RAF Trivia

1. What was the World War Two Douglas DB-7 light bomber known as in RAF service?

From Quiz US Aircraft in RAF Service

Answer: Boston

RAF Bostons were frequently used in raids on German shipping and enemy targets in France, as their short range precluded their use in bombing raids on Germany.

From Quiz A-Z of British Military Aircraft

Answer: Anson

More than 11,000 Ansons were built. It started its career with the RAF in 1936 as a coastal patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. Although its service as a frontline aircraft ended in 1941, it continued to serve for many years as a trainer and communications aircraft.

From Quiz RAF Frontline Jets

Answer: Meteor

The Gloster Meteor was designed by George Carter after a single-engined prototype had been built by Whittle. It first saw operation service with 616 Squadron in July 1944. It also saw combat in Korea with 77 Squadron RAAF in the ground attack role. It was also purchased by various air forces around the world, and continued to fly until the early 1970s.

From Quiz History of the RAF: Part Two

Answer: Whittle & Frank Whittle

Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle first patented his idea for a gas turbine as far back as 1932. His company, Power Jets Ltd was formed in 1935. Sir Frank passed away in 1996.

From Quiz History of the RAF: Part One

Answer: April 1st 1918

The RAF was formed by amalgamating the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. The Women's Royal Air Force was established on the same day.

From Quiz Modern Royal Air Force

Answer: Panavia

The Tornado was built in Germany, Italy and Britain. It has also been sold to Saudi Arabia.

From Quiz RAF Fighters

Answer: Hawker Hurricane

The rugged and reliable Hurricane was the primary RAF fighter from 1939-1942, later versions serving as fighter-bombers as late as 1945. Despite its revolutionary features, the Hurricane was usually outclassed in air-to-air combat by the Me 109 and Mitsubishi Zero. Even so, it was one of the most widely produced RAF fighters in history, well over 12,000 being built by 1945, when production finally ceased.

From Quiz Sir Arthur Harris

Answer: Bomber

He became famous or infamous as the man in charge of 'Bomber Command'

From Quiz US Aircraft in RAF Service

Answer: Maryland

Although the design was not adopted by the US military, a number were ordered by the French, and after the fall of France the remainder were delivered to the RAF. The type was later replaced by the more successful B26 Marauder.

From Quiz A-Z of British Military Aircraft

Answer: BE2

The BE2 series was ubiquitous in RFC service during the early years of WW1. It was employed as a reconnaissance and army co-operation aircraft, and was instrumental in fashioning the best tactics for the future as the British army worked out how to get the most out of these new-fangled flying contraptions. It was while flying a BE2b in 1915 that Lieutenant W.B. Rhodes Moorhouse became the first airman to earn the Victoria Cross.

From Quiz RAF Frontline Jets

Answer: de Haviland

The Vampire had its maiden flight just six months after that of the Meteor, but it didn't enter service until 1945 and was still under development at the end of the war so never saw combat. It stayed on front line duty until the mid 1950s, quite a short time for an RAF aircraft. The maritime version, the Sea Vampire, was the Royal Navy's first jet.

From Quiz History of the RAF: Part Two

Answer: The Berlin Airlift

Following the blockade of Berlin by Soviet forces, the British, Americans and French began a massive airlift to supply the people of Berlin. The RAF delivered 1,340 tons of supplies every day. The airlift continued until October 1949. The counter-terrorism operation in Malaya, which also took place in June, was called Operation Firedog.

From Quiz Modern Royal Air Force

Answer: Storm Shaddow

The 'fire and forget' Storm Shadow missile has a very long range, fully autonomous guidance, low level terrain following capability, a stealthy profile and a penetrator warhead.

From Quiz RAF Fighters

Answer: Gloster Gladiator

From Quiz Sir Arthur Harris

Answer: England

Arthur T. Harris was born in England on 13th April, 1892. He left school at 16 and emigrated to Rhodesia. Although I have read he was born in South Africa ? He certainly spent his younger adult life in Rhodesia.

From Quiz US Aircraft in RAF Service

Answer: Washington

A number of Superfortresses were loaned to the RAF, and in addition to the bomber role they were also converted for use as airborne tankers.

From Quiz A-Z of British Military Aircraft

Answer: Camel

Camel pilots claimed more than 3,000 enemy machines during the 17 months that the type was in action during WW1. It was the first British fighter to incorporate a twin machine gun armament, and was possessed of astonishing manoeuverability and aerobatic qualities. Over 5,000 Camels were ordered, but it was phased out of service within six months of the war ending, due to defence cutbacks and its replacement by the Sopwith Snipe.

