World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Lysander cooperation and liaison aircraft were the response to the British Air Ministry's Specification A.39/34 of 1934. Equipped with automatic wing slats and slotted flaps, the design was rather advanced. The design won the contract in Sep 1936. They entered service in Jun 1938, mainly used for artillery spotting and message dropping. During the Battle of France in 1940, a squadron of Lysander aircraft was used as light bombers, suffering high loss rate by German fighters. After the fall of France, most Lysander aircraft were withdrawn from combat units and served mainly in liaison and air-sea rescue roles. In Aug 1941, Squadron No. 138 RAF was formed with several Lysander aircraft, among others, to maintain contact with French Resistance cells; Squadron No. 138 conducted supply drops, delivered and retrieved agents, and rescued downed pilots sheltered by the French. Because of they were able to operate on small open fields, Lysander aircraft performed admirably.

ww2dbaseThe Free French, Finland, Ireland, Egypt, the United States and several other nations operated Lysander aircraft. Egyptian Lysander aircraft, which operated against Israel during the War of Independence in 1948, were the last to see active service.

ww2dbaseDuring the production life of the design, 1,786 were built, which includes 225 aircraft license-built in Canada.

Lysander Timeline

SPECIFICATIONS

Mk III

Machinery	One Bristol Mercury XX rated at 870hp
Armament	1x0.303 caliber Lewis gun
Crew	1
Span	15.24 m
Length	9.29 m
Height	3.50 m
Wing Area	24.20 m²
Weight, Empty	1,834 kg
Weight, Loaded	2,645 kg
Weight, Maximum	2,866 kg
Speed, Maximum	341 km/h
Rate of Climb	7.20 m/s
Service Ceiling	6,550 m
Range, Normal	966 km

Mk I

Machinery	One Mercury XII radial engine rated at 890hp
Armament	2x7.7mm forward Browning machine guns, 1x7.7mm Lewis or Vickers K gun, 4x9kg bombs under fuselage, optional 227kg of bombs under wings
Crew	1
Span	15.24 m
Length	9.29 m
Height	3.50 m
Wing Area	24.20 m²
Weight, Empty	1,834 kg
Weight, Loaded	2,645 kg
Weight, Maximum	2,866 kg
Speed, Maximum	341 km/h
Rate of Climb	7.20 m/s
Service Ceiling	6,550 m
Range, Normal	966 km

Mk II

Machinery	One Bristol Perseus XII radial engine rated at 905hp
Armament	2x7.7mm forward Browning machine guns, 1x7.7mm Lewis or Vickers K gun, 4x9kg bombs under fuselage, optional 227kg of bombs under wings
Crew	1
Span	15.24 m
Length	9.29 m
Height	3.50 m
Wing Area	24.20 m²
Weight, Empty	1,834 kg
Weight, Loaded	2,645 kg
Weight, Maximum	2,866 kg
Speed, Maximum	341 km/h
Rate of Climb	7.20 m/s
Service Ceiling	6,550 m
Range, Normal	966 km

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