Sopwith Camel

The Sopwith Camel is a single-seat biplane fighter aircraft from the British First World War that first flew over the Western Front in 1917. It was created by the Sopwith Aviation Company to replace the Sopwith Pup and went on to become one of the most well-known fighters of the First World War.

The Camel had a single rotary engine and two Vickers machine guns that were synced up. Although challenging to fly, it was extremely manoeuvrable in the hands of a skilled pilot, which was essential in the era’s low-speed, low-altitude dogfights. Camel pilots had downed 1,294 enemy aircraft in total, more than any other Allied fighter during the conflict. Due in part to the fact that fighter aircraft on both sides had evolved quickly, outclassing the Camel, the type also saw usage as a ground-attack aircraft toward the conclusion of World War One.

The F.1 designation applied to the Camel’s primary version. The Comic night fighter variation, the 2F.1 Ship’s Camel, and the T.F.1, a “trench fighter” armored for attacks on severely fortified land targets, were other variants. The trainer was a two-seat version. In January 1920, the final Camels were removed from RAF service.