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New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Volume III)

Appendix III — PRINCIPAL OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT OF ROYAL AIR FORCE IN MIDDLE EAST AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA

page 385

Appendix III
PRINCIPAL OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT OF ROYAL AIR FORCE IN MIDDLE EAST AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA

[Note: The performance figures given in these appendices are those achieved in still air. It should be remembered that aircraft were often modified in various ways and adapted for special tasks, when their performances varied from those shown.]

RAF Fighters and Fighter-Bombers
Aircraft Name and mark Maximum Speed Service Ceiling Rate of Climb Armament
Beaufighter IF 324 m.p.h. at 11,750 feet 27,000 feet 9-4 minutes to 15,000 feet Six 303 in. Four 20 m.m.
Blenheim IVF 266 m.p.h. at 11,800 feet 26,500 feet 10 minutes to 15,000 feet Seven -303 in.
Buffalo 292 m.p.h. at 20,000 feet 30,650 feet 6-1 minutes to 13,000 feet Four -50 in.
Gladiator 245 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 32,500 feet 7 minutes to 15,000 feet Four -303 in.
Hurricane I 316 m.p.h. at 17,500 feet 33,200 feet 6-3 minutes to 15,000 feet Eight -303 in.
Hurricane IIA 342 m.p.h. at 22,000 feet 37,000 feet 8-2 minutes to 20,000 feet Eight -303 in.
Hurricane IIB 342 m.p.h. at 22,000 feet 36,500 feet 8-4 minutes to 20,000 feet Twelve -303 in. (two 250 lb. bombs).
Hurricane IIC 339 m.p.h. at 22,000 feet 35,600 feet 9-1 minutes to 20.000 feet Four 20 m.m.
Hurricane IID Tank-buster 316 m.p.h. at 19,000 feet 33,500 feet -75 minutes to 2000 feet Four 40 m.m. Two -303 in.
Hurricane IV (R/P) 284 m.p.h. at 13,500 feet 34,000 feet Eight 60 lb. R/P. Two -303 in.
Kittyhawk I 350 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 29,000 feet 8-7 minutes to 15,000 feet Four or six -50 in.
Mohawk 323 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 32,700 feet 5 minutes to 16,000 feet Various combinations of -30 in. and -50 in.
Mosquito II 370 m.p.h. at 14,000 feet 35,000 feet 7 minutes to 15,000 feet Four 20 m.m. Four -303 in.
Mosquito XII (N/F) 370 m.p.h. at 14,000 feet 35,000 feet 7 minutes to 15,000 feet Four 20 m.m.
Mustang III 450 m.p.h. at 28,000 feet 42,000 feet 10-5 minutes to 20,000 feet Four -50 in. (two 500 lb. bombs).
Spitfire I 355 m.p.h. at 19,000 feet 34,000 feet 6-2 minutes to 15,000 feet Eight -303 in.page 386
Spitfire V 375 m.p.h. at 20,250 feet 38,000 feet 7 minutes to 15,000 feet Two 20 m.m. Four -303 in.
Spitfire IX 408 m.p.h. at 25,000 feet 43,000 feet 6-7 minutes to 20,000 feet Two 20 m.m. Four -303 in. (one 500 lb. and two 250 lb. bombs).
Spitfire IX (H/F) 416 m.p.h. at 27,500 feet 44,000 feet 6-4 minutes to 20,000 feet Two 20 m.m. and four -303 in. or two 20 m.m. and two -50 in. (one 500 lb. bomb and two 250 lb. bombs).
Spitfire IX (L/F) 404 m.p.h. at 21,000 feet 41,500 feet 6-4 minutes to 20,000 feet As above.
Tomahawk I 338 m.p.h. at 16,000 feet 30,500 feet 7-8 minutes to 15,000 feet Two -50 in. Four -303 in.
Vultee Vengeance (divebomber) 273 m.p.h. at 11,500 feet 22,000 feet 15 minutes to 15,000 feet Six -30 in. (two 500 lb. bombs and two 250lb. bombs.)
