Down In Flames

British Plane Database

Gloster Gladiator II

 

United Kingdom – Unlock XP: 0

 

Stat                                          OK                               Damaged

Airframe                                    0-2                                3-4

Performance                              5                                  4

Horsepower                               1                                  1

Bursts                                       0                                  0

Special                                     Agile                             None

Wingman Attack                        1                                  0

Wingman Defense                      1                                  1

 

Real World Data

Name                                        Gladiator II

Nation                                       UK

Manufacturer                             Gloster

Type                                         Fighter

Number of Engines                     1

Horsepower                               840

Weight                                      4,850 lbs.

Max Speed                                257 mph

Number of Guns                         4

Crew                                         1

Year Introduced                         1938

 

Gloster Gladiator II

The Gladiator was developed from the Gauntlet biplane fighter and entered service in 1938. At its introduction the Gladiator was already outdated by the new mono wing fighters such as the Spitfire and Messerschmitt 109.

 

The Gladiator began combat operations over France and Norway but was outclassed by the German fighters and suffered heavy loses in just 10 days of operations. The Gladiators were even pressed into service providing much needed air cover for the evacuation of Dunkirk. After that, it was demoted to secondary duties or sent to North Africa and the Far East. The Gladiator faired better against the Italian biplane and early mono fighters in North Africa. In the Far East, it did not compare well to the Japanese fighters.

 

The Gladiator is best known for the heroic defense of Malta where three Gladiators named Faith, Hope, and Charity formed the entire air defense of the island.

 

The Gladiators, named Sea Gladiators, did enjoy some success when converted for carrier operations due to their low speed take-off and land characteristics.

 

Hurricane I

 

United Kingdom – Unlock XP: 20

 

Stat                                          OK                               Damaged

Airframe                                    0-2                                3-5

Performance                              5                                  4

Horsepower                               2                                  1

Bursts                                       1                                  1

Special                                     None                             None

Wingman Attack                        1                                  1

Wingman Defense                      2                                  1

 

Real World Data

Name                                        Hurricane I

Nation                                       UK

Manufacturer                             Hawker

Type                                         Fighter

Number of Engines                     1

Horsepower                               1,030

Weight                                      600 lbs.

Max Speed                                320 mph

Number of Guns                         8

Crew                                         1

Year Introduced                         1937

 

The Hurricane I was designed by Sydney Camm without a government contract. Camm was certain that war was coming to the United Kingdom and knew that they would need a modern mono wing fighter to fight it. The Hurricane was the first British mono wing fighter to see combat, and the first to exceed 300mph in level flight.

 

The Hurricane I is best known for its role in the Battle of Britain. Along with Spitfires, the two fighters defended the island as wave after wave of German bombers attempted to destroy their airfields and factories. The Hurricanes were usually assigned the role of attacking the slower Bf-110Cs and bombers while the Spitfires engaged the Bf-109Es. By the end of the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes had destroyed more German aircraft than all the other defenses combined.

 

Hurricanes saw combat in every theater of the war. They fought in Europe, the Pacific, and even Russian snow-covered airfields.

 

Spitfire I

 

United Kingdom – Unlock XP: 42

 

Stat                                          OK                               Damaged

Airframe                                    0-2                                3-4

Performance                              6                                  4

Horsepower                               2                                  1

Bursts                                       1                                  1

Special                                     None                             None

Wingman Attack                        2                                  1

Wingman Defense                      2                                  2

 

Real World Data

Name                                        Spitfire I

Nation                                       UK

Manufacturer                             Super Marine Division of Vickers-Armstrong

Type                                         Fighter

Number of Engines                     1

Horsepower                               1,030

Weight                                      5,332 lbs.

Max Speed                                355 mph

Number of Guns                         8

Crew                                         1

Year Introduced                         1938

 

The Spitfire will always be known for its role in the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire I went through many small improvements leading up to the Battle of Britain. The flat-topped canopy was replaced with the more famous bulging dome to allow for taller pilots. Also the guns tended to freeze at higher altitude so heating equipment was installed. Armor plating was added around the cockpit to provide additional protection. Additionally, the guns were original set to converge at 400 yards. This was reduced to 250 yards after several engagements against the Luftwaffe over France in 1940.

