Vickers Vernon

Vernon
Vernon of 70 Squadron RAF, powered by Rolls-Royce Eagle engines.
General information
TypeTransport
ManufacturerVickers
Primary userRoyal Air Force
Number built55
History
Introduction date1921
Retired1927
Developed fromVickers 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.

  1. ^ a b Thetford 1962, p. 443
  2. ^ Wragg 1986, p. 13
  3. ^ Johnson & Cozens 1984, p. 38
  4. ^ Embry 1976, p. 34
  5. ^ Moyes 1964, p. 67