Avro Anson
Unanswered Questions
Encyclopedia
The Avro Anson is a British
twin-engine, multi-role aircraft
that served with the Royal Air Force
, Fleet Air Arm
and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War
. Named for British
Admiral
George Anson
, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance
, but was soon rendered obsolete in that role. However, it was rescued from obscurity by its suitability as a multi-engine air crew trainer
, becoming the mainstay of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
. By the end of production in 1952, the Anson spanned nine variants and a total of 8,138 were built in Britain by Avro
. From 1941, a further 2,882 were built by Canadian
Federal Aircraft Ltd.
and the militarised version, which first flew on 24 March 1935, was built to Air Ministry Specification 18/35. It was the first RAF monoplane
with a retractable undercarriage. Avro allotted the type number 652A to the Anson. The first production run resulted in 174 Anson Mk I aircraft for service with Coastal Command. No. 48 Squadron RAF
was the first to be equipped in March 1936.
A distinctive feature of the Anson I was its landing gear retraction mechanism which required no less than 140 turns of the hand crank by the pilot. To forgo this laborious process, early model Ansons often made short flights with the landing gear extended at the expense of 30 mph (50 km/h) of cruise speed.
A total of 11,020 Ansons were built by the end of production in 1952, making it the second-most-numerous (after the Vickers Wellington
) British multi-engine aircraft of the war.
. However, by this time, the Anson was obsolete in the roles of bombing and coastal patrol and was being superseded by the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
and Lockheed Hudson
.
Limited numbers of Ansons continued to serve in operational roles such as coastal patrols and air/sea rescue. Early in the war, an Anson scored a probable hit on a German U-boat
. In June 1940, a flight of three Ansons was attacked by nine Luftwaffe
Messerschmitt Bf 109
s. Remarkably, the Ansons downed two German aircraft "and damaging a third before the 'dogfight' ended", without losing any of their own. The aircraft's true role, however, was to train pilots for flying multi-engine bomber
s such as the Avro Lancaster
. The Anson was also used to train the other members of a bomber's air crew, such as navigators, wireless operators, bomb aimers
and air gunners. Postwar, the Anson continued in the training role and light transport roles. The last Ansons were withdrawn from RAF service with communications units on 28 June 1968.
The Royal Australian Air Force
operated 1,028 Ansons, mainly Mk Is, until 1955. The Royal Canadian Air Force
and Royal Canadian Navy
operated Ansons until 1952. The USAAF
employed 50 Canadian-built Ansons, designated as the AT-20.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force
operated 23 Ansons as navigation trainers in the Second World War
, (alongside the more numerous Airspeed Oxford
), and acquired more Ansons as communication aircraft immediately after the war. A preserved navigation trainer is in the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum
at Wigram.
The Egyptian Air Force
operated Ansons in communications and VIP duties. A specially outfitted Anson was gifted to the then King by the Royal Air Force
. The Royal Afghan Air Force
obtained 13 Anson 18 aircraft for various duties from 1948. These aircraft survived through 1972.
Railway Air Services
operated Ansons on scheduled services from London's Croydon Airport
via Manchester to Belfast (Nutts Corner) during 1946-1947. Sivewright Airways operated three Avro XIX aircraft from their Manchester Airport base on charter flights as far as Johannesburg and on scheduled flights to Ronaldsway Airport in the Isle of Man
until 1951. Finglands Airways operated an ex-RAF Anson I on inclusive tour flights and on scheduled flights to Newquay Airport until 1952.
India ordered twelve new Anson 18Cs in 1948 for use by the Directorate of Civil Aviation as trainers and communications aircraft, and these were delivered from Woodford in spring 1949.
Avro Ansons continued to be used by the RAF in the role of Station Communications Aircraft, well into the 1960s.
shortages, the 1,051 Canadian-built Mk V Ansons featured a plywood
fuselage
.
Mk I: 6,688 Mk Is were built. Powered by two 350 hp (261 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX or 395 hp (295 kW) XIX engines.
Mk II: 1,822 Mk IIs were built in Canada; powered by two 330 hp (246 kW) Jacobs
L-6MB R-915
engines and fitted with hydraulic landing gear retraction rather than the manual system used on the Anson I.