RAF Bombers
Aircraft Type and Mark Normal Cruising Speed Radius of Action with Associated Bomb Load Typical Bomb Load Armament
Baltimore III 190 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 475 miles with 2000 lb. Eight 250 lb. or four 500 lb. Ten -30 in. Four -303 in.
Blenheim I 165 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 460 miles with 1000 lb. Four 250 lb Three -303 in.
Blenheim IV 180 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 730 miles with 1000 lb. Four 250 lb. Five -303 in.
Blenheim V (Bisley) 170 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 615 miles with 1000 lb. Four 250 lb. Five -303 in.
Bombay 120 m.p.h. at 10,000 feet 350 miles with 2000 lb. Eight 250 lb. Two -303 in.
Boston III 200 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 500 miles with 2000 lb. Four 500 lb. or two 1000 lb. Eight -303 in.
Halifax II 195 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 950 miles with 3000 lb. or 250 miles with 13,000 lb. Two 2000 lb. and six 1000 lb. Eight -303 in.
Liberator II 180 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 1215 miles with 6000 lb. Twelve 500 lb. or six 1000 lb. Seven -50 in. or eleven -303 in.
Liberator VI 195 m.p.h. at 20,000 feet 1150 miles with 4000 lb. or 500 miles with 12,800 lb. Twelve 500 lb. or eight 1000 lb. Ten -50 in.
Marauder 190 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 780 miles with 1200 lb. Eight 500 lb. Two -30 in. Three -50 in.
Maryland I 176 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 600 miles with 1500 lb. or 540 miles with 2000 lb. Four 250 lb. and one 500 lb. Eight -303 in.
Wellesley 135 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 1000 miles with 1060 lb. Eight 112 lb. and eight 20 lb. bombs. 250 lb. and eight 25 lb. bombs Two -303 in.
Wellington 1C 165 m.p.h. at 10,000 feet 1200 miles with 1000 lb. or 600 miles with 4500 lb. One 1000 lb., four 500 lb. and one 250 lb. or six 500 lb. and one 250 lb. Six -303 in.
Wellington 111 175 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 1100 miles with 1500 lb. or 750 miles with 4500 lb. One 4000 lb. or one 1000 lb., six 500 lb. and three 250 lb. Six -303 in.
Wellington X 180 m.p.h. at 15,000 feet 1050 miles with 1500 lb. or 600 miles with 4500 lb. Sixteen 250 lb. or two 2000 lb. Six -303 in.
page 387
RAF Coastal Aircraft
Aircraft Type Cruising Speed and Endurance Associated Bomb Load or Depth-charge Load Armament
Beaufighter 1C 180 knots - 5 hours 1000 lb. Four 20 m.m. Six -303 in.
Beaufighter X (R/P) 180 knots - 4 hours 400 lb. or eight 60 lb. R/P Four 20 m.m.
Beaufort 1 150 knots - 6 hours 1500 lb. or one 18 in. torpedo Four -303 in.
Catalina 1 F/B 100 knots - 17 ½ hours or 25 hours 2000 lb. Nil. Six -303 in.
Hudson 1 125 knots - 6 hours 750 lb. Seven -303 in.
Sunderland 1 F/B 115 knots - 12 hours 2000 lb. Seven -303 in.
Sunderland 11 F/B 110 knots - 11 ½ hours 2000 lb. Seven -303 in.
Sunderland 111 F/B 110 knots - 10 ½ hours 2000 lb. Seven -303 in.
Vildebeeste 82 knots - 4 ½ hours One 18 in. torpedo or 1000 lb. Six -303 in. Two -303 in.
Wellington 1C 125 knots - 10 ½ hours 1500 lb. Six -303 in.
Wellington VIII L/L 120 knots - 8 ½ hours 1000 lb. Six -303 in.