# WW1 Aircraft Battle | Which is Best? Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QWh6VAZC7w Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/0QWh6VAZC7w Generated: 2026-03-04T14:34:30.945+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8, despite its notorious reputation for being difficult to fly and often nicknamed 'Harry Tate,' is ultimately judged by the curators to be the best of the three World War I aircraft presented because of its crucial and enduring role in artillery spotting and its successful combat record against German aircraft, including shooting down an airship. **Key Points:** - The three World War I two-seater biplanes compared are the DH.9 (1918-1920 service), RE.8 (1916-1920 service), and BE.2c (1912-1918 service). - The DH.9 is superior in power (230 hp vs. 140 hp for RE.8 and 90 hp for BE.2c), max speed (113 mph vs. 103 mph and 72 mph), and service ceiling (15,500 ft vs. 13,500 ft and 10,000 ft). - The RE.8 was the primary artillery spotting aircraft for the Royal Flying Corps, performing vital work that was often unglamorous but essential to the land battle. - The RE.8's stability allowed it to successfully engage German fighters and even shoot down an SL.11 Zeppelin over London in September 1916, earning William Leefe Robinson the first Victoria Cross awarded for aerial action in the UK. - The BE.2c, though the oldest (entering service in 1912), was notorious for being poorly armed and difficult to fly, making it an easy target. - The Royal Aircraft Factory (RAF) aircraft, like the BE.2c, lagged behind commercial innovators like AIRCO in development until later in the war. - The curators ultimately agree that the RE.8 was the most important aircraft among the three due to its unique combination of stability and combat effectiveness in its primary role. ![Screenshot at 06:06: The Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8, identified by its tail number F3556, is shown up close, emphasizing its two-seat configuration and the rear gunner's mounting, which highlights its primary role as a reconnaissance and artillery spotting aircraft.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/0QWh6VAZC7w/00-06-06.jpg) **Context:** Three Imperial War Museum (IWM) curators—Alan, Bryn, and Rebecca—participate in a 'Curator Battle' to decide which of three World War I two-seater reconnaissance/bomber aircraft is the best: the DH.9, the RE.8, or the BE.2c. The comparison focuses on specifications like power, speed, service ceiling, bomb load, and armament, ultimately highlighting the operational importance and combat history of each type, especially concerning artillery spotting and air defense. ## Detailed Analysis The video pits three World War I two-seater biplanes against each other: the DH.9, the RE.8, and the BE.2c. A comparison chart reveals the DH.9 has superior performance across speed, power (230 hp), and service ceiling (15,500 ft). The RE.8 is next with 140 hp and 103 mph, while the BE.2c is the oldest (1912-1918 service) and least capable with only 90 hp and 72 mph. Alan argues for the DH.9's superior performance, while Rebecca champions the RE.8 due to its vital role in artillery spotting, which was crucial for the land battle, and its combat successes. Bryn notes the BE.2c's poor reputation and lack of armament, which made it vulnerable. The RE.8's stability is highlighted as a key factor, enabling it to defend itself and even shoot down the German Zeppelin SL.11 over London in September 1917, an action for which pilot William Leefe Robinson received the first Victoria Cross awarded for aerial action in the UK. Despite the DH.9's superior technical specifications, the curators ultimately agree that the RE.8's proven, unglamorous but essential operational record, especially in artillery correction, makes it the most important and therefore the 'winner' of the contest. ### Aircraft Comparison - DH.9 (230 hp, 113 mph, 15,500 ft ceiling) - RE.8 (140 hp, 103 mph, 13,500 ft ceiling) - BE.2c (90 hp, 72 mph, 10,000 ft ceiling) ### DH.9 Development - Developed by AIRCO under Geoffrey de Havilland, it utilized 90% of the DH.4 airframe and was selected for the strategic bombing offensive despite engine reliability issues. ### RE.8's Role and Success - Known as 'Harry Tate,' it was the main artillery spotting aircraft, flew 80 km missions, and was credited with shooting down the SL.11 Zeppelin in September 1917, leading to William Leefe Robinson's VC. ### BE.2c History - The oldest aircraft (1912 service), it served in reconnaissance and medical evacuation roles, but its poor performance and lack of armament made it an easy target, despite being used in the first successful air-to-ground artillery correction. ### Curators' Debate - Alan favors the high-performance DH.9, Rebecca champions the RE.8 for its operational importance and combat success, and Bryn notes the BE.2c's reputation and its predecessor's legacy. ### Final Verdict - The RE.8 is declared the winner for its crucial, albeit unglamorous, role in supporting the land battle and its proven combat record, including the Zeppelin kill. ![Screenshot at 00:01: The three curators—Alan, Bryn, and Rebecca—pose confidently in front of the World War I aircraft collection.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/0QWh6VAZC7w/00-00-01.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:38: A comparison chart is displayed showing the service years, power, max speed, service ceiling, bomb load, and armament for the DH.9, RE.8, and BE.2c.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/0QWh6VAZC7w/00-01-38.jpg) ![Screenshot at 02:55: Archival footage shows a DH.9 being worked on, illustrating the challenges of maintaining the type during the war.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/0QWh6VAZC7w/00-02-55.jpg) ![Screenshot at 04:36: A graphic compares the powerful Liberty L-12 engine \(used in DH.9A\) with the Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engine \(used in RE.8\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/0QWh6VAZC7w/00-04-36.jpg) ![Screenshot at 11:34: A graphic illustrates William Leefe Robinson's Victoria Cross action against the SL.11 Zeppelin and the subsequent destruction of the Zeppelin hangar at Kingsbury.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/0QWh6VAZC7w/00-11-34.jpg)