Any Beaufighter experts?

I have several photos of Mk IIF Beaus at No 54 OTU in Scotland, none of which are carrying squadron codes of any kind – even though the OTU used four different sets of codes. Just because the aircraft doesn’t have codes doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a non-operational machine. Perhaps the photo was taken the day the a/c arrived and had not yet been painted up? I think possibilities like these can’t be ruled out – just because it has no codes in the photo, doesn’t mean the a/c never wore codes, but simply that it didn’t have them at that particular instant.

Possibly a trials machine, sent out to the far east to test the feasibility of operating Beau II’s out there? Trials aircraft were predominantly unmarked by squadron codes.

Steve, that’s what I thought. But there doesn’t seem to be any way of determining whether it is Merlin X Mk.II or Merlin XX Mk.IIF.

Possibly a trials machine, sent out to the far east to test the feasibility of operating Beau II’s out there? Trials aircraft were predominantly unmarked by squadron codes.

Regardless of what picture No.2 might be can someone explain the complete lack of unit serials on the fuselage?

Another unit using Beau’s in the Far East was 177Sqn,my father-in-law’s Dad was a groundcrew “erK’

The MK.IIF Night Fighter was fitted with Merlin XX. I wonder if No.2 is one of only two Merlin X powered original Mk.II prototypes, as there appears to be a clear lack of unit serials. Perhaps under going trials?

Thanks guys, I appreciate your input. Have to admit, despite poring over the pics with a magnifying glass to find serials etc, I’d not actually noticed that the 2nd one had in-line and not radial engines..

John

Interesting pictures. I’m no expert on Beaufighters, but my father served with 226 Sqn Beaufighters in Burma. Unfortunately he is no longer around to ask!

Beaufighters (II, X, and TT.Xs) served as part of 15 FAA squadrons, but purely in a second line role – radar calibration, twin engine training, etc – as well as with some station flights.
Whilst they did serve in the Far East it must be asked how ridged the roundel ruling was since that is not a Far Eastern roundel by any stretch of the imagination… The solar topee does make it look more tropical than the UK though.

If there was a serial visible, though, it would solve the riddle…;)

Flood.™

Interesting pictures. The first one appears either to be a Beaufighter I, or perhaps more likely (given the location) an early mark VI; the flat tailplane certainly makes it an early Beau.

Regarding the Beau II, that’s VERY interesting. Most of the IIF squadrons were purely night fighters (125, 255, 307, 406, 409, 456, 488 and 600). I show two squadrons (143 and 404) using the Beau IIF on Coastal Command duties; 143 operated the IIF from Sept 42 to Mar 43, from RAF North Coates in Lincolnshire, while 404 had IIF’s from Sept 42 to Apr 43, first at Dyce, then from January 43 at Chivenor. However, I’m not aware of any units which were operational with IIF’s out in the Far East.

In addition to 143 and 404, 515 Squadron operated the IIF out of Hunsdon between June 43 and Apr 44 on Radar Counter Measures duties, while a number of Beau IIF’s were also operated by the Fleet Air Arm; I have a picture in a book here of a 779 (Fleet Requirements Squadron) Beau IIF at “HMS Cormorant II” in Gibraltar, so perhaps your Far East IIF may actually be a Fleet Air Arm machine? Hope that helps.

Hi–

Well I’m no expert on “Beaux”, but that second pic sure is one of the Merlin-engined Mk.IIs. Very interesting that it appears to be wearing Temperate Sea camo (grey/slate/Sky). I have never seen a Beau II in anything but nightfighter colours of one sort or another. Did any Coastal Command strike units employ the Mk.II?

S.

Great pics. Unless my eyes deceive me, the second one is of a Mark II, which was fitted with Merlin XX engines.