Editing Airco DH.2

{{Short description|1915 fighter aircraft by Airco}}
<!-- text begins below this table - scroll down to edit-->
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = Airco DH.2
  |image = Airco D.H.2 ExCC.jpg
  |caption =
  |type = [[Fighter aircraft|Fighter]]
  |manufacturer = [[Airco]] 
  |designer = [[Geoffrey de Havilland]]
  |first_flight = July 1915
  |introduction = 
  |retired = 1918
  |status = 
  |primary_user = [[Royal Flying Corps]]
  |more_users = 
  |produced =
  |number_built = 453
  |unit cost =
  |developed_from = [[Airco DH.1]]
  |variants =
}}
The '''Airco DH.2''' was a single-seat [[Pusher configuration|pusher]] [[biplane]] [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]] aircraft which operated during the [[World War I|First World War]]. It was the second pusher design by [[Aerospace engineering|aeronautical engineer]] [[Geoffrey de Havilland]] for [[Airco]], based on his earlier [[Airco DH.1|DH.1]] two-seater.

The development of pusher configuration fighters, such as the DH.2 and the [[Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2|F.E.2b]] enabled forward firing armament before the development of [[synchronization gear|synchronisation gears]] such as that fitted to the German [[Fokker Eindecker]] [[monoplane]] fighter. The prototype DH.2 made its first flight in July 1915, but it was lost during the following month, on its service trials on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]].

The DH.2 was introduced to frontline service in February 1916 and became the first effectively armed British single-seat fighter. It enabled [[Royal Flying Corps]] (RFC) pilots to counter the "[[Fokker Scourge]]" that had given the Germans the advantage during late 1915. It served in fighting and escort duties for almost two years, while numerous pilots became [[flying ace]]s using the type. It became outclassed by newer German fighters, resulting in the DH.2's eventual withdrawal from first line service in France after RFC units completed the process of re-equipping with newer fighters, such as the [[Nieuport 17]]<!--29 Squadron--> and [[Airco DH.5]]<!--32 squadron-->, in June 1917.

==Development==
By the outbreak of the [[World War I|First World War]], [[Aerospace engineering|aeronautical engineer]] [[Geoffrey de Havilland]] was already an experienced aircraft designer, having been responsible for the experimental [[Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.1]], [[Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2]]  and [[Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.2|Blériot Scout B.S.1]], the B.S.1 being the fastest British aircraft of its day.<ref name = "bruce 3"/> In June 1914, de Havilland left the [[Royal Aircraft Factory]] for [[Airco]], where he continued work on his own designs, the first being the [[Airco DH.1]], which followed a similar formula to that of the F.E.2.<ref name = "bruce 3">Bruce 1966, p. 3.</ref>

Early air combat over the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] indicated the need for a single-seat fighter with a forward-firing machine gun. At this point in time, there was no dominant approach to arming fighters, but a pusher configuration was one answer.<ref name = "bruce 34">Bruce 1966, pp. 3-4.</ref> As no means of firing forward through the propeller of a tractor aeroplane was yet available to the British, Geoffrey de Havilland designed the DH.2 as a scaled-down, single-seat development of the earlier two-seat DH.1. Aviation author J.M Bruce speculated that, had adequate [[synchronization gear|synchronisation gear]] been available, de Havilland may have been less likely to pursue a pusher configuration.<ref name = "bruce 3"/>

While it is popularly viewed as a response to the emergence of Germany's [[Fokker Eindecker]] [[monoplane]] fighters, its development was not specifically targeted at the type, having commenced prior to the Eindecker's arrival.<ref name = "bruce 4">Bruce 1966, p. 4.</ref> The first prototype DH.2 performed its first flight in July 1915.<ref name="mason fighter p42">Mason 1992, p. 42.</ref> Following the completion of its manufacturing trials, on 26 July 1915, the prototype was dispatched to France for operational evaluation,<ref name = "bruce 4"/> but was lost over the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] and was captured by the Germans.<ref name = "bruce 45"/>