 

Before the Battle of Britain, Spitfires were used to fly photo recon missions over France. It even flew night missions, but was very difficult to land due to poor forward visibility from the long nose.

 

Spitfires managed to fight the Luftwaffe to a stand still during the Battle of Britain when its primary adversary was the Bf-109E. Both aircraft had very similar flight characteristics. The one edge the Spitfire pilots enjoyed was fighting over their own ground, which made successful bail-outs much more likely.

 

Spitfire V

 

United Kingdom – Unlock XP: 79

 

Stat                                          OK                               Damaged

Airframe                                    0-2                                3-4

Performance                              6                                  4

Horsepower                               3                                  2

Bursts                                       1                                  1

Special                                     None                             None

Wingman Attack                        2                                  2

Wingman Defense                      3                                  2

 

Real World Data

Name                                        Spitfire V

Nation                                       UK

Manufacturer                             Super Marine Division of Vickers-Armstrong

Type                                         Fighter

Number of Engines                     1

Horsepower                               1,440

Weight                                      6,417 lbs.

Max Speed                                374 mph

Number of Guns                         6

Crew                                         1

Year Introduced                         1941

 

The Spitfire Mk.V entered service in 1941 and was an upgraded version of the Mk.I and Mk.II Spitfires. The Mark five was intended only as a short-term replacement fighter, but ended up being produced in greater numbers than any other version.

 

When the Mk.V first appeared it held an edge on the German Bf109E, but this was soon to end. The Germans soon put an equal fighter into the air, the Bf-109F, and later in 1941 a superior fighter, the Fw-190.

 

Following the German invasions of their countries, many European pilots ended up in the UK. Several squadrons of French, Belgian, Polish, Czech, and Norwegian pilots flew the Mk.Vs in air battles over France during 1941 and 1942.

 

Many Mk.Vs had the outer 2 feet of each wing clipped in order to increase their roll rate. By increasing their roll rate, the fighters would be able to get into position faster to start a turn.

 

 

Hurricane II

 

United Kingdom – Unlock XP: 133

 

Stat                                          OK                               Damaged

Airframe                                    0-2                                3-4

Performance                              6                                  4

Horsepower                               2                                  1

Bursts                                       2                                  2

Special                                     None                             None

Wingman Attack                        3                                  2

Wingman Defense                      3                                  2

 

Real World Data

Name                                        Hurricane II

Nation                                       UK

Manufacturer                             Hawker

Type                                         Fighter/Bomber

Number of Engines                     1

Horsepower                               1,280

Weight                                      7,800 lbs.

Max Speed                                339 mph

Number of Guns                         4

Crew                                         1

Year Introduced                         1941

 

The Hurricane II was designed to update the Hurricane I. The fuselage was strengthened to allow a re-designed wing. Models were up gunned and as more two-speed, single-stage supercharged 1,390 hp Merlin XX engines became available, they were slowly added upgrading the Hurricane II.

The Hurricane II first flew on June 11, 1940, and by Sept 1940 the first Hurricane IIs saw frontline service. Hawker Hurricane II production in UK (shared between Hawker, Gloster and Austin Motors) totaled 8,676, comprising 451 Mk IIA, 2,948 Mk IIB, 4,711 Mk IIC, 296 Mk IID and 270 Mk HE, plus 100 Mk Is converted (by Rolls-Royce) to Mk IIA.

Used by Canada, UK, India, South African, Russian, and Free French Air Forces, the Hurricane II was used in air to air combat, then transferred to the ground attack role in 1942 once newer Axis planes out classed it. A specialized tank busting variant, the Hurricane Mk. IId, had two 40mm cannons and two .303 Browning machine guns. It entered squadron service in 1942. The Hurricane continued to evolve through March 1943 with the introduction of the Hurricane Mk V, which alternately used the Merlin 24, 27 or 32.

