Avro 504

The first Avro 504 was put to demonstration use with good effect, because the War Office ordered twelve 504s in the summer of 1914 (and 7 from the RNAS), and others followed. A few of those early 504s made it to France with No.5 Squadron in August 1914, and they were used in ones and twos by most of the early squadrons. The RNAS received their first 504s in November 1914.

Occasionally their crews would try to jury-rig some type of gun mounting and they were greeted with rare successes, but generally the planes were flown unarmed with the pilot in the rear seat. More lasting effect was wrought by the RNAS Avros that attacked the zeppelin sheds at Friedrichshafen, damaging a zeppelin.

The RFC retired their Avro 504s with the arrival of the R.A.F. B.E.2c, but the RNAS continued to use them for several more months.

In all, 8,340 Avro 504s of various types were produced; of which the vast majorities were trainers.

A 504 had the misfortune of being the first British plane to be shot down in combat, on 22 August 1914.