British Usage Charts

These charts show the use over time of each WWI UK aircraft. The data is derived from Squadron records in Ian Philpott's The Birth of the Royal Air Force. While the book does a good job of noting when certain aircraft were taken up by each of 274 squadrons and when they were retired, it doesn't say whether one example of a certain type of aircraft was added to the roster or ten of them, so I have assumed an even split between all of the types in use in any one month. I have removed from the charts any types used in England from squadrons bound for foreign service, but Home Defense squadrons aircraft are included for their full tenure. The charts do include aircraft used in lesser-known theaters like the Middle East. There is some RNAS data included from the period where they joined the RAF, but the data does not include seaplanes and flying boats.

Notes:

• Aircraft that frequently served multiple roles, like the R.A.F. F.E.2b and Bristol Fighter, are included on both charts.
• The horizontal scale is not the same on both charts because fighters came into use later, and compressing the fighter chart would make it less readable.

Fighters

Reconnaissance and Bombers

References

Bibliography

• Ian Philpott, The Birth of the Royal Air Force. Great Britain: Pen & Sword Books Limited, 2013. ISBN 978-1-78159-333-2