INDEX OF NAVAL AIRCRAFT

 

   de Havilland Queen Bee 
 

History


The de Havilland Queen Bee was a modification of the standard Tiger Moth, fitted
with radio controlled automatic pilot and was used as a gunnery target. It was built in both land plane and seaplane forms, and the the Queen Bee was also adapted for catapulting and for operating from aircraft carriers.

The Fleet Air Arm possessed the radio controlled variant of the Tiger Moth. A total of 5 were transferred from RAF for communications work. All the Queen Bees saw service with RNARY Fayid, Dekheila and Ta Kali. The first, P4715 arrived at 775 squadron in August 1941 at Dekheila. The last in Fleet Air Arm service was at RNARY Fayid until February 1946.


        Fleet Air Arm history
           Queen Bee
          Total FAA 1939-1945:            5
            First delivered to RN:            1941
            First squadron 1939 -1945:     775 squadron
            Last served with RN              After WW2 until 1946

Aircraft Type:
 de Havilland Queen Bee
Mark:
 -
Primary Role:
 Trainer
First Flight: 
 26 October, 1931
Date operating with FAA squadrons:
 1941-1946
Manufacturer:
 De Havilland 
Engine:
 One 130 h.p. D.H. Gipsy Major air-cooled
engine.
 Wing Span: Length: Height: Wing Area: 
 Span 29' 4"
Length: 23' 11"
Height 8' 10"
Wing area: 239 sq. ft
Empty Weight: Max.Weight:
 Empty weight: 1,115 lbs.
Loaded weight: 1,825 lbs.
Speed: 

Ceiling: 

Range:

 Top speed 109 m.p.h., 
cruising 93 mph.
Initial climb 673 ft./min
service ceiling 13,600ft. 
Armament: 
 None
Crew:
 2
Squadrons:
 775
RNARY Fayid 
Battle honours:
 None with FAA
Additional references and notes:
 -

Battle Honours and Operational History
None with the FAA

Surviving aircraft and relics
Only one Queen Bee is still in existence. It is preserved at the De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre (UK), DH Queen Bee fuselage (BAPC.186) LF789/R2-K

Associations and reunions
  • De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre (UK)
    • FURTHER INFORMATION
    		  
    De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre Details of the various De Havilaland aircraft and birthplace of the Mosquito
      Sturtivant, R. & Burrow, M (1995) 'Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945'  Published by Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1995 ISBN: 085130 232 7 
    Created 3-4-1999, Modified 3-4-2000
     

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