AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

Royal Aircraft Factory BE9


The BE.9 was an attempt to provide a forward firing gun to a tractor aircraft in the same manner as the SPAD A2/4 series. BE2c 1700 was modified by repositioning the engine further aft and then adding a gunner's nacelle mounted ahead of the propellor. 1700 was initially tested at Farnborough in August 1915. One month later it was in France for trials with Nos.6, 16 and 8 Sqns. While at No.8 Sqn it had an inconclusive fight with an Eindecker and after a handful of further frontline flights it was withdrawn by 11 December and returned to England in January.



RAF BE9 1700
Farnborough
August 1915
Source: CCI 42/3




RAF BE9 1700
Nos. 6, 16 & 8 Sqns RFC
October 1915
Source: CCI 42/3