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.
Beaufighter IC RAAF 30 Sqn D A19-4 crash landing Ward Strip PNG 18th Nov 1942
A19-6
Beaufighter IC A19-6Beaufighter IC A19-6 30 Sqn RAAF Bohle River August 1942
A19-10
Beaufighter IC A19-10Beaufighter IC A19-10
A19-11
Beaufighter IC RAAF 30 Sqn L A19-11 bomb damaged Ward Strip PNG 12th Apr 1943Beaufighter IC RAAF 30 Sqn L A19-11 bomb damaged Ward Strip PNG 12th Apr 1943
A19-15
Bristol Beaufighter IC, A19-15 O of No. 30 Squadron RAAF in flight returning to Port MoresbyBristol Beaufighter IC, A19-15 O of No. 30 Squadron RAAF and other BeaufightersRAAF Bristol Beaufighter Mk 1C A19-15 undergoing maintenance in the field. Wards Strip New Guinea in 1943Bristol Beaufighter IC, A19-15 O of No. 30 Squadron RAAF after a crash landing
A19-17
Beaufighter A19-17 of 31 Sqn. RAAF
A19-26
Beaufighter A19-26 ex T4978 crashed at Wagga NSW 1943
A19-27
Beaufighter IC A19-27. SQNLDR W. Boulton of Manly, NSW, and FLGOFF K. McCarthy of Melbourne, VIC, with their plane “Pandemonium” or “Time Gentlemen Please”.Beaufighter IC A19-27 undergoing maintenanceCrashed Beaufighter IC A19-27Crashed Beaufighter IC A19-27Crashed Beaufighter IC A19-27
A19-28
Bristol Beaufighter ICs of the RAAF A19-28 and and A19-33
A19-33
Bristol Beaufighter ICs of the RAAF A19-28 and and A19-33
A19-34
Beaufighter IC A19-34Crashed Beaufighter IC A19-34Crashed Beaufighter IC A19-34
5 OTU Burrumbuttock NSW 16 July 1943 Force landed Beaufighter Mk VIC A19-955 OTU Burrumbuttock 16 July 1943 Beaufighter Mk VIc A19-95 being salvaged
A19-106
Beaufighter VIC A19-106
A19-140
Beaufighter XI A19-140 of 31 Sqn RAAF
A19-152
Beaufighter Mk.XI A19-152 EH-K about to be towed out by a jeep 31 Squadron RAAF Coomalie Creek c 1944
A19-183
Beaufighter Mk.X A19-183 P of 5 OTU at Williamtown 1945Beaufighter Mk.X A19-183 LY-H of 30 Sqn RAAF
A19-205
Beaufighter X A19-205Beaufighter X A19-205
5 OTU
5 OTU Williamtown c 1945 Beaufighter Mk X A19-1835 OTU Burrumbuttock 16 July 1943 Beaufighter Mk VIc A19-95 being salvaged5 OTU Burrumbuttock NSW 16 July 1943 Force landed Beaufighter Mk VIC A19-95
22 Squadron
Bristol Beaufighter Mk 21 A8-57 of 22 Sqn RAAF
30 Squadron
Beaufighter IC RAAF 30 Sqn D A19-4 crash landing Ward Strip PNG 18th Nov 1942Beaufighter IC A19-6 30 Sqn RAAF Bohle River August 1942Beaufighter IC RAAF 30 Sqn L A19-11 bomb damaged Ward Strip PNG 12th Apr 1943Beaufighter IC A19-11 of 30 Squadron RAAFBeaufighter IC RAAF 30 Sqn L A19-11 bomb damaged Ward Strip PNG 12th Apr 1943Beaufighter Mk IC A19-15 of 30 Squadron RAAF 1943Bristol Beaufighter IC, A19-15 O of No. 30 Squadron RAAF after a crash landingBristol Beaufighter IC, A19-15 O of No. 30 Squadron RAAF and other BeaufightersBeaufighter Mk IC A19-15 O of 30 Squadron RAAF returning from the Battle of the Bismarck Sea 3 March 1943Bristol Beaufighter IC, A19-15 O of No. 30 Squadron RAAF in flight returning to Port MoresbyBeaufighter Mk.X A19-183 LY-H of 30 Sqn RAAFBeaufighter IC A19-37Beaufighter IC A19-43 of 30 Sqn RAAFBeaufighter Mk.IC A19-53 Y of 30 Squadron RAAF at Milne Bay 1943Beaufighter A19-54 LY-V 1943 of 30 Sqn RAAFBeaufighter Mk VIC A19-104 LY-Q of 30 Squadron RAAF crash landed at Kiriwina on 31 Dec 1943Beaufighter Mk VIC A19-104 LY-Q of 30 Squadron RAAF crash landed at Kiriwina on 31 Dec 1943Beaufighter Mk.VIC A19-120 LY-H of 30 Squadron at Kiriwana 1944Beaufighter A19-120 ex T5338, code LY-H of 30 Squadron RAAF 26 December 1943Beaufighter A19-134 ex JL854 LY-B 30 Squadron RAAF 16 December 1943Beaufighter Mk.XIC A19-142 J of 30 Squadron RAAF at Vivigani August 1943Beaufighter Mk.X A19-195 LY-R of 30 Squadron RAAF Noemfoor c 1944Beaufighter Mk.X A19-205 LY P of 30 Squadron RAAF c 1944Bristol Beaufighter 30 Squadron RAAF at Port Moresby 1943Beaufighters of 30 Squadron RAAFSqn Ldr Hank Henry of 30 Squadron RAAF landing his Beaufighter Australia 1943Bristol Beaufighter of 30 Squadron RAAF Vivigani, Goodenough Island Papua 12 December 1943Beaufighter of 30 Squadron RAAF at Vivigani Goodenough Island Papua 1943