Despite the prototype's premature loss, the DH.2 was ordered into quantity manufacture.<ref name = "bruce 5">Bruce 1966, p. 5.</ref> The production aircraft was generally similar to the prototype with the only major alterations being a fuel system and a revised gun mounting arrangement. Deliveries of the DH.2 commenced during the latter half of 1915 and a handful of aircraft were reportedly operating in France prior to the year's end.<ref name = "bruce 56">Bruce 1966, pp. 5-6.</ref> A total of 453 DH.2s were produced by Airco.<ref name="Airco DH-2">[http://www.classicfighters.co.nz/ac/dh2/index.shtml Airco DH-2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212124216/http://www.classicfighters.co.nz/ac/dh2/index.shtml |date=12 February 2008 }}</ref>

==Design==
[[File:Airco De Havilland DH 2 (8337534520).jpg|thumb|Rear view of a reproduction DH.2]]
The Airco DH.2 was a compact two-bay pusher biplane fighter aircraft.<ref name = "bruce 4"/> It had a wooden airframe, which was wire-braced and covered by [[fabric]] across most areas, except for the nacelle nose and upper decking. Both the upper and lower wings had [[aileron]]s fitted. The upper ailerons were spring-loaded to automatically return to a neutral position when the controls were released.<ref name = "bruce 4"/> The upper part of the nose of the nacelle was cut away so that a machine gun could be mounted there.<ref name = "bruce 4"/> Unusually, the [[windshield]] was mounted on the machine gun rather than to the airframe.<ref name = "bruce 6">Bruce 1966, p. 6.</ref>

The DH.2 was armed with a single [[.303 British|{{cvt|.303|in|1}}]] [[Lewis gun]] which was mounted on a flexible mount. Once pilots learned that the best method of achieving a victory was to aim the aircraft rather than the gun, it was fixed to fire forward, although this was met with skepticism by higher authorities until a quick-release clip was devised at the Squadron level.<ref name="Goulding">Goulding 1986, p. 11.</ref> The clip was devised by Major [[Lanoe Hawker]], who also improved the gunsights and added a ring sight and an "aiming off model" that helped the gunner allow for [[Deflection (ballistics)|leading]] a target.<ref name="Guttmann">Guttman 2009, p. 31</ref>

The majority of DH.2s were powered by the {{cvt|100|hp}} [[Gnôme Monosoupape]] nine-cylinder, air-cooled [[rotary engine]], however later models received the similarly configured but much improved {{cvt|110|hp}} [[Le Rhône 9J]] engine.<ref>Sharpe 2000, p. 20.</ref><ref name = "bruce 8">Bruce 1966, p.8</ref> Some sources state that the Monosoupape was retained in the DH.2 design despite a tendency to shed cylinders midair and a single DH.2 was fitted experimentally with a Le Rhône 9J.<ref name="Munson, p. 99"/> In addition to the variety of engines used, the fuel system also differed between individual aircraft. Typically, a gravity-fed fuel tank was used, but it could be located on the upper wing central section, or either above or below the port side upper wing.<ref name = "bruce 6"/>

==Operational service==
[[File:Airco DH2 2.jpg|thumb|Early DH.2 taking off from airfield at Beauvel, France]]
[[File:The Royal Flying Corps on the Western Front, 1914-1918 Q11874.jpg|thumb|[[No. 32 Squadron RAF|32 Squadron RFC]] personnel, in front of a DH.2 at Beauval, 1916]]
After evaluation at [[Hendon Aerodrome|Hendon]] on 22 June 1915, the first DH.2 arrived in [[France]] for operational trials with [[No. 5 Squadron RAF|No. 5 RFC Squadron]] but was shot down and its pilot killed during early August 1915.<ref name = "bruce 45">Bruce 1966, pp. 4-5.</ref> This aircraft was recovered and repaired by the Germans.<ref name= "Airco DH-2"/> The first [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] equipped with the DH.2, and the first RFC squadron completely equipped with single-seat fighters, [[No. 24 Squadron RAF|No. 24 Squadron RFC]], arrived in France early February 1916.<ref name="mason fighter p41">Mason 1992, p. 41.</ref><ref name = "bruce 6"/>

