Mail from a freind who has recently visited the USAF Museum at Dayton, Ohio. He says there’s a Beaufighter in restoration there and it’s awaiting parts from the UK – parts to be exchanged for P-51 “bits”. Any background on this kite?
Also, he mentions some puzzlement over this aircraft’s presence over there as, he reckons, none were in service with the US. But I seem to recall seeing pics some time ago of a Beaufighter or two in USAF markings (far east?). Ring any bells? :confused:
By: mark_pilkington - 10th May 2005 at 02:53
Rlangham/steve
I believe the Fighter Collection Beaufigter is primarily the centre fuselage/centre section of A19-144, recovered from Northern Australia, and is a UK Bristol built mark XIC that flew with the RAAF, I understand some NOS and other ex DAP mark 21 parts may be incorporated in the rebuild, I understand the remains of A19-148 another Bristol mark XIC (centre fuse/centre-section) recovered from Northern Australia are with the RAAF Museum at Point Cook along with similar DAP mark 21 spares towards a future static rebuild.
Steve may be correct in terms of the orginal designation of Mark VI ? when construction commenced? but I understand they were delivered as Mark XIC into service, the Mark X1C being a UK/Bristol designation not an Australian or RAAF designation.
The “mark 21 designation” was reserved for Australian manufactured Beaufighters made locally by DAP, and flew with the RAAF “A8-” number series.
regards
Mark Pilkington
By: fuji - 9th May 2005 at 22:19
Before and after shots of the Duxford Beau cockpit.
By: RPSmith - 9th May 2005 at 09:40
The Midland Air Museum at Coventry Airport has a Beaufighter cockpit on display.
Some Beaufighter fuselages were built at Standard Motors Ltd (one of the many firms that became absorbed into MG Rover) in Coventry in WW2.
Roger Smith.
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th May 2005 at 21:40
The Beau at Duxford is owned by The Fighter Collection – some recent (yesterday!) photos are here; http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=41873
The aeroplane is an ex Australian Mk21, with the identity A19-144, although there are substantial parts of A19-148 in there too. Both these aeroplanes were actually built at Old Mixon factory near Weston-Super-Mare as Mk VI’s with the RAF identities JM135 and JL946, but were supplied to the RAAF and redesignated Mk21’s.
As for earlier types, there is a Mk 1F (X7688) which is currently stored with Skysport Engineering, and a Mk 1C in the USAF Museum at Dayton.
The TF X at Hendon (RD253) is reasonably okay externally in terms of being representative of the type, but internally she’s empty, and the colour scheme she wears is inaccurate.
The Museum of Flight at East Fortune also has a Beaufighter TF X, RD220, but I understand this is currently also stored pending restoration to static. That’s it as far as UK Beaus go, unless you also include the anonymous Mk IIF cockpit section at Hendon.
By: LesB - 25th March 2004 at 23:20
Thanks for your replies blokes, much appreciated.
By: Ant.H - 25th March 2004 at 20:19
The USAAF used Beau’s as night fighters in North Africa,Italy and the South of France until they were replaced by P61 Black Widows in the summer of 1944.The Beau was probably the best Night fighter the Americans had for a while as thier only other night fighter type was the Havoc,which was often found wanting.There was a feature on a Beau-equipped USAAF night fighter squadron in Flypast around this time last year.
By: Bruggen 130 - 25th March 2004 at 11:15
USAAF
Hi
Beaufighter MKV1F’s equiped the
1st Tactical Air Command USAAF.
Hope this helps
Phil.
By: Dave Homewood - 25th March 2004 at 09:47
It is an ex-RAAF example. See here for a bit about it
http://www.filton.flyer.co.uk/bristol/survb156a8371.htm
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March 25, 2004 at 9:35 am