The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
The Royal Aircraft Factory RE8 was first delivered to units of the Royal Flying Corps on the Western Front in November 1916 as a better armed alternative to other types already in service. It was equipped with a Lewis gun firing through the propellor as well as a Lewis gun mounted in the rear cockpit. However, RE8 were almost as slow and unmanoeuverable as their predecessors and proved no match for agile German fighter aircraft. Known as 'Harry Tates' after the music hall comedian, they plodded through anti aircraft fire on army cooperation work and were also employed as night bombers. More RE8 aircraft served in France than any other British two seater.
The Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b is a two seat aircraft with a pusher propellor and equipped with two Lewis guns, one forward and one backward firing. FE2b aircraft were initially successful over the W
UNITED KINGDOM. C. 1918. A STARBOARD VIEW OF A ROYAL AIRCRAFT FACTORY TWO SEATER RE8 RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE (SERIAL NO A4232). (ORIGINAL PRINTS HELD IN AWM ARCHIVE STORE) (DONO
A pilot stands in the gunner's (observer's) position of an RE8 aircraft of the RFC, showing the mounting of the rear-defence Lewis gun. Possibly taken at 1 School of Military Aeronautics RFC, Reading,
A P40 Warhawk (known as Kittyhawk in the RAF and RAAF), number 41. The Kittyhawk entered mainstream service in the RAAF in March 1942, and was employed as both a fighter and a ground attack aircraft.
The Royal Aircraft Factory FE8 equipped with a single machine gun in the front cockpit, arrived at the Western Front in August 1916, at a time when pusher aircraft were outclassed by German fighters.
A P40 Warhawk (known as a Kittyhawk in the RAF and RAAF) with two soldiers standing guard. The Kittyhawk entered mainstream service in the RAAF in March 1942, and was employed as both a fighter and a