From Quiz History of the RAF: Part Two

Answer: Canberra

The first Canberra squadrons were formed in 1951 with the B2 variant. The photo reconnaisance version followed later. The Vampire and Swift were both fighters and the 'Shack' was a four-engined aircraft designed for maritime operations. One squadron of Canberras was still in service in September 2004.

From Quiz History of the RAF: Part One

Answer: Formed the Fleet Air Arm

All the ship borne squadrons at the time went to form the Navy's air force, the Fleet Air Arm.

From Quiz Modern Royal Air Force

Answer: below outrigger wheels

The RAF Harrier GR.5/7/9 has an additional two hardpoints to carry extra AIM-9 sidewinders below the outrigger wheels.

From Quiz RAF Fighters

Answer: 409mph

From Quiz Sir Arthur Harris

Answer: Major

On the outbreak of World War I, he first served in the 1st Rhodesian Regiment in German South-West Africa, before returning to Britain to join the RFC (Royal Flying Corps, one of the predecessors to the RAF). Service on the western front followed, Harris attained the rank of Major by the end of the war after which he stayed on in the newly formed RAF as a Squadron Leader.

From Quiz US Aircraft in RAF Service

Answer: Dakota

The DC3 and its variants is one of the most numerous aircraft types of all time, with many examples still flying over 70 years after it entered service.

From Quiz A-Z of British Military Aircraft

Answer: Defiant

The Boulton Paul Defiant was quite successful during its first sorties in the spring of 1940. Once German pilots realised it had no forward-firing armament, however, it suffered high casualties. In September 1940, it was removed from day fighter duties. It was moderately successful as a 'stop gap' night fighter, however, and it continued as a trainer and target tug until the end of the war.

From Quiz History of the RAF: Part Two

Answer: Valiant

Because of fatigue problems, all the Valiants were retired from service in February 1965. When the Royal Navy took over the nuclear deterrent role, the remaining Vulcans and Victors were assigned other jobs. The Vixen was a twin boom naval jet.

From Quiz History of the RAF: Part One

Answer: Spitfire

The Supermarine 300, later named the Spitfire, took its maiden flight on 5 March. The test pilot, 'Mutt' Summers, is reported as telling the designers 'Don't touch anything'. The Hurricane first flew in November 1935. The Mosquito had its first flight in 1940, and the Lancaster did not go into production until 1941.

From Quiz Modern Royal Air Force

Answer: Nimrod

The Nimrod MR.2 can carry Harpoon missiles either on 2 underwing pylons or in the internal bomb-bay compartment.

From Quiz RAF Fighters

Answer: Hawker Tempest

The powerful Tempest, conceived as a successor to the unsuccessful Typhoon, proved a far more capable fighter. The Mk V version, the only one to see wartime service, first flew in 1944. While still a dedicated fighter-bomber, the nimble fighter could handle itself in air-to-air combat if needed, being superior in turning radius to any German fighter at low altitude.

From Quiz Sir Arthur Harris

Answer: Air Chief Marshal Sir Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt

Ludlow-Hewitt became C-in-C in September 1937, and served until April 1940. He was succeeded by Sir Charles Portal (April-October 1940), Sir Richard Peirse (October 1940-January 1942), Jack Baldwin (Acting C-in-C, January-February 1942). During the early years of the war, Bomber Command struggled to contain the heavy losses sustained by its thinly-spread resources in what began as a daylight campaign. Once night bombing commenced in earnest, attacks were very inaccurate. Changes would be needed if Bomber Command was going to succeed over Germany and in the competition for scarce resources with other RAF Commands.

This is category 17646
Last Updated Apr 22 2024 11:03 AM

= Top 5% Rated Quiz, Top 10% Rated Quiz, Top 20% Rated Quiz, A Well Rated Quiz
= added recently, = Editor's Pick = FunTrivia Editor = Gold Member
Teachers / educators: FunTrivia welcomes the use of our website and quizzes in the classroom as a teaching aid or for preparing and testing students. See our education section. Our quizzes are printable and may be used as question sheets by k-12 teachers, parents, and home schoolers.

 ·  All questions, answers, and quiz content on this website is copyright FunTrivia, Inc and may not be reproduced without permission. Any images from TV shows and movies are copyright their studios, and are being used under "fair use" for commentary and education.