DH.9 (Total: 9,619, Canadian: 33, Group 0)

Airco DH.9

Airco DH.9 (Source Wikipedia

The Airco DH.9 (from de Havilland 9) also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 was a British single-engined biplane bomber developed and deployed during the First World War.

The DH.9 was a development of Airco's earlier successful DH.4, with which it shared many components. These were mated to an all-new fuselage and the BHP/Galloway Adriatic engine, which promised increased performance. Anticipating its usefulness, the type was ordered in very large numbers for Britain's Royal Flying Corps (RFC).

Upon entering service, the DH.9's performance was found to be unsatisfactory. The Adriatic engine was unreliable and failed to provide the expected power, which gave the DH.9 poorer performance than the aircraft it had been meant to replace. The performance deficit was blamed for the heavy losses they suffered over the Western Front. The redesigned DH.9A was fitted with a more powerful and reliable American Liberty L-12 engine which rectified the shortcomings of the original DH.9 model. Wikipedia

YouTube DH-9

Wikipedia Wikipedia DH-9

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

DH.9 serial B7657

s/n B7657

B 7657

Known Units: ;98


last update: 2025-June-01

DH.9 serial B7667

s/n B7667

B 7667

Known Units: ;218


last update: 2025-June-01

DH.9 serial B7674

s/n B7674

B 7674

DH.9 serial C2182

s/n C2182

C 2182

Known Units: ;107


last update: 2025-June-01

DH.9 serial C6094

s/n C6094

The Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

C 6094

Known Units: ;49


last update: 2025-June-01

DH.9 serial C6101

s/n C6101

The Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

C 6101

DH.9 serial C6145

s/n C6145

The Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

C 6145

Known Units: ;99


last update: 2025-June-01

DH.9 serial C6189

s/n C6189

The Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

C 6189

DH.9 serial C6266

s/n C6266

C 6266

Known Units: ;104


last update: 2025-June-01

DH.9 serial D490

s/n D490

Cubitt Ltd.

D 490

Known Units: ;27

Not all of this order delivered.
last update: 2025-February-05

DH.9 serial D1048

s/n D1048

National Aircraft Factory No. 2

D 1048

Known Units: ;104

may not have been built.
last update: 2025-February-05

DH.9 serial D1725

s/n D1725

Mann Egerton & Co. Ltd.

D 1725

DH.9 serial D3088

s/n D3088

D 3088

DH.9 serial D3092

s/n D3092

D 3092

DH.9 serial D5556

s/n D5556

D 5556

DH.9 serial D5630

s/n D5630

D 5630

Known Units: ;98


last update: 2025-June-01

DH.9 serial D5688

s/n D5688

D 5688

Known Units: ;98


last update: 2025-June-01

DH.9 serial D5759

s/n D5759

D 5759

DH.9 serial D65684

s/n D65684

D 65684

Known Units: ;107


last update: 2025-June-01

DH.9 serial E624

s/n E624

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

E 624

DH.9 D.H.9a serial E991

s/n E991

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

E 991

Known Units:

Transferred to Canada post war as part of the 1919 Imperial Gift. On CAF/RCAF strength, but never received Canadian registration or serial number. Used as spares. Struck off date also reported as 25 June 1927, in UK sources.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1920-June-18 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1927-September-23 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 499

DH.9 D.H.9a serial G-CYAD

s/n GCYAD

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

G-CYAD

Known Units:

Ex RAF, serial number E1000. Part of Imperial Gift. Crashed at Morley, Alberta on 23 August 1920.
last update: 2025-February-06
   1920-June-18 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1929-February-18 Struck off Strength struck off strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 195

DH.9 D.H.9a serial G-CYAJ

s/n GCYAJ

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

G-CYAJ

Known Units:

Ex RAF, serial number E998. Part of Imperial Gift. Delivered by rail to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where it was assembled for use on Trans Canada Flight of October 1920. Flew Regina to Calgary, via Medicine Hat, Alta. Had prepositioned at Moose Jaw, flew to Regina to meet G-CYAN after it developed engine trouble.
last update: 2025-February-06
   1920-July-19 Registration Issued Registration issued 2019-08-20
   1920-July-19 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1927-September-23 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 195

DH.9 D.H.9a serial G-CYAK

s/n GCYAK

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

G-CYAK

Known Units:

