 36,000 ft Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannons, Bombload 500 lbs Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc Dimensions: Wingspan 40 ft, Length 32 ft 3 ins, Height 13 ft 1½ ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1937 Number built: 14,583 (all mks) The Hawker Osprey was a development of the Hart for the Royal Navy, which were intended for use aboard large warships and aircraft carriers. They were the most heavily modified member of the Hart family, requiring the fuselage to be strengthened to absorb the strain of catapult launches and fitted with folding wings. The undercarriage was modified so they could easily swap between wheels or floats, while the more powerful 630 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel II engine was used. The Osprey entered service in 1932, but began to be replaced in 1938 and then used as training aircraft until 1944 when they were finally withdrawn. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 5,745 lbs, Maximum take-off 7,670 lbs Powerplant: One 1,185 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engine Performance: Maximum speed 317 mph, Range 680 miles, Service ceiling 27,900 ft Armament: 2 x 20 mm cannons 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns Heinkel He.112 Dimensions: Wingspan 29 ft 10 ins, Length 30 ft 6 ins, Height 12 ft 7 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1939 (Romania) Number built: 100+ The main rival to the Messerschmitt Bf 109 during comparison trials in early 1936 for a fighter to equip the newly formed Luftwaffe was the Heinkel He 112. The Heinkel design showed potential from the start, but needed further development and lost out to the Bf 109. Heinkel continued to develop the aircraft which emerged as the He 112B series, and during 1937 the aircraft was demonstrated all over the world. From these efforts a number of orders were received, but in the end the only operators of the aircraft was briefly Japan (12), Romania (24), Spain (17), and Hungary (4) who used them as home defence fighters. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 3,704 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,957 lbs Powerplant: One 680 hp Junkers Jumo 210E inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 317 mph, Range 680 miles, Service ceiling 27,900 ft Armament: 2 x 20 mm cannons 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns Heinkel He.112 Dimensions: Wingspan 29 ft 10 ins, Length 30 ft 6 ins, Height 12 ft 7 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1939 (Romania) Number built: 100+ The main rival to the Messerschmitt Bf 109 during comparison trials in early 1936 for a fighter to equip the newly formed Luftwaffe was the Heinkel He 112. The Heinkel design showed potential from the start, but needed further development and lost out to the Bf 109. Heinkel continued to develop the aircraft which emerged as the He 112B series, and during 1937 the aircraft was demonstrated all over the world. From these efforts a number of orders were received, but in the end the only operators of the aircraft was briefly Japan (12), Romania (24), Spain (17), and Hungary (4) who used them as home defence fighters. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 3,704 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,957 lbs Powerplant: One 680 hp Junkers Jumo 210E inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 315 mph, Range unknown, Service ceiling 32,500 ft Armament: 8 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload none Gloster G.38 Dimensions: Wingspan 38 ft 2 ins, Length 32 ft 2 ins, Height 10 ft 2 ins Crew: 1 Entered trials: 1938 Number built: 2 In 1934 the British Air Ministry issued specification F5/34 for a high performance single seat fighter armed with eight machine guns. Gloster began on a design to meet the specification which was designated the G.38, and was the first monoplane fighter built by Gloster. The design and development of the aircraft was slow, and it would be the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire that would be placed in production. The G.38 made its maiden flight in 1938, and during further trials attained a speed of 315 mph in level flight, while the aircraft displayed good handling and the visibility from the cockpit was considered excellent. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 4,190 lbs, Maximum take-off 5,400­ lbs Powerplant: One 840 hp Bristol Mercury IX radial engine
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Performance: Maximum speed 185 mph, Range 430 miles, Service ceiling 25,400 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 520 lbs Hawker Hind Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft 3 ins, Length 29 ft 3 ins, Height 10 ft 7 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1936 Number built: 1,000+ The Hawker Hind was produced in the mid 1930s as a stop-gap aircraft after the British government authorised the expansion of the Royal Air Force. This was a time of transition from the biplane to monoplane, and while a new generation of aircraft were being developed, it was clear that it would take several years for any of these designs to become operational. Hawker quickly produced the Hind, which was literally an improved Hart, with the type beginning to enter service in early 1936. They equipped 20 squadrons, but its time as a front line aircraft was short and they began to be replaced from mid 1937 onwards. SPECIFICATION: Weights: Empty 3,195 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,675 lbs Powerplant: One 640 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 187 mph, Range 300 miles, Service ceiling 24,000 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns 2 x 112 lbs supply containers Hawker Hector Dimensions: Wingspan 36 ft 11½ ins, Length 29 ft 9 ins, Height 10 ft 5 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1937 Number built: 179 The Hawker Hector was designed in the mid 1930s as a replacement for the Hawker Audax and Hawker Hardy army co-operation aircraft. The Hector was the seventh and last member of the Hawker Hart family, the most significant change being the replacement of the Rolls-Royce Kestrel with a 805 hp Napier Dagger III engine. The Hector entered service in early 1937, but by late 1938 they had all been transferred to the Auxiliary Air Force. During operations around Calais in May 1940 the Hector was found unsuitability in a modern war and were soon withdrawn from service and used as glider and target tug