in 1912 and the type served throughout the First World War. Initially used as a reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber, as a single-seat night fighter the type destroyed six German airships between September and December 1916.

By late 1915, the B.E.2 was proving to be vulnerable to the recently introduced German Fokker ''Eindecker'' fighters, leading to increased losses during the period known as the Fokker Scourge.