Mk III: Powered by two 330 hp (250 kW) L-6MB R-915 engines; British-built.
Mk IV: Powered by two Wright Whirlwind engines; British-built.
Mk V: 1,069 Mk Vs were built in Canada for navigator training; powered by two 450 hp (340 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior R-985 engines.
Mk VI: One aircraft was built in Canada for bombing and gunnery training; powered by two 450 hp (340 kW) Wasp Junior engines.
Mk X: 104 Anson Mk Is were converted into Mk Xs
Mk 11: 90 Anson Mk Is were converted into Mk 11s
Mk 12: 20 Anson Mk Is were converted into Mk 12s, plus 221 new Mk 12 aircraft were built.
Mk XIII: Gunnery trainer powered by two Cheetah XI or XIX engines; never built.
Mk XIV: Gunnery trainer powered by two Cheetah XV engines; never built.
Mk XVI: Navigation trainer; never built.
Mk XV: Bombing trainer; never built.
C 19: 264 were built for the RAF; used as communications and transport aircraft.
T 20: Navigation trainer for the RAF, a variant of the Mk XIX to meet Air Ministry Specification T.24/46 for an overseas navigation trainer, one pilot two wireless operators (one trainee and one instructor) and five navigator positions (three trainees and two instructors). Used for bombing and navigation training in Southern Rhodesia
, 60 built.
T 21: Navigation trainers for the RAF, a variant of the Mk XIX to meet Air Ministry Specification T.25/46 for a home navigation trainer, one pilot two wireless operators (one trainee and one instructor) and five navigator positions (three trainees and two instructors). A prototype was flown in May 1948, 252 built.
C.21: Modification of T.21s for communications and transport duties.
T 22: Radio trainers for the RAF, a variant of the Mk XIX to meet Air Ministry Specification T.26/46, one pilot and four wireless operator stations (three for trainees and one for an instructor), a prototype was flown in June 1948, 54 built.
Anson 18: Developed from the Avro Nineteen; 12 aircraft were sold to the Royal Afghan Air Force
for use as communications, police patrol and aerial survey aircraft.
Anson 18C: 13 aircraft were built for the Indian government; used for training civil aircrews.
Avro Nineteen: (Also known as the Anson XIX): Civil transport version; 56 aircraft were built in two series.
AT-20:United States military designation for Canadian-built Anson IIs used by the United States Army Air Force, 50 built.
: At least one, LV-FBR, in use in 1960.
: Royal Australian Air Force
- 1,028 Ansons were operated by the Royal Australian Air Force, retired in 1955
:
: Companhia Meridional de Transportes
(3 Avro Anson Mk. II operated between 1945 and 1946)
Canada: Royal Canadian Air Force
and Royal Canadian Navy
Ansons were retired in 1952
: three Canadian-built Ansons were transported to Cuba, operated by ANSA-Aerolíneas del Norte S.A., a regional airline from 1947 through the mid-1950s.
: Czechoslovakian Air Force 3 aircraft, in service from 1945 to 1948.
Egypt: Egyptian Air Force
: Estonian Air Force
: Ethiopian Air Force
: Finnish Air Force
: French Air Force
and Aeronavale
Greece: Hellenic Royal Air Force
India: Royal Indian Air Force
Iran: Imperial Iranian Air Force
Iraq: Royal Iraqi Air Force
: Irish Air Corps
: Israeli Air Force
: Royal Netherlands Air Force
and Dutch Naval Aviation Service
: Royal New Zealand Air Force
: Royal Norwegian Air Force
: Paraguayan Air Arm 1 Mk.V bought in Argentina in 1947.
: Portuguese Air Force
Rhodesia: Royal Rhodesian Air Force
: Royal Saudi Air Force
South Africa: South African Air Force
Southern Rhodesia: Southern Rhodesian Air Force
: Syrian Air Force
: Turkish Air Force
: Royal Air Force
and Royal Navy
: 50 Canadian built Ansons were delivered to the United States Air Force
as the AT-20.
