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| Bristol
F2b |
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Lt.
A. E. McKeever/ Lt. LF Powell
No. 11 Sqn RFC
November 1917
Image: © R. N. Pearson |
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| The Bristol Fighter F2A and F2B, also
known as the "Brisfit" by
its pilots, first saw action during
the Battle of Arras in early April,
1917. On it's first patrol with F2s,
48 Sqdn lost four of the six planes,
with no losses to the Germans flying
Albatros D.IIIs. The Germans of Jasta
II were led by Richthofen. The "Brisfit"
was a good fighter, maneuverable, sturdy
and well armed, it was the British tactics
that were at fault. The ring mounted
Lewis guns in the rear were initially
used as the main weapon, not the front
mounted Vickers machine gun. Once the
British pilots caught on the Bristol
Fighter became a potent weapon of aerial
combat. They aggressively attacked German
aircraft with the front-mounted weapon,
and left rear defence and incidental
shots to the rear gunner. As an example,
Canadian pilot Lt. A. McKeever and gunner
Sgt. L. Powell destroyed 30 German aircraft
in Bristol Fighters in six months. |
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| SPECIFICATIONS |
| Country: |
Great Britain |
| Manufacturer: |
The British and Colonial Aeroplane
Company |
| Type: |
Fighter/Bomber |
| First
Service: |
5 April 1917 |
| Number
Built: |
3,101 |
| Engine(s): |
Rolls-Royce Falcon III, 12
cylinder, liquid cooled inline V, 270 hp |
| Wing Span: |
39 ft 3 in |
| Length: |
25 ft 10 in |
| Height: |
9 ft 9 in |
| Empty
Weight: |
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| Gross
Weight: |
2,779 lb |
| Max Speed: |
123 mph at 5,000 ft |
| Ceiling: |
21,500 ft |
| Endurance: |
3 hours |
| Crew: |
2 |
| Armament: |
1 Vickers machine gun, synchronized,
forward firing
2-3 Lewis machine guns on a Scarff ring, rear
cockpit
240 lb [108.9 kg] of bombs |
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