Airco D.H.6

The design of the Airco D.H.6 was driven by one goal: creating a trainer that was easy to produce and maintain. Straight sided flying surfaces, interchangeable upper and lower wings and a flat top decking all were aimed at easy of construction. No one would call the result elegant or sleek. It did fulfill its aim of being a cheap and easily-produced trainer until replaced by the Avro 504K.

Starting in late 1917, it also saw action in anti-U-boat patrols and thirty-four DH6 flights were formed. When a U-boat was spotted, a DH6 could do little to stop it, but the appearance of an aircraft overhead frequently forced the submarine to submerge, slowing its progress. Thirty-four flights operated the DH6 from coastal aerodromes including five manned by the US Navy.