IIa or not IIa

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Sluff

Airman
73
44
Nov 7, 2025
Well.... despite near every reference I've seen saying Spanish Bulldogs were Lavtian, appears they were Estonian. (Via Czechoslovakia). "The Spanish Bulldogs came from Estonia and not Latvia. Of the 12 Bulldogs used by Latvia, 7 were destroyed in accidents and the remaining 5 were dismantled by the Soviets after their invasion of the Baltic States in June 1940. Of the 12 Estonian Bulldogs, 8 were sold to Spain and the remaining 4 were captured by the Soviets in June 1940 and later destroyed during the German invasion in June 1941.I had a short article on these Baltic Bulldogs published in Small Air Forces Observer Vol 29 No3, January 2006. My book on the Bristol Bulldog and Gloster Gauntlet was published by Mushroom Model Publication in August 2005". (Alex Crawford)
Now.... another can of worms. Which Mk.? Seen references say IIa. Kora Decals says II. Color plates seem to show Mk.II. (though 1 in Spanish livery looks like it has a IIa, Jupiter VIIf engine) Only actual photo of an Estonian aircraft looks like a Mk.II .... tail skid(yellow. IIa had tail wheel.) , smaller tail (red) and Jupiter VII engine (blue). (VII and VIIf have different rocker covers) My vote is for Mk.II. Accident Bristol Bulldog Mk IIA None, Sunday 1 August 1937
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Last edited by a moderator:
According to the recent Aeronaut book, they were Mk.II's.

"August of 1930, Estonia's French Gourdou Leseurre's were replaced as front-line combat aircraft with 12 British Bristol Bulldog Mk. II's. Estonia's Bulldogs originated from the third production batch in Britain; construction numbers 7447 to 7458. The Bristol Bulldogs were equipped with French license-built Jupiter VI engines vice British engines."
 

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