The DH.2 eventually equipped seven fighter squadrons on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]<ref name="Jackson DH p48"/> and proved more than a match for the [[Fokker Eindecker]] and the first DH.2 victory over an Eindecker may have been on 2 April 1916.<ref name = "bruce 7"/> DH.2s were heavily involved in the [[Battle of the Somme]] with No. 24 Squadron engaging in 774 combats and claiming 44 enemy machines.<ref name="mason fighter p41"/><ref name = "bruce 78">Bruce 1966, pp. 7-8.</ref> Service training for pilots in the RFC was poor, and the DH.2 initially had a high accident rate, supposedly gaining the nickname "The Spinning Incinerator",<ref name="Raleigh v1 p427-8">Raleigh 1922, pp. 427–428.</ref><ref>Funderburk 1962, p.  83.</ref> but as familiarity with the type improved, it was recognised as being maneuverable and relatively easy to fly.<ref>Cheesman 1960, p. 40.</ref>

The limited ammunition supply of the original gun installation proved to be inadequate.<ref name = "bruce 67">Bruce 1966, pp. 6-7.</ref> Although officially discouraged, pilots experimented with different gun arrangements, including a fixed twin-gun configuration. Furthermore, the original gun mounting was criticised for being loose and unstable, and it obstructed the stick when elevated. DH.2s were routinely flown with the guns fixed into position.<ref name = "bruce 7">Bruce 1966, p. 7.</ref>

The arrival at the front of more powerful German [[Tractor configuration|tractor]] biplane fighters such as the [[Halberstadt D.II]] and the [[Albatros D.I]], in late 1916, meant that the DH.2 was outclassed in turn.<ref name = "bruce 910">Bruce 1966, pp. 9-10.</ref> It remained in first line service until June 1917 in France, until No. 24 and [[No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron RAF|No. 32 Squadron RFC]] reequipped with [[Airco DH.5]]s, and a few remained in service in [[Macedonian front (World War I)|Macedonia]] including "A" Flight of No. 47 Squadron and a joint R.F.C. / [[R.N.A.S.]] fighter squadron,<ref name="Munson, p. 99">Munson 1968, p. 99.</ref> and with "X" Flight,<ref name="Munson, p. 99"/> in [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign|Palestine]] until late 1917. By then, it was dangerously obsolete as a fighter. The DH.2 was then used as an advanced trainer and for other secondary tasks, with the last recorded use of a DH.2 being a single example flying at [[RAF Turnhouse]] in January 1919.<ref name = "brucerfc45">Bruce 1982, p. 45.</ref>

