How many Anson Mk I were built?

Short answer

6,688 or 6,742 Avro Anson Mk I were built, according to different sources (according to different sources); History of War, which gives the second figure, places 3,935 at Woodford and the rest at Yeadon. The type had entered RAF service on 6 March 1936 with No. 48 Squadron.

Published: November 6, 2026 · Updated: November 6, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Avro Anson 652A Mk IL-Bit (CC BY SA), vía commons

From the first order to service

In July 1935 a first order was placed for 174 aircraft, which by then were already called Anson. The British Aviation – Projects to Production register lists 174 aircraft ordered from Avro at Newton Heath (Manchester), delivered between March 1936 and April 1937. The first production Anson made its maiden flight on 31 December 1935. On 6 March 1936 it entered RAF service with No. 48 Squadron, the first unit equipped with the type. It was powered by two Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX engines of 350 hp (260 kW) or Cheetah XIX engines of 395 hp (295 kW).

How many were built

6,688 or 6,742 Mk I were built, according to different sources (according to different sources). History of War, which gives the second figure, places 3,935 at Woodford and the rest at Yeadon. When the Second World War broke out, the RAF had received 824 Ansons, and 26 squadrons operated the Anson I: 10 from Coastal Command and 16 from Bomber Command. By the time production ended, in 1952, a total of 11,020 Ansons had been completed.

Outside the United Kingdom

Avro was ordered to build 38 aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force, delivered between November 1936 and November 1937. The RAAF went on to operate a total of 1,028 Anson Mk.1s sent from Britain between 1936 and 1944. A further 12 were built for the Royal Hellenic Air Force and delivered between May and June 1939.