In 1917 the Packard Motor Company in the US commenced to produce the 298 kw (400-hp) Liberty engine and the DH.9 airframe was modified to take the new engine, becoming thew DH.9A.

Leopard Moth appeared in 1933 as a successor to the DH 80 Puss Moth. The prototype was flown for the first time at Stag Lane, Edgeware, UK, on 27 May 1933 with Class B marking E1, later becoming G-ACHD (c/n 7000), and it became the personal aircraft of Capt de