Bristol Beaufighter

[Guppy35]

Anybody have an links to material on the Beaus service with night fighter squadrons during the blitz?

Specifically Im looking for kill tallys on specific German aircraft during night time hours. Thanx. Even better would be a inclusive record of Beau night time squadron Ops during the entire war in Europe.

Actually I don't have that info outside of the first radar assisted kill was November 1940 and the best night during the Blitz was in May 41 when they claimed 24 German bombers.  I don't see that the night fighter versions of the Beau would matter for AH at this point since there is no night fighting, and carrying a radar operator isn't likely

I'm only interested in the daytime attack/strike versions of the Beau, which is why I keep talking about the VI and TFX as they were the main daytime birds in the ETO, MTO, CBI and PTO.  The Merlin bird was not popular and not used in that daytime role.

Moot, the gunsight was on a movable pedestal so it could be pushed off to the side.  The image below of the VI/TFX cockpit shows it in the stowed position.

[moot]

Thanks Dan.  So Fig.1 looks like it's pointing down and is shot from pretty low, relative to what you would see sitting in the cockpit. The view out of the cockpit shouldn't be as bad as Fig.1 seems to show.

[Guppy35]

Thanks Dan.  So Fig.1 looks like it's pointing down and is shot from pretty low, relative to what you would see sitting in the cockpit. The view out of the cockpit shouldn't be as bad as Fig.1 seems to show.

Not sure if this helps, but taken from behind the pilot.  There were armored doors that could be open or closed behind the pilot.  They sometimes took passengers who sat on the ammo bins behind the pilot and in front of the navigator/observer.


And just for fun, an Aussie rocket carrying Mk X of 30 squadron in 1944.

[moot]

So.. the pilot's shoulders are normaly somewhere just behind the canopy pillars where the lamps are attached.. looks like it'd have a great front ~270deg view from the AH cockpit!  It'd be cool if we got the observer position as the T34 got a pintle observer's view, too.

[Hajo]

Dan is as always, correct.  The MkII with Merlins did not see widespread action against the Lufwaffe.

When you see the T designation that model of the Beau was known as the Torbeau.  Torpedo carrying Beaufighter.

[humble]

I think the Beau will be an A-20 on steroids.

It will have (IMO) greater structural integrity and more control surface authority. The A-20 is much more of an E fighter then an angles fighter so the ability to carry great speed will enhance the Beau significantly I think. Since its a fighter it will not have an "F3" mode (fine by me since I dont use it in the A-20).

[RTHolmes]

I assume since it had a navigator/observer that F3 would be enabled? My comment about visibility was more to do with all the canopy metalwork, certainly the front quarter look-down views should be great in AH. Pilot wounds might be a problem though - its glass from the waist up

[moot]

It'll be cool to have the gaps in the planeset start to really fill in.. One thing this would fill in on top of a historical gap is the fighter-bomber gap.  The A20 is on the edge of dogfight worthy bombers, and Attackers like the mossie and 110 are at the edge of heavy fighters.  It'll make a nice continuous spectrum.

[Hajo]

Holmes I don't thinkthe Beaufighter will have a worse view then the 109s or the 38s from the cockpit.

There are three large panels of glass the Pilot sits between.

[RTHolmes]

Holmes I don't think the Beaufighter will have a worse view then the 109s or the 38s from the cockpit.

exactly

[Guppy35]

And for tonite a nicely weathered Beaufighter flying out of Malta.  Those Beaus got around   Note the field mod bomb racks for carrying 250 pounders on this kite.

[Guppy35]

And an old favorite.

[Plawranc]

410 should come first. Becuase it is sexier than the beuafighter

As if BRING IN THIS AUSSIE ICON!!!!!!!!!!!! then i might actually attack ground targets

[Bruv119]

fudgums how dare you!

Beau before luftwaffe junk anyday

[moot]

I reckon HTC will add both the Beau and 410, because it would be such a kick bellybutton matchup.