Beaufighter or Beaufort?

[Robert1968]

Hi all I just wanted to clarify something that I'm not going mad! I am a really big fan of WW2 History and from time to time I come across a vehicle or picture or piece of armour that I never knew existed during the war years. Well something's been bugging me for the whole month of March and so I have been doing my research and still I am at a loss. Is this a Beaufighter or a Beaufort?? I did not think the Beaufort carried 4 x 20mm Hispano in the fuselage/ belly and also the cockpit wasn't that for pilot and navigator?


This is my calendar picture this month that has caused me to re think?[ATTACH]105082.IPB[/ATTACH]

[flyjoe180]

That is a Beaufighter.


This is a Beaufort:


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[Robert1968]

That is a Beaufighter.
This is a Beaufort:


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Thanks Joe I knew it was a beaufighter! I have seen many of "beau"photographs etc and knew when I turned the calandar over to march that there was a printing error. My wife said to me " they wouldn't make a mistake like that"hence started the discussion ( admirably I said yes dear!)


Were Beauforti mainly used in the " Mediterranean theatre? And used by the RAAF?

[zuludog]

Yes, the aeroplane in the first photograph, strafing a ship, is a Beaufighter


The one with the glazed nose is a Beaufort

[Guest]

At first, Beauforts were used here, until the Beaufighters took over. There's one famous incident, in April 1941, when F/Off Kenneth Campbell put a torpedo into the stern of Gneisenau, while she was in Brest harbour, getting shot down and killed in the attempt. The damage was so severe that it's recognised that, if she'd been at sea, the ship would have sunk. As it was, the repairs took months, and put paid to Hitler's plans for her and Scharnhorst to join with Bismarck, which he hoped would end the war in 60 days.


It's worth getting hold of a copy of "The Ship-Busters," by Ralph Barker, which tells "The story of the R.A.F. torpedo-bombers."

[spanner570]

The actual writing below the 'wrong picture' is correct, the Beaufort was a successful torpedo bomber early in WW2.


My late uncle was a pilot of one of the Beauforts used in the first ever torpedo attack of WW2, when they attacked enemy shipping off Holland in Sept. 1940. One large ship was hit, sadly my uncle was shot down and killed during this attack.


His sister, who is still alive has personal stuff found on his washed up body, and only recently was given a superb large painting of the actual attack, with her brother's aircraft the main subject.


As an add on to Edgar's post, F/Of. Campbell received the V.C. for his efforts, and he and his crew were given full military honours by the Germans at their burial.

[Dave W]

I'm still waiting for a decent 1/48 Beaufort kit.Special Hobby were supposed to be producing one a couple of years ago.

[flyjoe180]

Were Beauforti mainly used in the " Mediterranean theatre? And used by the RAAF?

Yes, the Beaufort was used in the Mediterranean Theatre extensively by the British against Axis supply shipping headed to North Africa. It replaced the Bristol Blenheim and Martin Maryland in that role. The Royal Australian Air Force was the other main user and used them in the Pacific Theatre, most effectively in the south west Pacific as you might expect.