Aviation Archive: Aviation Heritage

In 1917, the Germans mounted the first bombing raids on London using the large Gotha, this led to the creation of the 41st Wing RFC. They were to get very large aircraft for long range heavy bombing, to Berlin if necessary. Most companies responded and Barnwell submitted his first layout, the B.1 a Triplane design to carry six 250 lb bombs internally. The design was sound but after detailing by W T Reid emerged as something less ambitious, four engine in tandem pairs, a flat sided fuselage making it look ungainly.