Felixstowe F.3

Though the Felixstowe F.3 was derived from the highly-successful Felixstowe F.2A, it was somewhat less maneuverable and less seaworthy. The wings were of wider span and chord than the F.2 and were notched near the propellers, and the plane carried roughly double the bomb load of the F.2. While most F.3s were built in Britain in conjunction with the F.2A, seventeen were built in Malta, with the first completion in November 1917.

Whereas the F.2 was used extensively for combat-patrols, the less-maneuverable and longer-range F.3 saw more use on anti-submarine patrol and -- unlike the F.2 -- it saw service in the Mediterranean.

In June 1918 began a program to fit the F.3s with balanced ailerons to make them less tiring to fly.

F.3 Squadrons in included &#8470; 234 at Tresco, &#8470; 238 at Cattewater, &#8470; 263 at Otranto, &#8470; 271 at Taranto, and &#8470; 267 at Malta, as well as several independent flights with the Grand Fleet.