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Bristol Beaufighter in Australian Service

Beaufighter VIC A19-140 of 31 Sqn RAAF

Bristol Beaufighter in Australian Service

Bristol Beaufighters were operated by Australia in both the European and Pacific Theatres during the Second World War. In Europe, RAAF Number 455 and 456 Squadrons operated under RAF control, with 455 using its Beaufighters as part of Coastal Command’s Strike Wing, while 456 operated as a night fighter squadron.

In the Pacific, 30 and 31 Squadrons operated both British built and Australian built aircraft. Australian built Beaufighters having serial numbers in the A8- range, while British aircraft used the A19- series.

Squadrons

Individual Aircraft

A19-2

A19-4

A19-6

A19-10

A19-11

A19-15

A19-17

A19-26

A19-27

A19-28

A19-33

A19-34

A19-37

A19-43

A19-54

A19-95

A19-106

A19-140

A19-152

A19-183

A19-205

5 OTU

22 Squadron

30 Squadron

31 Squadron

93 Squadron

455 Squadron

456 Squadron

Bristol Beaufighter Prototypes

Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IF R2052

Bristol Beaufighter Prototypes

Originally designed as a heavy fighter version of the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber, the Beaufighter developed into a multi-role aircraft. Its large size enabled it to carry early AI radar sets along with a heavy armament of four 20mm cannon and six .303 machine guns, making it an effective night fighter.

Later variants were able to carry torpedoes and rockets for the strike role, where it was employed for anti-shipping strikes and ground attack.

Initial Beaufighter Prototype R2052

Beaufighter Prototype R2268 With Twin Fins

Twin fins were fitted to the tail of Beaufighter R2268 in an attempt to control instability. It was evaluated against installing a fin fillet, which was found to be more successful.

Beaufighter Prototype T3032 With Tail Fillet

Prototype Bristol Beaufighter Mk II T3032 with extended dorsal fin
Prototype Bristol Beaufighter Mk II T3032 with extended dorsal fin

Bristol Beaufighter Mk V

Two Beaufighter Mark IIFs were converted to Mark Vs by having one pair of cannons and the wing-mounted machine gun armament supplanted by a Boulton-Paul turret mounting four .303 machine guns. It was tested operationally by the Fighter Interception Unit and No. 406 Squadron RCAF, but the turret installation drastically reduced performance and further development was abandoned.

Bristol 156 Beaufighter V R2274 at Boscombe Down in May 1941 with 4-gun forward-mounted turret
Bristol 156 Beaufighter V R2274 at Boscombe Down in May 1941 with 4-gun forward-mounted turret
Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF X7579 night fighter prototype with centimetric AI radar
Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF X7579 night fighter prototype with centimetric AI radar

40mm Cannon Trial

The fourth prototype, R2055, had its regular armament replaced by a pair of 40 mm guns for attacking ground targets, the two guns being a Vickers S gun mounted on the starboard fuselage and a Rolls-Royce BH gun mounted on the port fuselage; these trials led to the Vickers gun being installed on an anti-tank Hawker Hurricane IID. These guns were not fitted to production Beaufighters.

Bristol Beaufighter R2055 with 40mm guns 1941
Bristol Beaufighter R2055 with 40mm guns 1941

Built as a Beaufighter Mk.IIF, T3177 was utilized as a flying test bed by Rolls Royce to evaluate the Rolls Royce Griffon engine’s capabilities. It was operated by B-Flight of the Armament Test Squadron. The Fairey Firefly also used the Griffon engine, resulting in the Beaufighter retaining the Hercules.

Bristol Blenheim Prototypes

Bristol Blenheim Mk.I prototype

Bristol Blenheim Prototypes

The Bristol Blenheim was a light bomber, developed for the Royal Air Force from the Bristol Type 142 civil airliner in the mid 1930s. The Blenheim Mk.I entered service with the RAF in 1937 and was used extensively during the first two years of the Second World War.

The Mk.I was replaced by the Mk.IV, with an extended nose, more powerful engines and increased defensive armament. The initial Mk.IV had an extended forward fuselage to provide more room for the bomb aimer. This extension hindered the pilot’s forward vision and was modified with a stepped, curved forward section. This was again modified with a scooped out section, giving the aircraft an asymmetrical nose, but improving the pilot’s vision.