The last RAF Open Cockpit Fighter?

Weren’t Tiger Moths being prepared as an emergency measure to strafe and spray chemical weapons on German landing beaches should Operation Sealion have been carried out, Moth v 109 could have been a bit one sided I should have thought.

Two guns in the nose as well, just like a Sopwith Camel. 😮

Wasn’t an operational flight though.

Best wishes
Steve P

Unless you count the English Electric Lightning F.1a – one of which, IIRC, took off and completed a circuit without its cockpit canopy … but with a very shaken pilot on board. At an MU in the 60s I think!

Well, you live and learn, Gauntlet it is!

All the best

TT

Vildebeests were indeed used against the Japanese. Indeed there is a description from one Vildebeest pilot on the Endau raid of how a Ki 27 pulled up in front of him. For a moment, he thought, I could get him, on the other hand if I miss, I am a sitting duck. Discretion won the day and he headed for the nearest cloud, so failing to win the award for the last open cockpit fighter!

Vincents were used in 1940 against the Iraqis and against the Italians in East Africa. I am not aware they had any air to air opportunities!

Paul

Wasn’t the Vildebeeste/Vincent used against the Japanese? It had a forward firing gun so must have been a fighter. 🙂

Best wishes
Steve P

According to Putnam, all Furys were withdrawn by 1939. As Webpilot said, Gauntlets were still in use for THUM flights well into the war years and 4 were still on charge for training in Nairobi, due to a shortage of Gladiators, in May 1943!

At least one of the Met Flights used Gauntlets well into the war years, so that would be my best guess for the last operational open cockpit fighter type.

That’s not quite the same as being the last open cockpit type to equip a front line fighter squadron, though that was probably the Gauntlet as well….

Gauntlet surely, the Gauntlet was still operational in the Middle East in 1940 and even made a claim, at that time weren’t all surviving Furys ground instructional frames with no wings?

Paul

😉

not the Stringbag cos it was FAA –

TT

Pot – kettle, etc. 🙂

S’not a fighter though DHF issit, pay attention boy! 😀

Fighter I suspect you’re right with the Fury but.. you mentioned the Stringbag. The Duxford MKIII is painted as one of a few that served with the RAF.

Thanks Ant – the question threw me- the usual one is what was the last RAF biplane fighter and thats an easy one!

Fury it is then….

TT

I think the RAF’s last open-cockpit fighter to enter service was the Gloster Gauntlet,although I think they were retired earlier than the Hawker Fury so the latter would’ve been the last in service.