 

Mosquito Mk.VI

 

United Kingdom – Unlock XP: 366

 

Stat                                          OK                               Damaged

Airframe                                    0-4                                5-7

Performance                              7                                  5

Horsepower                               3                                  2

Bursts                                       2                                  2

Special                                     None                             None

Wingman Attack                        3                                  2

Wingman Defense                      3                                  2

 

Real World Data

Name                                        Mosquito VI

Nation                                       UK

Manufacturer                             de Havilland

Type                                         Fighter/Bomber

Number of Engines                     2

Horsepower                               2x1,460 each

Weight                                      22,250 lbs.

Max Speed                                380 mph

Number of Guns                         8

Crew                                         2

Year Introduced                         1943

 

From its first flight in November, 1940, straight through to D-Day, the Mosquito maintained such a high degree of excellence and versatility that production continued until 1950. Originally designed as a bomber, its role as a fighter was what garnered its fame. Great Britain, Canada and Australia fielded the Mosquito throughout the war as low and high level attack fighters, day and night bombers, day and night fighters, long-range photo-recon planes, minelayers, pathfinders as well as clandestine transports.

With a mere ten months of design, the plywood Mosquito took over the defense of the British skies from the venerable Bristol Blenheim. Its unique construction materials made it ideal for the resource conscious British as plywood was deemed non-strategic. This also allowed it a measure of stealth as wood does not show up well on radar. Armed with four 20mm cannon and four .303 in. machine-guns in the nose, the Mosquito is credited with 600 enemy aircraft killed and over 600 flying bombs destroyed.

It also served the British Coastal Command as an anti-shipping aircraft armed with eight 60lb rocket projectiles. Its diversity was also proven in variants armed with weapons like a 57mm cannon capable of destroying most tanks and the 4,000lb 'block-buster' bombs. As heavily armed as this, the Mosquito could still out fly most German night fighters as it attacked Berlin and V-1 rocket sites.

Spitfire XIV

 

United Kingdom – Unlock XP: 445

 

Stat                                          OK                               Damaged

Airframe                                    0-3                                3-6

Performance                              8                                  6

Horsepower                               3                                  2

Bursts                                       1                                  1

Special                                     Turbocharger                 Turbocharger

Wingman Attack                        3                                  2

Wingman Defense                      3                                  2

 

Real World Data

Name                                        Spitfire XIV

Nation                                       UK

Manufacturer                             Super Marine Division of Vickers-Armstrong

Type                                         Fighter

Number of Engines                     1

Horsepower                               2,050

Weight                                      8,500 lbs.

Max Speed                                448 mph

Number of Guns                         6

Crew                                         1

Year Introduced                         1944

 

The Spitfire Mk. XIV of 1944 was a Mk. VIII airframe with a lengthened nose powered by a Rolls Royce Griffon 65 engine. This developed 2,035 hp, good for a top speed at altitude of a sizzling 448 mph. The new engine drove a five bladed propeller and gave the Mk. XIV an improved service ceiling and enhanced high altitude performance. Best climb rate was over 5,000 ft./min. Later Mk. XIV's had a "teardrop" style canopy to improve all-around visibility. Mk. XIV production totaled 957, plus 300 similar Mk. XVIII's.

The fighter was intended to be an interim type; however, it became the main Royal Air Force (RAF) high-altitude air superiority fighter during the final year of World War II. The Mk XIV saw a great deal of combat over Holland and western Germany from the fall of 1944 to the end of the war in Europe in May of 1945

The Spitfire XIV was comparable to the P:-51 Mustang, and outclassed the Bf-109 and FW-190A it flew against. Squadrons were designated to Home Defense and shot down the V-1 Buzz Bombs. Spitfires took part in operations in the Middle East, North Africa, India, Burma, Australia, and Russia. The neutral governments of Portugal and Turkey were also equipped with Spitfires. When the war ended, the Spitfire was the only airplane that had been in continuous production throughout the war—20,351 had rolled off the assembly lines.

 

Swordfish

 

United Kingdom


Stat                                          OK                               Damaged

Airframe                                     0-2                                3-5

Turret Defense                             1                                   1

Turret Support                             2                                   0


Real World Data

Name                                        Swordfish

Nation                                       UK

Manufacturer                             Fairey-Aviationco

Type                                         Light Bomber

Number of Engines                     1

Horsepower                               690

Weight                                      9,250 lbs.

