NZDF-Serials Bristol F.2B Fighter

Serial	c/n	Type	Aircraft history
H1557	5274	F.2b	Arrived in Christchurch aboard "SS Matatua" on 27 August 1919 as Imperial Gift aircraft. Retained in crates at Christchurch and erected at Wigram in early 1925 and took part in the 1925 NZPAF Refreshed Course. Crashed at Christchurch on Wednesday 17 March 1926 during the annual NZPAF Refresher Course at Wigram. The aircraft was performing aerobatics at 2000 feet over Papanui when it entered a left hand spin and crashed into a property in Harewood Road. The pilot Captain Frederick Horrell and a passenger Lewis Reid were killed, and the officer under instruction, Leiutenant P. Turner was seriously injured. Horrell was the first military flying death in New Zealand.
H1558	5275	F.2b	Arrived in Christchurch aboard "SS Matatua" on 27 August 1919 as Imperial Gift aircraft. First flight in New Zealand on 04 September 1919. Used during the first NZPAF Refresher Course at Wigram in February 1923 and also in following years. Badly damaged during the 1929 Refresher Course but later repaired. Further details not known but thought to have been scrapped during late 1930-early 1931.
6856	?	F.2b Mk II	Departed England on "Suffolk" in October 1925 after reconditioning as virtually new aircraft by Bristol Aeroplane Company. Withdrawn from service at Wigram and converted to instructional airframe at TTS Wigram in about November 1936. One of these aircraft was later sent from the TTS to the Palmerston North Technical College and another to the Wellington Aero Club. The Wigram instructional airframes are believed to have been burnt about the time of the outbreak of war in 1939.
6857	?	F.2b Mk II	Departed England on "Suffolk" in October 1925 after reconditioning as virtually new aircraft by Bristol Aeroplane Company. Withdrawn from service at Wigram and converted to instructional airframe at TTS Wigram in about November 1936. One of these aircraft was later sent from the TTS to the Palmerston North Technical College and another to the Wellington Aero Club. The Wigram instructional airframes are believed to have been burnt about the time of the outbreak of war in 1939.
7120	?	F.2b Mk III Dual	Arrived 1927. Withdrawn from service at Wigram and converted to instructional airframe at TTS Wigram in about November 1936. One of these aircraft was later sent from the TTS to the Palmerston North Technical College and another to the Wellington Aero Club. The Wigram instructional airframes are believed to have been burnt about the time of the outbreak of war in 1939.
7121	?	F.2b Mk III (J type)	Air tested in England on 06 May 1927 prior to shipment to New Zealand. Received at Wigram on 03 August 1927. Crashed at Lake Ellesmore during NZPAF Refresher Course at Wigram on 25 February 1936. The aircraft dived toward the target on a bombing range but failed to pull out and somersaulted several times after hitting the ground. The pilot Flying Officer Graham Owen died some hours later in hospital. Total flying time until the accident was 669.15 hours.
7122	?	F.2b Mk III (J type)	Received at Wigram in August 1927. Withdrawn from service at Wigram and converted to instructional airframe at TTS Wigram in about November 1936. One of these aircraft was later sent from the TTS to the Palmerston North Technical College and another to the Wellington Aero Club. The Wigram instructional airframes are believed to have been burnt about the time of the outbreak of war in 1939.