APPENDIX VIII
Principal Operational Aircraft of the Royal Air Force, 1944-1945

BOMBER

AIRCRAFT NAME AND MARK MAXIMUM SPEED SERVICE CEILING RANGE AND ASSOCIATED BOMB LOAD ARMAMENT
  m.p.h. feet feet miles lb.  
Halifax III 280 at 13,500 20,000 1,985--7,000 9×.303"
or
1,030--13,000
Halifax VI 290 at 10,500 20,000 2,160--7,400 9×.303"
or
1,260--13,000
Halifax VII 280 at 13,500 20,000 2,215--5.250 9×.303"
or
985--13,000
Lancaster1 I, III and X 280/287 at 11,000/ 11,500 20,000 2.250--10,000 8×.303"
or
1,660--14,000
or
1,040--22,0002
Liberator VI 270 at 20,000 27,000 2,290--4,000 10×.50"
or
990--12.800
Stirling III 270 at 14,500 17,000 2,010--3,500 8×.303"
or
590--14,000
Wellington X 255 at 14,500 18,250 1,885--1,500 6×.303"
or
1.325--4.500
Mosquito XVI3 408/415 at 26,000/28,000 36,000/39,000 1,795--2,000 Nil
or
1.370--5,000
Mosquito XX 380 at 14,000 33,000 1,870--2,000 Nil
or
1.620--3.000
Baltimore V 300 at 13,000 19,000 1,000--2,000 8×.50"
4×.30"
Boston IV 320 at 11,000 24,500 1,570--2,000 5×.50"
or
710--4.000
Marauder III 305 at 15,000 28,000 1,200--4,000 11×.50"
1. Lancaster I, III and X. The slight variations in speed and height are occasioned by the alternative Marks of power unit installed.
2. The carrying by the Lancaster of the 22,000-lb. bomb necessitated the removal of the mid-upper turret (2×.303").
3. The variations in speed at height and service ceiling of the Mosquito XVI are occasioned by the alternative Marks of power unit installed.

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FIGHTER AND FIGHTER/BOMBER1

AIRCRAFT NAME AND MARK MAXIMUM SPEED SERVICE CEILING CLIMB--TIME TO HEIGHT ARMAMENT2
  m.p.h. feet feet minutes feet  
Meteor I 445 at 30,000 42,000 15 to 30,000 4×20-mm.
Meteor III 476 at 30,000 44,000 14 to 30,000 4×20-mm.
Mosquito XIII (N/F) 370 at 14,000 33,500 6.75 to 15,000 4×20-mm.
Mosquito XXX3 (N/F) 400/407 at 26,000/28,000 37,000/38,000 7.5 to 15,000 4×20-mm.
Mustang III3 442/450 at 24,500/28,000 41,500 10.5 to 20,000 4×.50"
(2×500-lb. bombs)
Spitfire IX (H/F) 416 at 27,500 44,000 6.4 to 20,000 2×20-mm. and
4×.303" or
2×20-mm. and
2×.50"
(1×500-lb. and
2×250-lb. bombs)
Spitfire IX (L/F) 404 at 21,000 41,500 6.4 to 20,000 2×20-mm. and
4×.303" or
2×20-mm. and
2x .50"
(1×500-lb. and
2×250-lb. bombs)
Spitfire XIV 448 at 26,000 43,500 7 to 20,000 2×20-mm. and
4×.303" or 2×20-mm. and
2x .50" (1×500-lb. and
2×250-lb. bombs)
Spitfire XVI (L/F) 405 at 22,500 41,500 6.4 to 20,000 2×20-mm. and
4×.303" or
2×20-mm. and
2×.50" (1×500-lb. and
2 x2 50-lb. bombs)
Spitfire XXI and XXII 454 at 26,000 43,000 8 to 20,000 4×20-mm.
(1×500-lb. and
2×250-lb. bombs)
Tempest V 435 at 19,000 36,000 7.5 to 20,000 4×20-mm.
Thunderbolt I 420 at 26,000 35,000 10.5 to 20,000 8×.50" (2×1,000-lb. bombs)
Typhoon IB 405 at 18,000 33,000 6.2 to 15,000 4×20-mm.
(2×1,000-lb. bombs or 8×60-lb. R.P.s)
1. Performance figures are for aircraft operating as fighters without drop tanks and were reduced when bombs, rocket projectiles or drop tanks were carried.
2. The bomb weights shown are those which could be carried when operating in fighter/bomber role.
3. Variations in speed at height of the Mosquito XXX and Mustang III are occasioned by the alternative Marks of power unit installed.

