US Navy Torpedo Bomber (1921-28), 90 built. The Douglas DT was a U.S. Navy torpedo bomber developed in 1920 by the Douglas Aircraft Company, the company’s first military contract aircraft. The DT first flew in 1921, winning a competition for a torpedo bomber for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. As a … Read more
FAA 1941-44: circa 800 built/converted. The salty variant of the Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane was the second main fighter of the RAF in WW2. Since the Spitfire soon became the trusted frontline model, Hawker’s model took more diverse roles and of of these became an “expandable” model for CAM-ships, the catapulted “Hurricat”. From there, a … Read more
The standard Italian onboard observation floatplane Aviazione Ausiliaria per la Regia Marina 193 built 1934-41 In WW2, the bulk of Regia Marina units were equipped in June 1940 with a sturdy biplane introduced in 1935: The Romeo (IMAM) Ro.43. It replaced the Piaggio P.6 in service from 1928. It was about time as the latter … Read more
Carrier Bornes Torpedo Bomber RNAS/FAA 1930-35: 92 built. The early 1930 Blackburn Torpedo Bomber The Blackburn T.5 Ripon was a carrier-based torpedo bomber and reconnaissance biplane, a basis for the Japanese license-produced Mitsubishi B2M and for the bomber Blackburn Baffin. Designed as a successor to the Dart it flew for the first time on 17 … Read more
Supermarine Walrus (1936) RNAS/FAA 1936-44: 740 built. The common British WW2 spotter seaplane Supermarine Walrus I parked on catapults in HMS Exeter, 1930s Supermarine, headed by lead designer Reginald Joseph Mitchell which practically died at his desk on 11 June 1937 (aged 42), giving birth to the war-winning Spitfire to his beloved country, also spawn … Read more
Nakajima E8N “Dave” (1934) Imperial Japanese Navy, 755 built The “Dave”, standard IJN observation seaplane The Nakajima E8N was a Japanese ship-borne and catapult-launched reconnaissance seaplane which saw service mostly during the Second Sino-Japanese War. This single-engine, two-seat biplane was given a main ventral float complemented by underwing outriggers. Not fast, but reliable and with … Read more
Fairey Fulmar (1940) RNAS/FAA 1940-43: 600 built. The Fairey Fulmar was a British carrier-borne reconnaissance and fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Fairey Aviation in 1939-40. Named after the northern fulmar (British Isles seabird) it became one of the most used Fleet Air Arm (FAA) model during WW2. Production ceased in 1943 as the new, … Read more
Fairey Seal (1930) RNAS/FAA 1930-36: 90 built. The Fairey Seal was designed and built by Fairey Aviation, first flying in 1930, entered service with the Fleet Air Arm in 1933. Only 91 were produced, many also exported. Although largely forgotten today, this model was a derivative of the Fairey III, sharing practically everything but the … Read more
Fairey Swordfish (1935) Fleet Air Arm 1935-43: 2,391 built. The proverbial British torpedo bomber The “string bag”, Swordfish, made by the British Fairey company, is fondly remembered now, cementing its place in the hall of fame of aviation due to its actions during WW2 and showing fighting qualities that outshined many other biplanes of the … Read more
