Pacific War Bristol Beaufighter

a beaufighter of no. 30 squadron raaf adjacent hombrom s bluff near port moresby, 1942.

the beaufighter arrived @ squadrons in asia , pacific in mid-1942. has been said—although piece of raf whimsy taken british journalist—that japanese soldiers referred beaufighter whispering death , supposedly because attacking aircraft not heard (or seen) until late. beaufighter s hercules engines used sleeve valves, lacked noisy valve gear common poppet valve engines. apparent in reduced noise level @ front of engine.

in south-east asian theatre, beaufighter mk vif operated india night fighter , on operations against japanese lines of communication in burma , thailand. mark x beaufighters flown on long range daylight intruder missions on burma. high-speed, low-level attacks effective, despite atrocious weather conditions, , makeshift repair , maintenance facilities.

southwest pacific

flight lieutenant ron torchy uren of no. 30 squadron raaf takes drink water canteen while in cockpit of beaufighter during battle of bismarck sea. still frame bismarck convoy smashed (1943) damien parer

the royal australian air force (raaf) keen operator of beaufighter during second world war. on 20 april 1942, raaf s first beaufighter ic (an australian designation given various models of aircraft, including beaufighter vic, beaufighter x, , beaufighter xic), had been imported britain, delivered; last aircraft delivered on 20 august 1945. initial raaf deliveries directed no. 30 squadron in new guinea , no. 31 squadron in north-west australia.

before dap beaufighters arrived @ raaf units in south west pacific theatre, beaufighter mk ic commonly employed in anti-shipping missions. famous of these battle of bismarck sea, during beaufighters used in fire-suppression role in mixed force usaaf douglas a-20 boston , north american b-25 mitchell bombers. beaufighters of no. 30 squadron flew in @ mast height provide heavy suppressive fire waves of attacking bombers. japanese convoy, under impression under torpedo attack, made tactical error of turning ships towards beaufighters, inflicted severe damage on ships anti-aircraft guns, bridges , crews during strafing runs 4 20 mm nose cannons , 6 wing-mounted .303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns. japanese ships left exposed mast-height bombing , skip bombing attacks medium bombers. 8 transports , 4 destroyers sunk loss of 5 aircraft, including 1 beaufighter.

the role of beaufighters during battle of bismarck sea recorded war correspondent , film-maker, damien parer, had flown during engagement standing behind pilot of 1 of no. 30 squadron aircraft; engagement led beaufighter become 1 of more known aircraft in australian service during conflict. on 2 november 1943, high-profile event involving type occurred when single beaufighter, a19-54, won second of 2 unofficial races against a-20 boston bomber.