The 1930s were an uneasy time. Along with the Great Depression, international tensions were on the rise, especially in Europe.
The RAF found itself in a technological gap as development of its new monoplanes, the Hurricane and Spitfire, were protracted and beset with problems.
Seeking stop-gap fighters until the new monoplanes could enter mass production, the RAF bought biplanes from Hawker, Gloster and Armstrong-Whitworth who upgraded their famous Siskin.
The Siskinator was powered by the new Bristol Noname engine and was well streamlined, featuring lovely spatted landing gear which were the envy of air arms world-wide.
Seen here in hastily applied 1936 "Lichtenstein Crisis" camouflage, the Siskinator was the front-line defense against attack by the feared Lichtenstein
Luftschwerbombengerstaffelen.
When the marauding Lichtenstein bombers failed to materialize over British skies, the Siskinator was credited with deterring the threat. Here you see Flight Leftenant Smallies anxiously awaiting the signal to scramble during the tense days of the crisis.
The Siskinator was withdrawn from front-line service in 1938 and relegated to training and target-towing duties.
However, some could be seen during the early days of W.W. II being used as station hacks and for nuisance missions against recalcitrant RAF ground crew. The Siskinator was finally phased out completely and declared obsolete in 1972.
Brian da Basher
