baby it is still cold outside or making the beau
- Thread starter NachtPiloten
- Start date
Daiwilletti
Charter Member
For some reason I love flying Beaufighters. Can't wait for this one 
mongoose
SOH-CM-2023
Wikipedia
On 12 August 1940, the first production Beaufighter was delivered to RAF Tangmere for trials with the Fighter Interception Unit. On 2 September 1940, 25 Squadron, 29 Squadron, 219 Squadron, and 604 Squadron became the first operational squadrons to receive production aircraft, each squadron received a single Beaufighter that day to begin the transition from their existing Blenheim IF aircraft.[SUP][27][/SUP][SUP][13][/SUP] The reequipping and conversion training process took several months to complete; on the night of 17/18 September 1940, Beaufighters of No. 29 Squadron conducted their first operational night patrol, conducting an uneventful sortie, the first operational daylight flight was performed on the following day.[SUP][28][/SUP] On 25 October 1940, the type's first confirmed kill, a Dornier Do 17, occurred.[SUP][11][/SUP]
Initial production deliveries of the Beaufighter lacked the radar units to perform night fighter operations; these were progressively installed retroactively by No. 32. MU based at RAF St Athan during late 1940.[SUP][11][/SUP] On the night of 19/20 November 1940, the first kill by a radar-equipped Beaufighter was performed, shooting down a Junkers Ju 88.[SUP][11][/SUP] More advanced radar units were installed in early 1941, which soon allowed the Beaufighter to become effective counter to the night raids being performed by the Luftwaffe. By March 1941, half of the 22 German aircraft claimed by British fighters were by Beaufighters; during the night of 19/20 May 1941, during one air raid upon London, a total of 24 aircraft were shot down by fighters against two that were downed by anti-aircraft ground fire.[SUP][11][/SUP]
In late April 1941, the first two Beaufighter Mk II aircraft, R2277 and R2278, were delivered to 600 and 604 Squadrons; the former squadron being the first to receive the type in quantity in the following month.[SUP][29][/SUP] In addition to its service with the RAF, the Mk II variant was supplied to the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy as well.[SUP][15][/SUP] A night-fighter Beaufighter Mk VIF was supplied to squadrons in March 1942, equipped with AI Mark VIII radar. The night fighter role was the first role in which the Beaufighter proved its merits, but went on to perform in various other capacities during the wa
On 12 August 1940, the first production Beaufighter was delivered to RAF Tangmere for trials with the Fighter Interception Unit. On 2 September 1940, 25 Squadron, 29 Squadron, 219 Squadron, and 604 Squadron became the first operational squadrons to receive production aircraft, each squadron received a single Beaufighter that day to begin the transition from their existing Blenheim IF aircraft.[SUP][27][/SUP][SUP][13][/SUP] The reequipping and conversion training process took several months to complete; on the night of 17/18 September 1940, Beaufighters of No. 29 Squadron conducted their first operational night patrol, conducting an uneventful sortie, the first operational daylight flight was performed on the following day.[SUP][28][/SUP] On 25 October 1940, the type's first confirmed kill, a Dornier Do 17, occurred.[SUP][11][/SUP]
Initial production deliveries of the Beaufighter lacked the radar units to perform night fighter operations; these were progressively installed retroactively by No. 32. MU based at RAF St Athan during late 1940.[SUP][11][/SUP] On the night of 19/20 November 1940, the first kill by a radar-equipped Beaufighter was performed, shooting down a Junkers Ju 88.[SUP][11][/SUP] More advanced radar units were installed in early 1941, which soon allowed the Beaufighter to become effective counter to the night raids being performed by the Luftwaffe. By March 1941, half of the 22 German aircraft claimed by British fighters were by Beaufighters; during the night of 19/20 May 1941, during one air raid upon London, a total of 24 aircraft were shot down by fighters against two that were downed by anti-aircraft ground fire.[SUP][11][/SUP]
In late April 1941, the first two Beaufighter Mk II aircraft, R2277 and R2278, were delivered to 600 and 604 Squadrons; the former squadron being the first to receive the type in quantity in the following month.[SUP][29][/SUP] In addition to its service with the RAF, the Mk II variant was supplied to the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy as well.[SUP][15][/SUP] A night-fighter Beaufighter Mk VIF was supplied to squadrons in March 1942, equipped with AI Mark VIII radar. The night fighter role was the first role in which the Beaufighter proved its merits, but went on to perform in various other capacities during the wa
sixstrings5859
Charter Member
Excited about this night fighter series . For some reason i find it most interesting. A wonderful addition to CFS3. Thank you Sir , your work is always great. Regards,Scott
sixstrings5859
Charter Member
Looking forward to the whole Beaufighter series of night fighters. Some missions would be most welcome when they are released. Your work is always outstanding. Thank you,Sir
The Beau was used in an offensive capacity by the Fleet Air Arm, mainly against shipping. I think you're right about Scapa Flow; Closterman was one pilot posted there in Spitfire Mk.VIs to intercept high-flying German recon flights. The intruders were using Bf109Gs iirc at maximum ceiling (40,000ft+) and Beaus would never have got up there, nor were they fast enough. If the fleet were at home any German raiders would have met flak thick enough to blot out the sun.
gecko
Charter Member
The article talks about Mk.IIs for the RN, so I was thinking night fighter duties, I expect that model would have been pretty unpopular in the attack role as it was regarded as rather underpowered, especially with one engine out. I've heard of even Hercules-powered versions in the Med not being able to maintain altitude on one engine if it wasn't equipped with feathering propellers.