The United States possessed no combat-worthy aircraft upon entry into World War I in 1917. Several European aircraft were considered. The British DH-4 was selected because of its comparatively simple construction and its apparent adaptability to mass production. It was also well-suited to the new American 400-horsepower Liberty V-12 engine. American-built DH-4s were dubbed the "Liberty Plane." Highlighted in this image is a wing of the De Havilland DH-4. Created by Mark Avino Date Created 09/15/2017 Source Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Keywords Aircraft; Aviation; Military; World War I Rights and Restrictions CC0
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