R.E.8 (Total: 2,881, Canadian: 10, Group 0)

Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390896)
Royal Aircraft Factory (Reconnaissance Experimental) R.E.8 (Serial No. C2281), "Punjab 22 Simla Hills", built by Daimler Company Ltd. Coventry, ca 1918

The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 was a British two-seat biplane reconnaissance and bomber aircraft of the First World War designed and produced at the Royal Aircraft Factory. It was also built under contract by Austin Motors, Daimler, Standard Motors, Siddeley-Deasy and the Coventry Ordnance Works.

Intended as a replacement for the vulnerable B.E.2, the R.E.8 was widely regarded as more difficult to fly and gained a reputation in the Royal Flying Corps for being "unsafe" that was never entirely dispelled. Although eventually it gave reasonably satisfactory service, it was never an outstanding combat aircraft. Nonetheless, it remained the standard British reconnaissance and artillery observation aircraft from mid-1917 to the end of the war, serving alongside the rather more popular Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8.

More than 4,000 R.E.8s were eventually produced; these aircraft saw service in a range of different theatres, including Italy, Russia, Palestine and Mesopotamia, as well as the Western Front. The R.E.8 was rapidly withdrawn from service after the end of the conflict, by which time it was regarded as totally obsolete. Wikipedia

Wikipedia Wikipedia Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

R.E.8 serial B832

s/n B832

RAF

B 832

R.E.8 serial B7888

s/n B7888

RAF

B 7888

R.E.8 serial C2307

s/n C2307

The Daimler Company Ltd.

C 2307

R.E.8 serial C2308

s/n C2308

The Daimler Company Ltd.

C 2308

R.E.8 serial C2474

s/n C2474

The Daimler Company Ltd.

C 2474

R.E.8 serial C2596

s/n C2596

The Daimler Company Ltd.

C 2596

R.E.8 serial C2789

s/n C2789

The Daimler Company Ltd.

C 2789

R.E.8 serial C5069

s/n C5069

Coventry Ordinance Works

C 5069

R.E.8 serial C5090

s/n C5090

Coventry Ordinance Works

C 5090

Known Units: ;13


last update: 2025-June-01

R.E.8 serial D4833

s/n D4833

RAF

D 4833

Known Units: ;4


last update: 2025-June-01