Ex RAF, serial number E994. Part of Imperial Gift. Category B accident in 1920, no details.
last update: 2025-February-06
   1920-July-19 Registration Issued Registration issued 2019-08-20
   1920-July-19 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1929-February-18 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 195

DH.9 D.H.9a serial G-CYAN

s/n GCYAN

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

G-CYAN

Known Units:

Ex RAF, serial number E996. Part of Imperial Gift. Delivered by rail to Winnipeg, Manitoba, on 6 September 1920, where it was assembled for use on Trans Canada Flight of October 1920. Planned to fly Winnipeg to Moose Jaw, forced down at Regina with engine trouble. Damaged when it struck a sand hole while landing at Camp Borden on 12 January 1921. Repaired, back in service by spring 1922.
last update: 2025-February-06
   1920-July-19 Registration Issued Registration issued 2019-08-20
   1920-July-19 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1927-September-23 Struck off Strength struck off strength reduced to spares 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 195

DH.9 D.H.9a serial G-CYAO

s/n GCYAO

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

G-CYAO

Known Units:

Ex RAF, serial number E1002. Part of Imperial Gift. Operated from Morley, Alberta.
last update: 2025-February-06
   1920-July-19 Registration Issued Registration issued 2019-08-20
   1920-July-19 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1922-February-01 Struck off Strength struck off strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 195

DH.9 D.H.9a serial G-CYAZ

s/n GCYAZ

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

G-CYAZ

Known Units:

Ex RAF, serial number E997. Part of Imperial Gift. Category A accident at Winnipeg, Manitoba on 30 September 1920.
last update: 2025-February-06
   1920-September-10 Registration Issued Registration issued 2019-08-20
   1920-September-10 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1922-February-01 Struck off Strength struck off strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 195

DH.9 D.H.9a serial G-CYBF

s/n GCYBF

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

G-CYBF

Known Units:

Ex RAF, serial number E995. Part of Imperial Gift. Delivered by rail to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where it was assembled for use on Trans Canada Flight of October 1920. One of 3 DH.9s on Western leg, it was the only one to complete the flight, arriving in Vancouver, BC on 17 October 1920. Covered 3,265 miles in 45 flying hours, from Medicine Hat, via Calgary, Revelstoke, and Merritt, BC. Later used at High River, Alberta, and Camp Borden, Ontario.
last update: 2025-February-06
   1920-September-18 Registration Issued registration issued 2019-08-20
   1920-September-18 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1929-February-18 Struck off Strength struck off, after being withdrawn from use in late 1928 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 195

DH.9 D.H.9a serial G-CYBI

s/n GCYBI

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

G-CYBI

Known Units:

Ex RAF, serial number E992. Part of Imperial Gift. Used at Camp Borden, Ontario.
last update: 2025-February-06
   1920-September-17 Registration Issued Registration issued 2019-08-20
   1920-September-17 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1926-May-18 Struck off Strength struck off strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 195

DH.9 D.H.9a serial G-CYBN

s/n GCYBN

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

G-CYBN

Known Units:

Ex RAF, serial number E993. Part of Imperial Gift. Category B accident at Camp Borden, Ontario on 22 November 1920.
last update: 2025-February-06
   1920-October-11 Taken on Strength registration issued 2020-09-27
   1925-January-21 Struck off Strength Caspr (Walker) sos date is 1929-02-18 2020-09-27
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 195

DH.9 D.H.9a serial G-CYCG

s/n GCYCG

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

G-CYCG

Known Units:

Ex RAF, serial number E1001. Part of Imperial Gift. Category C accident at Camp Borden, Ontario, on 20 December 1920.
last update: 2025-February-06
   1920-December-16 Registration Issued registration issued 2019-08-20
   1920-December-16 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1927-September-23 Struck off Strength struck off strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 195

DH.9 D.H.9a serial G-CYDO

s/n GCYDO

Whitehead Aircraft Co. Ltd.

G-CYDO

Known Units:

Ex RAF, serial number E999. Part of Imperial Gift. Category D accident at Arthur, Ontario on 17 May 1921.
last update: 2025-February-06
   1921-March-16 Registration Issued registration issued 2019-08-20
   1921-March-16 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1927-September-23 Struck off Strength struck off strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 196