Vickers Vernon
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The Vickers Vernon was a British biplane troop carrier[1] used by the Royal Air Force. It entered service in 1921 and was the first dedicated troop transport of the RAF.
The Vernon was a development of the Vickers Vimy Commercial, a passenger variant of the famous Vickers Vimy bomber, and was powered by twin Napier Lion engines or Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines.[1] 55 were built.
In February 1923, Vernons of Nos. 45 and 70 Squadrons RAF airlifted nearly 500 troops to Kirkuk, Iraq[2] after the civilian area of that town had been overrun by Kurdish forces. This was the first-ever[3] strategic airlift of troops.
Vernons of No. 45 Squadron had bomb racks and sights fitted.[4] In May 1924 the squadron was officially designated No. 45 (Bombing) Sqdn.[5]
Vernons were replaced by Vickers Victorias from 1927.
Variants
- Vernon Mk I
- military transport aircraft powered by two Template:Cvt V-12 Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII piston engines.
- Vernon Mk II
- military transport aircraft powered by two Template:Cvt W-12 Napier Lion II piston engines.
- Vernon Mk III
- military transport aircraft powered by two high compression Template:Cvt W-12 Napier Lion III piston engines.
Operators
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Specifications (Vernon)
See also
Related development
Related lists
References
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