RAF Museum DH9A - another survivor

['Warspite']

The RAF Museum's De Haviland DH9A was shot down in WW1, captured by the Germans and then bombed by RAF Bomber Command in WW2. Somehow it survived all that!

It was built in mid-1918 by the Westland Aircraft works at Yeovil as part of their first production batch of 150 aircraft. It was one of 18 early examples delivered to No.110 Squadron at its new base at Kenley, Surrey. All of these aircraft, forming the squadrons' initial equipment were financed by His Serene Highness, the Nizam of Hyderabad - the first time that anyone had funded an entire squadron like this. Each aircraft was marked with a suitable inscription. From that time the unit was officially titled No.110 (Hyderabad) Squadron, eventually the Nizams' crest of a demi-tiger was used as the basis of the squadron badge.

The Squadron moved to Bettoncourt, France as a day bomber unit in the RAF's Independent Force for use in strategic bombing on German targets.

The aircraft took part in several bombing raids and even claimed a Fokker DVII after their formation came under attack. In a subsequent raid this machine was shot down and captured by the Germans, remaining in museum store for many years and then on show in Berlin.

Following WW2 bombing raids on Berlin when much museum material was destroyed it was moved to east Germany and was captured by Polish forces and moved to a Polish store. In the 1960s the fuselage had German lozenge fabric on the rear top section and a German weight table painted on the rear port fuselage. The DH9A was rediscovered by an Australian enthusiast in store at Krakow. It was eventually exchanged for a Spitfire XV1e.

The restoration at Cardington started in late 1978 and included the design and construction of a new set of wings and missing tail section. Much of the fuselage structure was also replaced, though the metal fittings were re-used. The restoration team member found a spent bullet lodged in one of the vertical struts.

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[Flying Officer Kyte]

That one rings a bell Barry. I think either Guntruck or Balders posted on it but I can't find it again.
Anyway it is always good to see pictures up here of the less obvious aircraft.
Thanks for putting it up.
Rob.

['Warspite']

That one rings a bell Barry. I think either Guntruck or Balders posted on it but I can't find it again.
Anyway it is always good to see pictures up here of the less obvious aircraft.
Thanks for putting it up.
Rob.

You are more than welcome!