04/30/2009. Remarks by Ray Watkins: "Towards the end of WW I the Air Ministry issued the RAF Type III(A) specification for a two-seat fighter-reconnaissance aircraft which was intended to replace the legendary Bristol F.2B (the 'Brisfit') which had entered service with the RFC in April 1917. The most unfortunate aspect of the specification was the preference for the use of the ABC Dragonfly nine-cylinder radial engine which proved to be a miserable failure.

Three manufacturers submitted proposals: Austin with the Greyhound, Bristol with the Badger and Westland with a scaled-up version of the earlier Wagtail which was named the Weasel. Three Weasel prototypes (F2912 to F2914) were ordered but the first did not fly until November 1918 due to continual delays with supply of the engine. A fourth prototype (J6577) was ordered in August 1919 by which time all testing with the Dragonfly had ceased.

The photo above and this photo show the second prototype fitted with a 400 hp Bristol Jupiter II engine."