Airco DH.2

Airco DH.2
British official photographer · Public domain · source
Name	Airco DH.2
Type	Fighter
Manufacturer	Aircraft Manufacturing Company
Designer	Geoffrey de Havilland
First flight	1915
Introduced	1916
Retired	1917
Primary user	Royal Flying Corps
Number built	453
Status	Retired

Airco DH.2. The Airco DH.2 was a single-seat pusher configuration biplane fighter aircraft used by the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. Designed by Geoffrey de Havilland to counter the Fokker Scourge, it restored air superiority for the Allies in 1916. Though eventually outclassed by newer German designs, it was a crucial and beloved aircraft for many early British fighter pilots.

Development

The DH.2 was developed by the Aircraft Manufacturing Company in response to the urgent need for an effective fighter to combat the synchronized machine gun-armed Fokker Eindecker monoplanes. The project was led by chief designer Geoffrey de Havilland, who opted for a pusher layout to allow a forward-firing Lewis Gun without requiring a complex interrupter gear. The prototype first flew in mid-1915 and was sent to France for evaluation under combat conditions with No. 5 Squadron RFC. Initial testing revealed stability and engine issues, leading to modifications that included adding a larger fin and improving the Monosoupape rotary engine installation before full-scale production was ordered.

Design

The DH.2 was a compact, single-bay biplane constructed primarily of wood and fabric. Its most distinctive feature was its pusher configuration, with the Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine mounted behind the pilot's cockpit, driving a two-bladed propeller. This arrangement provided an unobstructed forward field of fire for the single, manually aimed Lewis Gun, which was mounted on a flexible post in the front cockpit. The aircraft employed wing warping for lateral control and had a conventional landing gear with a tailskid. While nimble, it was initially tricky to handle, especially in a spin, a characteristic addressed through pilot training and minor design tweaks.

Operational history

The DH.2 entered service with frontline Royal Flying Corps squadrons in early 1916, most notably with No. 24 Squadron RFC, the first dedicated fighter squadron in the RFC commanded by Major Lanoe Hawker. It played a pivotal role in ending the Fokker Scourge during the Battle of the Somme, allowing Allied reconnaissance aircraft like the B.E.2 and F.E.2 to operate with greater security. Aces such as Lanoe Hawker and Alan Wilkinson achieved multiple victories flying the type. However, by late 1916, it was outmatched by new German Albatros and Halberstadt fighters, suffering heavy losses during the Bloody April of 1917. It was subsequently withdrawn from the Western Front to secondary theaters like Macedonia and Palestine, and used as an advanced trainer in the United Kingdom.

Variants

The primary production variant was the DH.2, with no major sub-types developed. Early production aircraft were fitted with the 100 hp Gnome Monosoupape engine, though some later examples may have received different rotary engines due to supply constraints. A small number of aircraft were built with a fixed, forward-firing gun instead of the flexible mounting, but the standard configuration remained dominant. One DH.2 was experimentally fitted with a 110 hp Clerget engine, but this did not enter production.

Operators

The primary operator was the Royal Flying Corps, which used the aircraft in numerous squadrons across the Western Front, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom. The Australian Flying Corps also operated DH.2s, with aircraft serving in No. 1 Squadron AFC in the Middle East. Following the war, a small number were used by the Royal Air Force for training before being scrapped. No other significant national air services formally adopted the type.

Survivors and reproductions

No original Airco DH.2 aircraft survive intact today. However, a highly accurate, airworthy reproduction was constructed by The Vintage Aviator Limited in New Zealand. This aircraft is powered by a genuine Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine and is finished in the markings of No. 24 Squadron RFC. It is regularly flown at airshows and is part of a significant collection of World War I aircraft. Another static reproduction is on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London, providing the public with a detailed view of this historically significant fighter's design and appearance.

Category:World War I fighter aircraft of the United Kingdom Category:Pusher aircraft Category:Biplanes