A two-seat fighter of wooden construction, the W.B.II was built as a private venture by William Beardmore and Company.
A development of the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c it was designed by G. Tilghman Richards in 1916.
Powered by a 200 hp (150 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8Bd engine, it carried two guns and design finished early in 1917 with the production of the first prototype.
However, the Air Ministry deemed that the 8Bd engine, at that time in short supply, was needed more urgently for use in the S.E.5a fighter at that time serving with the Royal Flying Corps in World War I.
[2] Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1919[3]General characteristics Performance Armament