===Ace pilots===
Distinguished pilots of the DH.2 included [[Victoria Cross]] recipient [[Lanoe Hawker]] (seven victories, though none in the DH.2), who was the first commander of No. 24 Squadron. The commander of [[No. 32 Squadron RAF|No. 32 Squadron]], [[Lionel Rees]] was awarded the Victoria Cross after flying the D.H.2 for a solo attack on a formation of ten German two-seaters on 1 July 1916, destroying two.<ref name="Jackson DH p48">Jackson 1987, p. 48.</ref><ref name = "bruce 89">Bruce 1966, pp. 8-9.</ref> [[James McCudden]] became an ace in DH.2s and would become the [[British Empire]]'s fourth-ranking ace of the war.<ref name="Guttman 2009, p. 91">Guttman 2009, p. 91.</ref> German ace and tactician [[Oswald Boelcke]] was killed during a [[dogfight]] with No. 24 Squadron DH.2s due to a collision with one of his own wingmen. Fourteen aces scored five or more aerial victories using the DH.2 and many also went on to further success in later types. Eight pilots scored all of their victories in the DH-2, including [[Harry Wood (aviator)|Harry Wood]], [[Sidney Cowan]], [[Hubert Jones]], [[William Curphey]], [[Maxmillian Mare-Montembault]], [[Patrick Anthony Langan-Byrne]], [[Eric Pashley]] and [[Selden Long]]. [[Lanoe George Hawker]] V.C., [[Distinguished Service Order|D.S.O.]], and commanding officer of No. 24 Squadron flying a DH. 2 was shot down by [[Manfred von Richthofen]] flying an [[Albatros D.II]].<ref name = "bruce 9">Bruce 1966, p. 9.</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|+DH.2 aces<ref name="Guttman 2009, p. 91"/>
!Pilot
!victories
|-
|[[Patrick Anthony Langan-Byrne]]||10 
|-
|[[Alan Wilkinson (aviator)|Alan Wilkinson]]||10 
|-
|[[Selden Long]]||9 
|-
|[[Arthur Gerald Knight]]||8 
|-
|[[Eric C. Pashley]]||8 
|-
|[[John Oliver Andrews]]||7
|-
|[[Sidney Cowan]]||7 
|-
|[[Hubert Jones]]||7 
|-
|[[William Curphey]]||6 
|-
|[[Stanley Cockerell]]||5 
|-
|[[Henry Evans (RFC officer)|Henry Evans]]||5 
|-
|[[James McCudden]]||5 
|-
|[[Robert Saundby]]||5
|-
|[[Harry Wood (aviator)|Harry Wood]]||5 
|}

==Reproductions==
[[File:Airco De Havilland DH 2. (31141486647).jpg|thumb|DH.2 Reproduction on display at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre]]
No original DH.2s exist. In 1970, Walter M. Redfern from [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] built a replica DH.2 called the [[Redfern DH-2]], powered by a [[Kinner]] {{cvt|125|-|150|hp}} engine. Redfern subsequently sold plans to home builders, and several of these replicas are flying.<ref>[http://www.aircraftworlddirectory.com/civil/r/redferndh2.htm "Redfern DH-2."] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107140157/http://www.aircraftworlddirectory.com/civil/r/redferndh2.htm |date=7 January 2009 }} ''aircraftworlddirectory.com''. Retrieved: 10 January 2010.</ref> Redfern's original replica is now displayed at the [[Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre]] in [[Blenheim, New Zealand]].

==Operators==
;{{UK}}
*[[Royal Flying Corps]] (Most units operated the DH.2 alongside other types)
**[[No. 5 Squadron RAF|No. 5 Squadron RFC]]
**[[No. 11 Squadron RAF|No. 11 Squadron RFC]]
**[[No. 17 Squadron RAF|No. 17 Squadron RFC]]
**[[No. 18 Squadron RAF|No. 18 Squadron RFC]]
**[[No. 24 Squadron RAF|No. 24 Squadron RFC]]
**[[No. 29 Squadron RAF|No. 29 Squadron RFC]]
**[[No. 32 Squadron RAF|No. 32 Squadron RFC]]
**[[No. 41 Squadron RAF|No. 41 Squadron RFC]]
**[[No. 47 Squadron RAF|No. 47 Squadron RFC]]
**[[No. 111 Squadron RAF|No. 111 Squadron RFC]]

