Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12 Country: UK Type: Combat Manufacturer: Royal Aircraft Factory Service: 1916 - 1919 First Flight: 28 July 1915 Production: 601

The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12 was a British single-seat aeroplane of The First World War designed at the Royal Aircraft Factory. The B.E.12 was essentially a B.E.2c with the front (observer’s) cockpit replaced by a large fuel tank, and the 90hp RAF 1 engine of the standard B.E.2c replaced by the new 150 hp RAF 4.

The first B.E.12 squadron, No. 19, did not reach France until the 1st of August 1916. It was followed by the only other squadron to fly the type in France, No. 21, on the 25th of the same month. Several Home defence squadrons flew B.E.12s, along with examples of the B.E.12a and B.E.12b variants. Some Australian units were also equipped with the B.E. 12.

General characteristics