Max Speed                                139 mph

Number of Guns                         2

Crew                                         2

Year Introduced                         1936

 

The Fairey Swordfish was the most widely used British carrier-based airplane of World War II. Like any biplane in an era of sleek monoplanes, it looked and was antiquated and ungainly. Despite this, it served from 1936 through the end of the war and managed to stave off replacement to boot with a production run of nearly 2400 aircraft.. It’s nickname “Stringbag” came from the mesh of wires holding it together. It fought in all British Theatres and also served Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

At the start of the war, there were a baker’s dozen of 13 Swordfish Squadrons operating from carriers and several more flights operating via catapult launches from other warships. There was little air action for the Swordfish until 1940 when they were pressed into service as mine-layers, anti-shipping strike craft and patrol aircraft. The Swordfish was typically armed with two 7.69mm machine guns, one front and one back in addition to its payload of rockets, bombs or torpedo.

Two of the Swordfish’s moments of glory were its use covering the retreat of British forces at Dunkirk in 1940 and the famous hunting down of the German Battleship Bismark in 1941. Launched by the HMS Ark Royal, 15 Swordfish attacked the pride of the German fleet and jammed its rudder, severely hampering it. Thanks to this action, the Bismark was eventually sunk though whether it was by Allied gunfire or by scuttling remains a debated topic.

Lancaster Mk.I

 

United Kingdom


Stat                                          OK                               Damaged

Airframe                                     0-7                                8-11

Turret Defense                             3                                   3

Turret Support                             3                                   0


Real World Data

Name                                        Lancaster

Nation                                       UK

Manufacturer                             A.U. Roe and Co.

Type                                         Heavy Bomber

Number of Engines                     4

Horsepower                               1,460

Weight                                      70,000 lbs.

Max Speed                                287 mph

Number of Guns                         10

Crew                                         7

Year Introduced                         1942


The Avro 638 Lancaster heavy bomber was the counterpart to America’s B-17 during the strategic bombing of Germany in World War 2. The Lancaster took to the skies for the first time in January 1941 and went on to have a healthy production run of nearly 7500 aircraft. Their durability and versatility kept them in use through the 1950’s.

Cutting a memorable figure over the skies of England, the twin-rudder Lancaster took to the night skies, taking up where the B-17s left off, bombing German industry to bring the war to an end. The four-engine Lancaster, an evolutionary step from the two-engine Manchester medium bomber, was armed with ten .303 in machineguns and a max payload of 14,000 lbs of bombs. With twice the operational ceiling of its predecessor and much more defensive armament, it was able to strike deep into German-held Europe.

The Lancaster is perhaps best known for the “Dambuster” raids on five hydroelectric dams in the Ruhr Valley of Germany in May 1943. No 617 Squadron destroyed both the Mohne and Eder dams. Also of impressive note is the sinking of the German battleship Tirpitz in November 1944. The Tirpitz was the second and final battleship of the Bismarck class and the largest German warship ever built.


 Wellington

United Kingdom

Stat                                          OK                               Damaged

Airframe                                     0-5                                6-9

Turret Defense                            2                                   2

Turret Support                             2                                   0


Real World Data

Name                                        Wellington

Nation                                       UK

Manufacturer                             Vickers-Armstrong Ltd.

Type                                         Medium Bomber

Number of Engines                     2

Horsepower                               1,000

Weight                                      28,500 lbs.

Max Speed                                235 mph

Number of Guns                         6

Crew                                         6

Year Introduced                         1938

 

The Wellington’s were built in huge numbers and formed the core of the RAF’s bomber forces until the larger four engine bombers appeared in 1941.

The Wellington’s started out as daylight bombers in 1939, but their lack of defensive firepower made it difficult for them to withstand the fighters attacks of the Luftwaffe. They were later switched to night raids, minesweeping, and patrol. The Wellington’s also proved to be an effective torpedo carrier for attacks against submarines.