31 Squadron
Bristol Beaufighters of No 31 Squadron RAAF with fitters doing their daily inspections at RAAF Base Forest HillBristol Beaufighters of 31 Squadron RAAF 1944Beaufighter Mk.XI A19-152 EH-K about to be towed out by a jeep 31 Squadron RAAF Coomalie Creek c 1944Beaufighter VIC A19-140 of 31 Sqn RAAFBeaufighter A19-17 of 31 Sqn. RAAFBristol Beaufighter Mk 21 A8-37 EH-W of 31 Sqn RAAFBristol Beaufighter Mk 21 A8-37 EH-W of 31 Sqn RAAFBristol Beaufighter Mk 21 A8-14 EH-J of 31 Sqn RAAF
93 Squadron
DAP Bristol Beaufighter A8-173 SK-Y of 93 Sqn RAAFDAP Bristol Beaufighter A8-173 SK-Y of 93 Sqn RAAFBristol Beaufighter Mk 21 A8-85 SK-F 93 Sqn RAAF Kingaroy Feb 1945Bristol Beaufighter Mk 21 A8-85 SK-F 93 Sqn RAAF Kingaroy Feb 1945DAP Bristol Beaufighter A8-173 SK-Y of 93 Sqn RAAF at KingaroyDAP Bristol Beaufighter A8-129 SK-X of No. 93 Sqn RAAFDAP Bristol Beaufighter A8-129 SK-X of No. 93 Sqn Labuan BorneoDAP Bristol Beaufighter A8-124 “Marge” SK-Z of No. 93 Sqn RAAF, crashed at Labuan 30 August 1945DAP Bristol Beaufighter A8-123 SK-S of 93 Sqn RAAF crashed at Wagga WaggaDAP Bristol Beaufighter A8-123 SK-S of 93 Sqn RAAF crashed at Wagga WaggaDAP Bristol Beaufighter A8-123 SK-S of 93 Sqn RAAF crashed at Wagga Wagga
455 Squadron
Beaufighters of 455 Sqn RAAF at RAF Station Langham September 1944Armouers fitting rockets to a Beaufighter of 455 Sqn RAAF 3 September 1944Bristol Beaufighter UB-L, NV414, of 455 Sqn RAAFBeaufighter TF.X NE458 of 455 Sqn RAAFFlying Officer Lee Turner RAAF (navigator, left) and Flying Officer Steve Sykes RAAF (pilot, right) of 455 Squadron RAAF, inspect the top of an armed trawler’s mast which became embedded in the nose of their Bristol Beaufighter TF.X during a low-level attack on enemy shipping in the harbour of Marsdiep, Holland on 12 September 1944.Beaufighter TF.X NE798, of No. 455 Squadron RAAF, in its dispersal at Langham, Norfolk, carrying two 500-lb MC bombs on a centreline attachment under the fuselage.Bristol Beaufighter TF.Xs of No. 455 Squadron RAAF, about to depart from Langham, Norfolk, on an anti-shipping strike.
456 Squadron
Beaufighter Mark IIf of No 456 Squadron RAAF at Valley airfieldBristol Beaufighter Mk.IIf of 456 Sqn RAAF
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.
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.
Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IF R2268 with twin finsBristol Beaufighter Prototype R2268 with twin fins
Beaufighter Prototype T3032 With Tail Fillet
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 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
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 Beaufighter T3177 of B-Flight of the Armament Test Squadron, used by Rolls Royce for flight tests of the Griffon IIB engine. In July 1943Bristol Beaufighter T3177 of B-Flight of the Armament Test Squadron, used by Rolls Royce for flight tests of the Griffon IIB engine. In July 1943
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.
Bristol Type 142Bristol 142 K7557Bristol Blenheim Mk.I prototypeBristol Blenheim Mk.IV Prototype still with curved windscreenBristol Blenheim Mk.IV Prototype still with full noseBristol Blenheim Mk.IV Prototype still with full nose