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| RAF
FE2b |
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Captain
D Grinnel-Milne / Corp. MacMaster
No.
25 Sqn RFC
May 1916
Source: FE2b Datafile
Image: © R. N. Pearson |
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| Arriving at the front in January 1916,
the F.E. 2b was initially used with
marked success and helped to win air
superiority for the first Battle of
the Somme. The installation of the 160
h.p. motor increased the span of life
for the type, but it was hopelessly
outclassed by the close of the year
and was finally withdrawn from daylight
operations early in 1917. Re-issued
later that year as a night-bomber, it
continued to be used until the end of
the war. Found to be particularly suited
to this role the F.E. was used extensively
by Home Defense Squadrons for anti-Zeppelin
patrol, often with 'flame-reducers'
fitted to the exhausts and Michelin
reconnaisance flares carried on fuselage-mounted
racks. |
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| SPECIFICATIONS |
| Country: |
Great Britain |
| Manufacturer: |
Royal Aircraft Factory |
| Type: |
Fighter |
| First
Service: |
January, 1916 |
| Number
Built: |
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| Engine(s): |
120/160 h.p. Beardmore motors |
| Wing Span: |
47 ft. 9 ins |
| Length: |
32 ft. 3 ins |
| Height: |
12 ft. 8 ins |
| Empty
Weight: |
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| Gross
Weight: |
1988 lb [902 kg] |
| Max Speed: |
76 mph mph @ 10,000 ft |
| Ceiling: |
11,000ft |
| Endurance: |
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| Crew: |
2 |
| Armament: |
up to four Lewis guns on free
pivots |
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