: SFR Yugoslav Air Force
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
twin-engine, multi-role aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
that served with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Named for British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
George Anson
George Anson, 1st Baron Anson
Admiral of the Fleet George Anson, 1st Baron Anson PC, FRS, RN was a British admiral and a wealthy aristocrat, noted for his circumnavigation of the globe and his role overseeing the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War...
, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
, but was soon rendered obsolete in that role. However, it was rescued from obscurity by its suitability as a multi-engine air crew trainer
Trainer (aircraft)
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
, becoming the mainstay of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
. By the end of production in 1952, the Anson spanned nine variants and a total of 8,138 were built in Britain by Avro
Avro
Avro was a British aircraft manufacturer, with numerous landmark designs such as the Avro 504 trainer in the First World War, the Avro Lancaster, one of the pre-eminent bombers of the Second World War, and the delta wing Avro Vulcan, a stalwart of the Cold War.-Early history:One of the world's...
. From 1941, a further 2,882 were built by Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Federal Aircraft Ltd.
Design and development
The Anson was derived from the commercial six-seat 652Avro 652
|-See also:...
and the militarised version, which first flew on 24 March 1935, was built to Air Ministry Specification 18/35. It was the first RAF monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
with a retractable undercarriage. Avro allotted the type number 652A to the Anson. The first production run resulted in 174 Anson Mk I aircraft for service with Coastal Command. No. 48 Squadron RAF
No. 48 Squadron RAF
No. 48 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron that saw service in both World War I and World War II.-First World War:No. 48 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Netheravon, Wiltshire, on 15 April 1916. The squadron was posted to France in March 1917 and became the first fighter...
was the first to be equipped in March 1936.
A distinctive feature of the Anson I was its landing gear retraction mechanism which required no less than 140 turns of the hand crank by the pilot. To forgo this laborious process, early model Ansons often made short flights with the landing gear extended at the expense of 30 mph (50 km/h) of cruise speed.
A total of 11,020 Ansons were built by the end of production in 1952, making it the second-most-numerous (after the Vickers Wellington
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
) British multi-engine aircraft of the war.
Operational history
At the start of the Second World War, there were 26 RAF squadrons operating the Anson I: 10 with Coastal Command and 16 with Bomber CommandRAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
. However, by this time, the Anson was obsolete in the roles of bombing and coastal patrol and was being superseded by the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War...
and Lockheed Hudson
Lockheed Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
.
Limited numbers of Ansons continued to serve in operational roles such as coastal patrols and air/sea rescue. Early in the war, an Anson scored a probable hit on a German U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
. In June 1940, a flight of three Ansons was attacked by nine Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
s. Remarkably, the Ansons downed two German aircraft "and damaging a third before the 'dogfight' ended", without losing any of their own. The aircraft's true role, however, was to train pilots for flying multi-engine bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
s such as the Avro Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
. The Anson was also used to train the other members of a bomber's air crew, such as navigators, wireless operators, bomb aimers
Bombardier (air force)
A bombardier , in the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force, or a bomb aimer, in the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces, was the crewman of a bomber responsible for assisting the navigator in guiding the plane to a bombing target and releasing the aircraft's bomb...
and air gunners. Postwar, the Anson continued in the training role and light transport roles. The last Ansons were withdrawn from RAF service with communications units on 28 June 1968.
The Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
operated 1,028 Ansons, mainly Mk Is, until 1955. The Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
and Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
operated Ansons until 1952. The USAAF
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
employed 50 Canadian-built Ansons, designated as the AT-20.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
operated 23 Ansons as navigation trainers in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, (alongside the more numerous Airspeed Oxford
Airspeed Oxford
The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a twin-engine aircraft used for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
), and acquired more Ansons as communication aircraft immediately after the war. A preserved navigation trainer is in the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum
Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum
The Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum or Air Force Museum of New Zealand as it is now known, is an air force museum located located at Wigram, the RNZAF's first operational base, in Christchurch, in the South Island of New Zealand...
at Wigram.
