| Manufacturer | Vickers |
|---|---|
| Introduction | 1921 |
| Retired | 1927 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 55 |
| Developed from | Vickers Vimy Commercial |
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 360 hp (270 kW) V-12 Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII piston engines.
- Vernon Mk II
- military transport aircraft powered by two 450 hp (340 kW) W-12 Napier Lion II piston engines.
- Vernon Mk III
- military transport aircraft powered by two high compression 525 hp (391 kW) W-12 Napier Lion III piston engines.
Operators
Footnotes
- ^ Thetford 1962, p. 443
- ^ Wragg 1986, p. 13
- ^ Johnson & Cozens 1984, p. 38
- ^ Embry 1976, p. 34
- ^ Moyes 1964, p. 67
References
- Andrews, E. N. & Morgan, E. B. (1988). Vickers Aircraft Since 1908. 2nd ed. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-815-1.
- Embry, Basil (1976). Mission Completed. London: White Lion. ISBN 0-7274-0260-9.
- Johnson, Brian & Cozens, H. I. (1984). Bombers The Weapon of Total War. London: Methuen. ISBN 0-423-00630-4.
- Moyes, Philip (1964). Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F. and Their Aircraft. London: MacDonald. OCLC 796778515
- Thetford, Owen (1957). Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918–57. 1st ed. London: Putnam. OCLC 936602559
- Thetford, Owen (1962). Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918. London: Putnam. OCLC 213505944
- Wragg, David (1986). Airlift A History of Military Air Transport. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 0-906393-61-2.