bristol beaufighter.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and yeas i believe the original wings were taken from a beaufort........

[syscom3]

Not to be poetic, but those pictures are sort of like ....."A dance of death"..... for the ships that is.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

well the beau was very graceful, but menacing at the same time, kinda like me i guess

[Erich]

remember the pics I posted sometime ago of similiar cases ? excellent photo ops gents !!

by the way this might be of some interest, 2 Beaus were brought down by ace of 7./NJG 2, Walter Briegleb in his Ju 88G-6 coded 4R+BR.

First one was December 28, 1944 at 19.13 hrs at 30-50m off the sea. at 05 East N 01 0 7 north-northwest of Jüist/ 20 km Northwest of Borkum confirmed. Beau was from 219 squadron, the a/c coded: MM 709. Walter thought it was a Minelayer

Second one was the next evening the 29th of December at 18.39 hrs. 05011 N, 01 N 8 50 km North west of Jüist auf See-Jever, 40km NW of Borkum. this engagemnet was at 200 metres and according to the copy of his flugbuch he mentions he nearly shot the tail off the Beaufighter on a Minelaying mission.

E ~~

[Aggie08]

In the famous Battle of Bismark Sea in March 1943, the Aussie Beaufighters led the way for the USSAF B25 and A20 skipbombers. The Beaufighters "hosed" down the Japanese ships killing the AA gunners (and anyone else in the line of fire), allowing the bombers to come in unmolested.

Accounts from surviving Japanese sailors and the soldiers on the ships said it was one of the most horrific events they ever went through. The cannon shells would penetrate the sides of the ships and if they didnt expode, then they would riccochet around with often bloody results. Then the 50 cals of the B25's and A20's would add to the carnage. The decks must have run red with blood!

Wow, yeah, not much can do about that, that's alot of firepower comin at ya. Alot is sort of an understatement though.

[lesofprimus]

Nice info erich...

[helmitsmit]

True the beaufighter didn't have much compatition as a antiship attack plane. However there was a firse competition when the beaufighter was an nighterfighter/intruder, against the mossie.

It was a bit slow as well. But a great plane none the less.

[helmitsmit]

True the beaufighter didn't have much compatition as a antiship attack plane. However there was a firse competition when the beaufighter was an nighterfighter/intruder, against the mossie.

It was a bit slow as well. But a great plane none the less.

[syscom3]

The Beaufighter seemed more of a light attack plane, than a true twin engine fighter.

[lesofprimus]

Slow??? The Beaufighter???

[trackend]

I believe its around 330MPH
how accurate these figuires are Im sure you guys will tell me

Role Heavy fighter or light bomber
Crew 2
First Flight July 17 1939
Entered Service 1940
Manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company

Dimensions
Length 41 ft 8 in 12.7m
Wingspan 57 ft 10 in 17.7 m
Height 15 ft 10 in 4.8 m


Weight
Maximum takeoff 21,600 lb 9,800 kg

Powerplant
Engines 2 Bristol Hercules XVIII radial engines
Power 1,770 hp 1.3 MW

Performance
Maximum speed (at 15,600ft) 333 mph 540 km/h
Combat range 1,480 miles 2,380 km
Service ceiling 26,500 ft 8,000 m

Armament
Guns 4 x 20 mm Hispano cannon in nose
3 x 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns in each wing

[Gnomey]

They match the figures I have Lee. Nice info Erich.

[mosquitoman]

The MkX didn't have the Brownings though but the coastal versions of all marks had torpedo shackles under the fuselage and bomb carriers under the wings. Later Beaus also had 20mm rockets as an option instead of the bombs

[helmitsmit]

when I say slow. I mean slow for late world war2 standards. 330mph isn't quick and some versions just managed 303mph.

[mosquitoman]

Just got The Fighter Collection's Journal, apparently their Beau is slowly coming along, a lot of the wooden pieces have been remade in metal to match the Australian version it will eventually represent instead of British.