Egyptian Air Force
The Egyptian Air Force, or EAF , is the aviation branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces. The EAF is headed by an Air Marshal . Currently, the commander of the Egyptian Air Force is Air Marshal Reda Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed...
operated Ansons in communications and VIP duties. A specially outfitted Anson was gifted to the then King by the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. The Royal Afghan Air Force
Afghan Air Force
The Afghan Air Force , formerly the Afghan National Army Air Corps and Afghan National Army Air Force , is one of seven "corps" of the military of Afghanistan, responsible for air defense and air warfare. It was officially established in 1924 and for most of its history has functioned as a small...
obtained 13 Anson 18 aircraft for various duties from 1948. These aircraft survived through 1972.
Postwar civil use
After the war, Ansons continued in production by Avro at Woodford for civilian use as light transports by small charter airlines and as executive aircraft for industrial and other companies. Countries which saw civilian operations with Ansons included Great Britain, Canada, Australia and Denmark.Railway Air Services
Railway Air Services
Railway Air Services was a British airline formed in March 1934 by four railway companies and Imperial Airways. The airline was a domestic airline operating routes within the United Kingdom linking up with Imperial's services....
operated Ansons on scheduled services from London's Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
via Manchester to Belfast (Nutts Corner) during 1946-1947. Sivewright Airways operated three Avro XIX aircraft from their Manchester Airport base on charter flights as far as Johannesburg and on scheduled flights to Ronaldsway Airport in the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
until 1951. Finglands Airways operated an ex-RAF Anson I on inclusive tour flights and on scheduled flights to Newquay Airport until 1952.
India ordered twelve new Anson 18Cs in 1948 for use by the Directorate of Civil Aviation as trainers and communications aircraft, and these were delivered from Woodford in spring 1949.
Avro Ansons continued to be used by the RAF in the role of Station Communications Aircraft, well into the 1960s.
Accidents and incidents
- On 29 September 1940, Avro Ansons L9162 and N4876 of No. 2 Service Flying Training School RAAFNo. 2 Service Flying Training School RAAFNo. 2 Service Flying Training School was a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. It was formed in July 1940, under the command of Group Captain Frederick Scherger...
collided in mid-air1940 Brocklesby mid-air collisionOn 29 September 1940, a mid-air collision occurred over Brocklesby, New South Wales, Australia. The accident was unusual in that the aircraft involved, two Avro Ansons of No. 2 Service Flying Training School RAAF, remained locked together after colliding, and then managed to land safely...
and became locked together in flight. A successful emergency landing was made at Brocklesby, New South WalesBrocklesby, New South WalesBrocklesby is a small village situated north-west of Albury and west of Holbrook in Greater Hume Shire Council in the Riverina area of New South Wales. Nearby neighbours are Walbundrie to the north and Howlong to the south.-Historical significance:Brocklesby village was once a main railway...
. L9162 became a ground instructional airframe, whilst N4876 was repaired and returned to service. - On 19 December 1945, a Companhia Meridional de TransportesCompanhia Meridional de TransportesCompanhia Meridional de Transportes was a Brazilian airline founded in 1944. In 1946, following the death of its owner on an air-crash, the airline went bankrupt.-History:...
Avro Anson Mk. II registration PP-MTA crashed in the neighborhood of ItaipuItaipu (Niterói)Itaipu is a neighbourhood of the city of Niterói, which is located at the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. It is located at the Oceanic Region of Niterói, which means that its beach is outside the Guanabara Bay....
, NiteróiNiteróiNiterói is a municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast region of Brazil. It has an estimated population of 487,327 inhabitants and an area of ², being the sixth most populous city in the state and the highest Human Development Index. Integrates the Metropolitan Region of Rio de...
, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
killing all passengers and crew, including the pilot and owner of the airline, Álvaro Araújo. - On 11 June 1948, Avro XIX G-AGNI of Lancashire Aircraft Corporation ditched off Bradda HeadBradda HeadBradda Head is a rugged headland in the south-west of the Isle of Man, in the British Isles, rising to a height of . It shelters Port Erin Bay from the north....
, Isle of ManIsle of ManThe Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
due to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Squires Gate Airport, BlackpoolBlackpoolBlackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
to Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man via RAF Walney Island, Lancashire. All nine people on board were rescued by a trawler from Port Erin and the . - A memorial at the church in Windrush village, Gloucestershire, describes Sgt Pilot Bruce Hancock RAFVR who died on 18th August 1940 when downing a German Heinkel bomber by ramming it with his unarmed training Avro Anson aircraft flying from RAF WindrushRAF WindrushRAF Windrush was a World War II Royal Air Force station near Windrush, Gloucestershire. It was opened in 1940 and closed on 12th July 1945. Initially it was a Relief Landing Ground for RAF Chipping Norton, later coming under the control of RAF Little Rissington.The airfield consisted of two...