==Specifications (DH.2)==
[[File:Airco D.H.2 British First World War single seat fighter rigging drawing.jpg|thumb|Airco DH.2 drawing]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref= ''Warplanes of the First World War - Fighters Volume One'',<ref name = "brucev1">Bruce 1965, p. 128.</ref>
|prime units?= imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew= 1
|length ft= 25
|length in= 2+1/2
|span ft= 28
|span in= 3
|height ft= 9
|height in= 6+1/2
|wing area sqft= 249
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb= 943
|gross weight lb= 1441
|fuel capacity=
<!--Powerplant-->
|eng1 number= 1
|eng1 name= [[Gnôme Monosoupape]] 
|eng1 type= 9-cylinder [[rotary engine]]
|eng1 hp=100<!-- prop engines -->

|prop blade number=2<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=Integral DG 70 fixed pitch wooden propeller<ref name=Grey17>Grey, 1994, p.17</ref>
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=4 bladed Darraq T.7928 propllers were also used, on later machines.<ref name=Grey17/>
<!--Performance-->
|max speed mph= 93
|max speed note =at sea level
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|endurance= 2 hours, 45 minutes
|ceiling ft= 14000
|climb rate ftmin=
|time to altitude= 24 minutes, 45 seconds to {{cvt|10000|ft}}
|more performance=
<!--Armament-->
|guns= 1 × {{cvt|.303|in|1}} [[Lewis gun]] 
|rockets= Two examples were equipped with [[Le Prieur rocket]]s for attacking observation balloons<ref name=Grey12>Grey, 1994, p.12</ref>
}}

==See also==
{{Aircontent
|see also=
* [[Nieuport 10]]
* [[Nieuport 11]]
* [[Nieuport 16]]

|related=
* [[Airco DH.1]]
* [[Redfern DH-2]] (replica)

|similar aircraft=
* [[Avro 508]]
* [[Port Victoria P.V.4]] 
* [[Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8]]
* [[Vickers F.B.12]]

|lists=<!-- related lists -->
* [[List of aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps]]
* [[List of fighter aircraft]]
}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
* Bruce, J.M. ''Warplanes of the First World War - Fighters Volume One''. London: MacDonald & Co., 1965.
* Bruce, J.M. ''Aircraft Profile No. 91: The de Havilland D.H.2''. Profile Publications Ltd, 1966.
* Bruce, J. M. ''The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing)''. London: Putnam, 1982. {{ISBN|0-370-30084-X}}
* Cheesman, E.F., ed. ''Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War''. Herts, UK: Harleyford, 1960.
* Funderburk, Thomas R. ''The Fighters: The Men and Machines of the First Air War''. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1962.
* Goulding, James. ''Interceptor: RAF Single Seat Multi-Gun Fighters''. London: Ian Allan Ltd., 1986. {{ISBN|0-7110-1583-X}}.
* {{cite book|last=Grey|first=B.J.|title=Airco DH2|series=Windsock Datafile 48|publisher=Albatros Publications|location=Hertfordshire, UK|year=1994|isbn=978-0948414633}}
* Guttman, Jon. ''Pusher Aces of World War 1''. Jon Guttman. Osprey Pub Co, 2009. {{ISBN|1-84603-417-5}}, {{ISBN|978-1-84603-417-6}}.
* Jackson, A.J. ''De Havilland Aircraft since 1909''. London: Putnam, Third edition, 1987. {{ISBN|0-85177-802-X}}.
* Mason, Francis K. ''The British Fighter since 1912''. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1992. {{ISBN|1-55750-082-7}}.
* Miller, James F. "DH 2 vs Albatros D I/D II - Western Front 1916 (Osprey Duel; 42)". Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2012. {{ISBN|978-1-84908-704-9}}.
* Munson, Kenneth. ''Fighters Attack and Training Aircraft 1914-1919''. New York: Macmillan, 1968.
* Raleigh, Walter. ''The War In The Air: Being the Story of the part played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force, Vol I''. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press, First edition 1922, 2002 (reprint). {{ISBN|978-1-84342-412-3}}.
* Sharpe, Michael. ''Biplanes, Triplanes, and Seaplanes''. London: Friedman/Fairfax Books, 2000. {{ISBN|1-58663-300-7}}.

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{De Havilland aircraft}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Airco DH.002}}
[[Category:Airco aircraft|DH.002]]
[[Category:1910s British fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Rotary-engined aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1915]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]