De Havilland DH-4

British aircraft

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July 23, 2026

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The De Havilland DH-4 was a British-designed biplane that played a significant role in early aviation, particularly in the United States. During World War I, over 4,500 DH-4s were built in the U.S., with more than 1,200 shipped to Europe. After the war, surplus DH-4s were modified for use in the nascent airmail service. These aircraft, powered by liquid-cooled Liberty engines, were faster than earlier mail planes and helped establish coast-to-coast airmail routes, significantly reducing delivery times. The DH-4's adaptability made it a workhorse in the transition from military surplus to commercial aviation.12

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aerospace industry
World War I
…the two-seat British De Havilland DH-4 bomber and the American-designed Curtiss JN-4 Jennie trainer. By the end of the war 4,500 DH-4s had been built in the United States, 1,213 of which were shipped to Europe. Although American production was too late to matter militarily, by the 1918 Armistice American…
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…the two-seat British De Havilland DH-4 bomber and the American-designed Curtiss JN-4 Jennie trainer. By the end of the war 4,500 DH-4s had been built in the United States, 1,213 of which were shipped to Europe. Although American production was too late to matter militarily, by the 1918 Armistice American…
Read More