Tag: airplane

  • Bristol Beaufighter in Polish Service

    Bristol Beaufighter in Polish Service

    Bristol Beaufighter in Polish Service

    307 (Polish) Squadron RAF operated the Bristol Beaufighter Mk IIf from 14 August 1941 to May 1942, replacing the unit’s Boulton Paul Defiants. The Mk.IIf fighters were replaced by Beaufighter Mk.VIf night fighters which operated until Feb 1943 when they were replaced by de Havilland Mosquitoes. In total, Beaufighter crews shot down fifteen bombers with three probables and six damaged; the last victory was the shooting down of a Dornier Do 217 on 24/25 September 1942.

  • Bristol Beaufighter in Australian Service

    Bristol Beaufighter in Australian Service

    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