aircraft. SPECIFICATION: Weights: Empty 3,389 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,910 bs Powerplant: One 805 hp Napier Dagger III inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 230 mph, Range 460 miles, Service ceiling 33,500 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 100 lbs Gloster Gauntlet Dimensions: Wingspan 32 ft 9½ ins, Length 26 ft 5 ins, Height 10 ft 3 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1935 Number built: 246 The Gloster Gauntlet was the last open cockpit fighter to be operated by the R.A.F., and had its origins in an Air Ministry specification issued in 1926. The prototype was handed over to the R.A.F. for evaluation in 1933, and made an immediate impression on those who flew it. The Gauntlet had a maximum speed of 163 mph at sea level, rising to 210 mph at 14,000 feet, 60 mph faster than the Bristol Bulldog, the principal R.A.F. fighter at the time. They entered service in May 1935, but had a short career with the R.A.F., being withdrawn from late 1936 when more advanced types became available. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,770 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,970 lbs Powerplant: One 645 hp Bristol Mercury VI S29 radial engine Performance: Maximum speed 230 mph, Range 460 miles, Service ceiling 33,500 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 100 lbs Gloster Gauntlet Dimensions: Wingspan 32 ft 9½ ins, Length 26 ft 5 ins, Height 10 ft 3 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1935 Number built: 246 The Gloster Gauntlet was the last open cockpit fighter to be operated by the R.A.F., and had its origins in an Air Ministry specification issued in 1926. The prototype was handed over to the R.A.F. for evaluation in 1933, and made an immediate impression on those who flew it. The Gauntlet had a maximum speed of 163 mph at sea level, rising to 210 mph at 14,000 feet, 60 mph faster than the Bristol Bulldog, the principal R.A.F. fighter at the time. They entered service in May 1935, but had a short career with the R.A.F., being withdrawn from late 1936 when more advanced types became available. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,770 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,970 lbs Powerplant: One 645 hp Bristol Mercury VI S29 radial engine Performance: Maximum speed 224 mph, Range 1,305 miles, Service ceiling 17,390 ft Armament: None Bombload none Heinkel He.70 Dimensions: Wingspan 48 ft 6 ins, Length 38 ft 4 ins, Height 10 ft 2 ins Crew: 2 + 4 passengers Entered service: 1935 Number built: 350+ The Heinkel He 70 has its origins in the early 1930s for a fast mailplane for Lufthansa airlines. The prototype flew in late 1932 and had an excellent performance for the period, setting eight world speed records. The He 70 became a natural choice for the newly formed Luftwaffe in 1935, and during the Spanish civil war were used as a reconnaissance aircraft or light bomber. Many of the aircraft’s structural components however were highly combustible and the He 70 was considered to be too much of a fire risk under combat conditions and were soon removed from front line service with the Luftwaffe. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 5,203 lbs, Maximum take-off 7,700 lbs Powerplant: One 750 hp BMW VI inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 186 mph, Range 680 miles, Service ceiling 21,600 ft Armament: 2 x 7.62 mm machine guns Bombload none IMAM Ro 43 Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft 11 ins, Length 31 ft 10 ins, Height 11 ft 6 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1935 Number built: 193 The IMAM Ro.43 was designed to meet a 1933 specification for a catapult-launched reconnaissance aircraft for the Regia Marina (Italian Navy). they began to enter service in 1935, and when Italy entered the War in June 1940 there were 105 in service which played an important role for the Regia Marina during the early months of the war at sea in the Mediterranean. In total between 200-240 were built by the time production stopped in 1941, with the Ro.43 continuing to take part in shipborne operations as late as June 1942, with 48 still being listed as being in service in late 1943. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 3,175 lbs, Maximum take-off 5,300 lbs Powerplant: One 700 hp Piaggio PX R radial engine Performance: Maximum speed 224 mph, Range 1,305 miles, Service ceiling 17,390 ft Armament: None Bombload none Heinkel He.70 Dimensions: Wingspan 48 ft 6 ins, Length 38 ft 4 ins, Height 10 ft 2 ins Crew: 2 + 4 passengers Entered service: 1935 Number built: 350+ The Heinkel He 70 has its origins in the early 1930s for a fast mailplane for Lufthansa airlines. The prototype flew in late 1932 and had an excellent performance for the period, setting eight world speed records. The He 70 became a natural choice for the newly formed Luftwaffe in 1935, and during the Spanish civil war were used as a reconnaissance aircraft or light bomber. Many of the aircraft’s structural components however were highly combustible and the He 70 was considered to be too much of a fire risk under combat conditions and were soon removed from front line service with the Luftwaffe. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 5,203 lbs, Maximum take-off 7,700 lbs Powerplant: One 750 hp BMW VI inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 188 mph, Range 790 miles, Service ceiling 19,000 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 360 lbs Avro Anson Dimensions: Wingspan 56 ft 6 ins, Length 42 ft 3 ins, Height 13 ft 1 in Crew: 3/4 Entered service: 1936 Number built: 10,245 The Avro Anson was based on an earlier design for Imperial Airways to meet a requirement from the Air Ministry for a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. An initial order for 174 aircraft was placed in July 1935, with the type entering service with the Royal Air Force in 1936. Shortly after the outbreak of World War Two the Anson was soon found to be obsolete in front line service, but soon found its true role as a multi-engined aircrew trainer, and became the mainstay of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan throughout the war. Later marks of the Anson remained in service with the R.A.F. until 1968. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 5,512 lbs, Maximum take-off 8,500 lbs Powerplant: Two 350 hp Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX radial engines Contents Contents 4 4 3 3 2 2
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