Bristol Beaufighter

[LLogann]

What the heck are you guys talking about?  That's not the Bristol......

Here is a Beaufighter!



And it has no place in the game!   

[morfiend]

I found a passage here in Parnell's book (Pg. 21).

  If this is the case,I'd say logistics came into play.The tracer ammo likely wasnt shipped,since they had tracers for the MG's it may have been considered redundant. If the Beaus served in the night time role traces wouldnt be loaded,and now I'm guessing here, it seems reasonable that the 20mm tracers simply werent considered high priortity!

 Pretty interesting topic,makes me want to find the real answer as mine is nothing but a uneducated guess.......


   

[lyric1]

I do have a portion of micro film on a USA night fighter squadron that had Beaus the 417TH I think will have to go to the library & see what I have.

[phatzo]

417 skin?

I just found the availability of a book about them

http://www.amazon.com/Beaufighters-Night-Fighter-Squadron-USAAF/dp/1844154831

[Guppy35]

417 & 415 Squadrons USAAF nightfighters had Beaus

[FTJR]

Interesting picture you have eight guys standing & running but none seem to have hit the dirt? I wonder what the Japanese were instructed to do in that circumstance of being strafed?

They probably think that the buff is going to burn, and fear that more than being straffed.

[Guppy35]

A couple of interesting tidbits from the Beaufighter library.

From the 177 Squadron history written by one of it's former pilots.

"177 Squadron flew the later marks of Beau, VI's first then mostly TFXs.  Many of the latter were fitted with non-jettisonable rocket rails.  Many pilots preferred the VI to the X because they were faster and were not fitted with rocket rails.  Many thought the VI was about 15 knots faster then the X with fixed rails."

Noted in the 39 Squadron history was a specific reference to the wing MGs not being carried when rockets were loaded.

I want my Beau VI without rockets thank you

[FTJR]

You dont want to supersize that ?

[Guppy35]

I kinda figure someone has to fly the Flak Beau's to clear the track for the Rocket Beaus and the Torbeaus.

It's interesting to see how within a wing like the Dallachy Beaufighter Wing, each squadron took on one of the roles.  You got good at Torps with the Torbeau crew.  The Rocket Beaus did their bit, and the Flak Beaus did theirs.  All at low level of course, right where I want to be

[Guppy35]

First use of Rocket Beau's in the PTO was November 44.  Again mention of no mgs with Rockets loaded.

Looks like the first use of Torbeaus was in June 43 in the MTO

[Hajo]

Correct me if I am wrong...(usually) but if I recall correctly the Torbeau
was the MkX.

I happen to have an original Pilots manual for the MkX.

Pilot crossed out manuals airspeeds for certain maneuvers....he crossed
them out and replaced them in pencil.  Kinda Cool.

[FTJR]

Did he replace them with higher speeds Hajo?

[Guppy35]

Correct me if I am wrong...(usually) but if I recall correctly the Torbeau
was the MkX.

I happen to have an original Pilots manual for the MkX.

Pilot crossed out manuals airspeeds for certain maneuvers....he crossed
them out and replaced them in pencil.  Kinda Cool.

Yep the Torbeau was the Mk X.  It was the only one fitted with torp carrying gear.  So here's the deal.  On our first BOSS mission.  Hajo leads the Torbeaus, MK X FTJR leads the RockBeaus MK X and I'll take the FlakBeaus VIs  And if we get the 21s, Lyric will lead those carrying bombs.

Fair enough?

[FTJR]

Aye Aye sir

[Karnak]

I have to admit that I would really like to see the Beaufighter in AH.  I never vote for it or list it in my most desired aircraft lists as I don't think it plugs as many holes, but I also only list what I think the game most needs, not what my personal list actually is.