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COASTAL

AIRCRAFT NAME AND MARK CRUISING SPEED AND ENDURANCE ASSOCIATED BOMB (OR DEPTH CHARGE) LOAD ARMAMENT
  knots hours lb.  
Catalina IV 106--151/2 1,500 2×.50"
2×.30"
Liberator III and V (V.L.R.) 150--161 2,000 3×.50"
Liberator VI 138--101/2 3,500 6×.50"
or 121/2 2,000 4×.303"
Liberator VIII 138--101/2 3,500 6×. 50"
4×.303"
or 13 2,000
Sunderland III and V 110--131/2 2,000 7×. 303"
or 15 1,000
Warwick V 164--11 2,000 3×.50" 4×.303"
Wellington XIV 140--10 1,500 7×.303"

FIGHTER AND STRIKE AIRCRAFT

(Coastal Command)

AIRCRAFT NAME AND MARK CRUISING SPEED AND ENDURANCE ASSOCIATED BOMB (OR R.P.) LOAD ARMAMENT
  knots hours    
Beaufighter X (T/B) 180--41/2 1 torpedo 4×20-mm.
Beaufighter X (R/P) 180--4 1/4 8×25-lb. or 8×60-lb. R.P.s 4×20-mm.
Beaufighter X (F/B) 180--4 1×2,000-lb. or 2×500-lb. and 2×250-lb. 4×20-mm.
Mosquito VI (F/B) 210--3 1/4 4×250-lb. 4×20-mm.
4×.303"
Mosquito VI (F/RP) 210--5 8×25-lb. or 8×60-lb. R.P.s 4×20-mm.
4×.303"
Halifax III 145--10 5,500-lb. 9×.303"
Wellington XIV 140--91/2 1,700-lb. 7×.303"
or 8 3,200-lb.
Notes:--
(i) Maximum Speed was only possible for an extremely limited period. Apart from tactical manoeuvring, bomber and fighter aircraft in the main flew at speeds between 'most economical cruising' and 'maximum continuous cruising'. Varying with the different aircraft, these speeds were respectively between 55-80 per cent. and 80-90 per cent. of the maximum speed.

(ii) Service ceiling. The height at which the rate of climb has a certain defined low value (in British practice 100 feet per minute) . Ceilings quoted are for aircraft with full load.

(iii) Range and Associated Bomb Load. The main purpose of this table is to give some idea of the relative performances of the various aircraft. The figures quoted relate to aircraft flying at 'most economical cruising' speed at the specified height (i.e. the speed and height at which the greatest range could be obtained) . Allowance is made for take off but not for landing, the range quoted being the maximum distance the aircraft could cover in still air 'flying to dry tanks'. Furthermore in the planning of operations a reduction of range of about 25 per cent. had to be made for navigational errors, tactical manoeuvring, weather conditions and other factors.

(iv) Endurance. The time an aircraft can continue flying under given conditions without refuelling. This being a vital factor of Coastal Command operations an economical cruising speed, consistent with maximum safe endurance as determined under normal operational conditions, is quoted.

(v) Abbreviations. (F/B) Fighter Bomber; (F/RP) Fighter/Rocket Projectile; (H/F) High Flying; (L/F) Low Flying; (N/F) Night Fighter; (R/P) Rocket Projectile; (T/B) Torpedo Bomber; (V.L.R.) Very Long Range.

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