Introduction Bristol Beaufighter

bristol beaufighter mk 1 in no. 252 squadron, north africa

by fighter standards, beaufighter mk.i rather heavy , slow. had all-up weight of 16,000 lb (7,000 kg) , maximum speed of 335 mph (540 km/h) @ 16,800 ft (5,000 m). nevertheless, beaufighter available in terms of heavy fighter aircraft @ time in great britain, further production of westland whirlwind had been terminated due production problems rolls-royce peregrine engines.

on 12 august 1940, first production beaufighter delivered raf tangmere trials fighter interception unit. on 2 september 1940, 25 squadron, 29 squadron, 219 squadron, , 604 squadron became first operational squadrons receive production aircraft, each squadron received single beaufighter day begin transition existing blenheim if aircraft. reequipping , conversion training process took several months complete; on night of 17/18 september 1940, beaufighters of no. 29 squadron conducted first operational night patrol, conducting uneventful sortie, first operational daylight flight performed on following day. on 25 october 1940, type s first confirmed kill, dornier 17, occurred.

initial production deliveries of beaufighter lacked radar units perform night fighter operations; these progressively installed retroactively no. 32. mu based @ raf st athan during late 1940. on night of 19/20 november 1940, first kill radar-equipped beaufighter performed, shooting down junkers ju 88. more advanced radar units installed in 1941, allowed beaufighter become effective counter night raids being performed luftwaffe. march 1941, half of 22 german aircraft claimed british fighters beaufighters; during night of 19/20 may 1941, during 1 air raid upon london, total of 24 aircraft shot down fighters against 2 downed anti-aircraft ground fire.

in late april 1941, first 2 beaufighter mk ii aircraft, r2277 , r2278, delivered 600 , 604 squadrons; former squadron being first receive type in quantity in following month. in addition service raf, mk ii variant supplied fleet air arm of royal navy well. night-fighter beaufighter mk vif supplied squadrons in march 1942, equipped ai mark viii radar. night fighter role first role in beaufighter proved merits, went on perform in various other capacities during war. faster de havilland mosquito took on in night fighter role in mid late 1942, heavier beaufighter made valuable contributions in other areas such anti-shipping, ground attack , long-range interdiction, in every major theatre of operations.

aircrew of no. 16 squadron saaf , no. 227 squadron raf sitting in front of beaufighter @ biferno, italy, on 14 august 1944

on 12 june 1942, single beaufighter used conduct raid of moyes stated be, ...perhaps impudent of war. t4800, beaufighter mk 1c of no. 236 squadron, flew thorney island directly occupied paris @ extremely low altitude during daytime before defiantly dropping tricolore on arc de triomphe , strafing gestapo headquarters in place de la concorde.

the various models of beaufighter commenced service overseas, ruggedness , reliability made aircraft popular crews although heavy on controls , not easy fly, landings being particular challenge. due wartime shortages, beaufighters placed operational service without equipment necessary feather propellers. models of twin-engined beaufighter not stay aloft on 1 engine unless dead propeller feathered, lack of feathering equipment directly contributed several operational losses , deaths of aircrew.

in mediterranean, usaaf s 414th, 415th, 416th , 417th night fighter squadrons received 100 beaufighters in summer of 1943, achieving first victory in july 1943. through summer squadrons conducted both daytime convoy escort , ground-attack operations, flew defensive interception missions @ night. although northrop p-61 black widow fighter began arrive in december 1944, usaaf beaufighters continued fly night operations in italy , france until late in war.

by autumn of 1943, mosquito available in enough numbers replace beaufighter primary night fighter of raf. end of war, 70 pilots serving raf units had become aces while flying beaufighters.

at least 1 captured beaufighter operated luftwaffe – photograph exists of aircraft in flight, german markings.