.
Variants
The main Anson variant was the Mk I, of which 6,704 were built in Britain. The other variants were mainly distinguished by their powerplant with Canadian-built Ansons using local engines. To overcome steelSteel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
shortages, the 1,051 Canadian-built Mk V Ansons featured a plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
.
 |
Mk I: 6,688 Mk Is were built. Powered by two 350 hp (261 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX or 395 hp (295 kW) XIX engines.
Mk II: 1,822 Mk IIs were built in Canada; powered by two 330 hp (246 kW) Jacobs
Jacobs Aircraft Engine Company
The Jacobs Aircraft Engine Company was formed in 1929 in Philadelphia. Later the company moved to Pottstown, Pennsylvania.An early product was the Jacobs L-3, a small 55 hp 3 cylinder engine of 1929...
L-6MB R-915
Jacobs R-915
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9*Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London. Studio Editions Ltd, 1989. ISBN 0-517-67964-7...
engines and fitted with hydraulic landing gear retraction rather than the manual system used on the Anson I.
Mk III: Powered by two 330 hp (250 kW) L-6MB R-915 engines; British-built.
Mk IV: Powered by two Wright Whirlwind engines; British-built.
Mk V: 1,069 Mk Vs were built in Canada for navigator training; powered by two 450 hp (340 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior R-985 engines.
Mk VI: One aircraft was built in Canada for bombing and gunnery training; powered by two 450 hp (340 kW) Wasp Junior engines.
Mk X: 104 Anson Mk Is were converted into Mk Xs
Mk 11: 90 Anson Mk Is were converted into Mk 11s
Mk 12: 20 Anson Mk Is were converted into Mk 12s, plus 221 new Mk 12 aircraft were built.
Mk XIII: Gunnery trainer powered by two Cheetah XI or XIX engines; never built.
Mk XIV: Gunnery trainer powered by two Cheetah XV engines; never built.
Mk XVI: Navigation trainer; never built.
Mk XV: Bombing trainer; never built.
C 19: 264 were built for the RAF; used as communications and transport aircraft.
T 20: Navigation trainer for the RAF, a variant of the Mk XIX to meet Air Ministry Specification T.24/46 for an overseas navigation trainer, one pilot two wireless operators (one trainee and one instructor) and five navigator positions (three trainees and two instructors). Used for bombing and navigation training in Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
, 60 built.
T 21: Navigation trainers for the RAF, a variant of the Mk XIX to meet Air Ministry Specification T.25/46 for a home navigation trainer, one pilot two wireless operators (one trainee and one instructor) and five navigator positions (three trainees and two instructors). A prototype was flown in May 1948, 252 built.
C.21: Modification of T.21s for communications and transport duties.
T 22: Radio trainers for the RAF, a variant of the Mk XIX to meet Air Ministry Specification T.26/46, one pilot and four wireless operator stations (three for trainees and one for an instructor), a prototype was flown in June 1948, 54 built.
Anson 18: Developed from the Avro Nineteen; 12 aircraft were sold to the Royal Afghan Air Force
Afghan Air Force
The Afghan Air Force , formerly the Afghan National Army Air Corps and Afghan National Army Air Force , is one of seven "corps" of the military of Afghanistan, responsible for air defense and air warfare. It was officially established in 1924 and for most of its history has functioned as a small...
for use as communications, police patrol and aerial survey aircraft.
Anson 18C: 13 aircraft were built for the Indian government; used for training civil aircrews.
Avro Nineteen: (Also known as the Anson XIX): Civil transport version; 56 aircraft were built in two series.
AT-20:United States military designation for Canadian-built Anson IIs used by the United States Army Air Force, 50 built.
Operators
: Royal Afghan Air Force - 13 Anson 18 aircraft were delivered to the Afghan Air Force from 1948 and retired by 1972: At least one, LV-FBR, in use in 1960.
: Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
- 1,028 Ansons were operated by the Royal Australian Air Force, retired in 1955
- Belgian Air ForceBelgian Air ForceThe Air Component, formerly the Belgian Air Force, is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. Originally founded in 1909, it is one of the world's first air forces, and was a pioneer in aerial combat during the First World War...
(15 x Anson I, 2 x Anson 12 operated 1946 to 1954)
:
: Companhia Meridional de Transportes
Companhia Meridional de Transportes
Companhia Meridional de Transportes was a Brazilian airline founded in 1944. In 1946, following the death of its owner on an air-crash, the airline went bankrupt.-History:...
(3 Avro Anson Mk. II operated between 1945 and 1946)
Canada: Royal Canadian Air ForceRoyal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
and Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
Ansons were retired in 1952
: three Canadian-built Ansons were transported to Cuba, operated by ANSA-Aerolíneas del Norte S.A., a regional airline from 1947 through the mid-1950s.
: Czechoslovakian Air Force 3 aircraft, in service from 1945 to 1948.
Egypt: Egyptian Air ForceEgyptian Air Force
The Egyptian Air Force, or EAF , is the aviation branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces. The EAF is headed by an Air Marshal . Currently, the commander of the Egyptian Air Force is Air Marshal Reda Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed...
: Estonian Air Force
Estonian Air Force
The Estonian Air Force is the name of the unified aviation forces of Estonia.The Õhuvägi is the main arm of the Estonian aviation forces. The average size of the military formation in peacetime is about 210 men. The Estonian Air Force is tasked with dealing with political, military, economical,...
: Ethiopian Air Force
Ethiopian Air Force
The Ethiopian Air Force is the air arm of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and is tasked with protecting the air space, providing support to the ground forces as well as assisting during national emergencies.- Early years :...
: Finnish Air Force
Finnish Air Force
The Finnish Air Force is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions...
: French Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
and Aeronavale
Greece: Hellenic Royal Air Force India: Royal Indian Air Force Iran: Imperial Iranian Air Force Iraq: Royal Iraqi Air Force: Irish Air Corps
Irish Air Corps
The Air Corps is the air component of the Defence Forces of Ireland providing support to the Army and Naval Service, together with non-military air services such as search and rescue and the Ministerial Air Transport Service...
: Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
: Royal Netherlands Air Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
The Royal Netherlands Air Force , Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht , is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeling of the Dutch Army was founded on 1 July 1913, with four pilots...
and Dutch Naval Aviation Service
: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
: Royal Norwegian Air Force
Royal Norwegian Air Force
The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peace force is approximately 1,430 employees . 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF...
: Paraguayan Air Arm 1 Mk.V bought in Argentina in 1947.
: Portuguese Air Force
Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
Rhodesia: Royal Rhodesian Air ForceRoyal Rhodesian Air Force
The Rhodesian Air Force was the air arm of the British colonial state of Rhodesia. It existed between 1935 and 1980 under various names, and is now the Air Force of Zimbabwe.-History:...
: Royal Saudi Air Force
Royal Saudi Air Force
The Royal Saudi Air Force , is the aviation branch of the Saudi Arabian armed forces. The RSAF has developed from a largely defensive military force into one with an advanced offensive capability...
South Africa: South African Air ForceSouth African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
Southern Rhodesia: Southern Rhodesian Air Force: Syrian Air Force
Syrian Air Force
The Syrian Air Force is the Aviation branch of the Syrian Armed Forces. It was established in 1948.-History:The end of World War II led to a withdrawal of the United Kingdom and France from the Middle East, and this included a withdrawal from Syria...
: Turkish Air Force
Turkish Air Force
The Turkish Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. It ranks 3rd in NATO in terms of fleet size behind the USAF and Royal Air Force with a current inventory of 798 aircraft .-Initial stages:...
: Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
: 50 Canadian built Ansons were delivered to the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
as the AT-20.
: SFR Yugoslav Air Force
SFR Yugoslav Air Force
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslav Air Force , was the air force of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . Formed in 1945, it was preceded by the Yugoslav Royal Air Force which was disbanded in 1941, following the German occupation of Yugoslavia...