Curtiss Helldiver/Shrike…Image #2: A British Fleet Air Arm S2BC Helldiver
The Fleet Air Arm of the Early Cold War…Image No.2: A Hawker Sea Hawk readying for arrester line capture on landing
Winner of the March ‘Wings of War’ Poll to find the best British fighter of World War One: The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5/5a
The SE5a collected 60% of the overall vote, with the Sopwith Camel second (30%) and the Bristol F./F.2b third (10%)
Current leaders in the poll for The Best British Fighter of World War One
- Royal Aircaft Factory S.E.5/5a
- Sopwith Camel
- Bristol F.2/F.2b
No other nominee has attracted any votes…to make your choice visit this link.
Grumman TBF Avenger…Image #3: A Fleet Air Arm Grumman Avenger of 820 Squadron about to fall over the side of HMS Indefatigable, 1945
What Was The Best British Fighter Of World War One:
Candidate #12 - The Vickers F.B.5/9 Gunbus
The Gunbus was the earliest British aircraft built around the role of bringing down enemy aircraft, having been developed from the earlier Vickers Destroyer. A pusher type, the Gunbus was a key scout/fighter during 1915. However like other early British and French types the Gunbus was outclassed and made obsolete by the introduction of the Fokker E series fighters during the so-called ‘Fokker Scourge’
To vote for the Vickers F.B.5/9 visit this link.
What Was The Best British Fighter Of World War One:
Candidate #11 - The Sopwith Snipe
The final major Sopwith type to see combat during WW1. the Snipe was a more robust and easier to fly improvement from the Camel. Barely seeing action during the last few months of the war, it was most successful when used by the AFC’s No.4 squadron (which latterly took the fighter to Germany for occupation duties). The single most successful mission with the Snipe in combat was that invoving Canadian pilot William Barker. Barker won a VC after single-handedly engaging 15 Fokker D.VIIs, shooting down 3 even though he was thrice wounded.
The Snipe also saw service with the Brazilian, Canadian and early Soviet air forces post-war, and was not removed from the RAF’s inventory until 1926. To vote for the Snipe follow this link.
What Was The Best British Fighter Of World War One:
Candidate #10 - The Sopwith Triplane
The first great fighter to be flown by the RNAS (predecessor to the Fleet Air Arm), one of only two major triplane fighters to see significant service during any war (the other being the Fokker Dr.1), and legendary as being the mount of the so-called ‘Black Flight’, the Sopwith Triplane was briefly the best British fighter on the western front. Whilst lightly armed and prone to performance issues in a dive, the Triplane could outmaneuver the Albatros D.III and as demonstrated by Raymond Collishaw and his Canadian colleagues, it was a favoured mount for aces. Australia’s two greatest aces of WWI, Robert Little and Stan Dallas, also flew the Sopwith Triplane.
To vote for the Sopwith Triplane visit this link.
What Was The Best British Fighter Of World War One:
Candidate #9 - The Sopwith Pup
The Pup (officially known originally as the ‘Scout’) was the first great British fighter and for a period in the middle of World War One was the dominant response from the RFC and RNAS against early German Albatros types. A highly maneuverable yet easy to fly biplane, the Pup was also the first fighter to see ship-launched naval fighter duty in the world. With the advent of later German and Allied fighters from 1917 onwards the Pup was used far less on front line duties, being used more for training and home defence in Britain.
To vote for the Sopwith Pup visit this link.
