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Built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, the original model of the Bristol Fighter was the Bristol Type 12 F.2A which first flew on 9 September 1916. Developed from the Frank Barnwell -designed "Type 9 R.2A" two-seat reconnaissance aircraft, the F.2A was powered by a 190 hp (142 kW) Rolls-Royce Falcon I inline engine. The aircraft was armed with one forward-firing Vickers machine gun and one .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun mounted on a Scarff ring in the observer's rear cockpit. Only 52 F.2As were produced.

Modifications to the F.2A resulted in the definitive Bristol Type 22 F.2B which first flew on 25 October 1916. The first 150 or so were powered by the Falcon I or Falcon II engine but the remainder were equipped with the 275 hp (205 kW) Falcon III engine and could reach a maximum speed of 123 mph (198 km/h). Hispano-Suiza and Sunbeam Arab engines were also tried in the F.2B without success. The F.2B was over 10 mph (16 km/h) faster than the F.2A and was 3 minutes faster to reach 10,000 ft (3,000 m). A second Lewis gun was added to the rear cockpit.

When initially deployed, aircrews were instructed to maintain formation and use the crossfireThis article is about the military tactic of crossfire. For alternate meanings, see Crossfire (disambiguation). Introduction A crossfire is a military term for the siting of weapons (often automatic weapons such as machine guns) so that their arcs of fire of the observers' guns to meet any threat. These tactics were flawed and did not withstand the first contact with the enemy. The F.2A arrived on the Western FrontSee Western Front (disambiguation) for other meanings. Western Front was a term used during the First and Second World Wars to describe the "contested armed frontier" between lands controlled by Germany to the East and the Allies to the West. A "contested in April 1917Events January 2 The Royal Bank of Canada takes over Quebec Bank. January 22 World War I: President Woodrow Wilson calls for "peace without victory" in Europe. January 25 The Danish West Indies is sold to the United States for $25 million January 25 Anti- as the British launched the Battle of ArrasSee Battle of Arras (1940) for the World War II tank battle during the Battle of France. The Battle of Arras took place from 9 April to 16 May, 1917. It was fought by the British ( First Army under Allenby, Third Army under Horne, Fifth Army under Gough). The very first F.2A patrol of six aircraft from No. 48 Squadron RFC , led by Victoria CrossThe Victoria Cross (official post-nominal letters "VC") is the highest award for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service and civilians under military command. Historical Background The winner William Leefe Robinson , ran into five Albatros D.III s from Jasta 11 led by Manfred von RichthofenThis article is about the Red Baron, the WWI pilot. There is also an article on Red Baron the computer game. Baron Manfred Albrecht von Richthofen ( May 2, 1892 April 21, 1918) was a German pilot and is still regarded today as the "ace of aces". He was a. Four out of six of the F.2As were shot down and a fifth was badly damaged.

In September and October of 1917 orders for 1,600 F.2Bs were placed and by the end of the First World War, the Royal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF is the air force of the United Kingdom. History Formation and Early History The Royal Flying Corps was formed by Royal Warrant on May 13, 1912 superseding the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers. The Royal Na had 1,583 F.2Bs in operation. A total of 5,329 aircraft were eventually built, mostly by Bristol but also by the likes of Standard Motors, Armstrong Whitworth and even the Cunard Steamship Company. After the war, F.2Bs continued to operate in army cooperation and light bombing roles throughout the British Empire, in particular the Middle East, India and China. The F.2B also served with the RNZAF and RAAF as well as with the air forces of Mexico and Spain. It was not until 1932 that the F.2B was finally withdrawn from service; its last unit being No. 20 Squadron RAF stationed in India.

Surplus F.2Bs were modified for civilian use. The Bristol Tourer was a F.2B fitted with a Siddeley Puma engine in place of the Falcon and with the cockpits enclosed by canopies. The Tourer had a maximum speed of 128 mph (206 km/h).

Bristol also developed an all-metal version of the F.2A, designated the Bristol M.R.1. Two prototypes were built, the first flying on 23 October, 1917, but the M.R.1 never entered production.

The Shuttleworth Collection contains one airworthy F.2B Fighter, identity D8096, that still flies during the English summer.