If the Typhoon had succeeded as a fighter…?

I’m sure all of the members who have read your posts will join me in thanking you for your contributions.

You’ll always be welcome here Don.

Moggy

Absolutely agree Moggy,I have always appreciated your posts Don !

cheers baz

Awesome bit of beau film..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsUdbzQCm_Y

I’m sure all of the members who have read your posts will join me in thanking you for your contributions.

You’ll always be welcome here Don.

Moggy

I’ve read about the “Kiwi” movie Beaufighters, perhaps in an aviation mag? Can’t remember any details.
489 (NZ) Squadron did operate Beaufighters from Scotland (RAF Leuchars & RAF Dallachy), but I gather that wasn’t the storyline!

Re 52

Not forgetting, in the Mediterranean, considerably spoiling Herr Rommels ride of the Valkyries, and the march of the Afrika Korps in the North African campaign, by forcibly separating them from ship borne supplies of bullet, shell, fuel and breakfast marmalade.

Matters became very painful for the Germans and the Italians.

Researching some of the Beaufighter background, I came across, and then lost, the fascinating story of Israel’s four Beaus.

Bought for £1,500 the set (including refurb by Fairey Aviation) they were not permitted to be exported, so a wholly fictional film was invented about the New Zealanders operating Beaus in WW2 and on the day of departure the airfield had a complete film crew, a script for the ‘departure’ scene and a tearful actress.

After departure they were to head for Scotland (Because the mountains could pass for New Zealand), but once out of sight turned about and landed next stop in Italy.

You couldn’t make it up.

Moggy

Vulnerability aside, on reflection, I suppose at low level, as least a Typhoon was a reasonable match as a fighter as soon as it’d divested itself of it’s ordnance. The Mosquito and the Beaufighter were no match as combat aircraft against single engined fighters in daylight – unless they were going flat-out to get away.

I am just now reading J.R.D. “Bob” Brahams book “Scramble!”, that has been translated to danish and published in 2013 under the title “Mesterpilot” (“Champion Pilot”).

http://www.artpeople.dk/boeger/mesterpilot

He did use the Beaufighter for strafing trains in Normandy (by night!) – the so-called “Intruder”-missions. According to Braham, one barrier to that was the fear of losing an AI-Mk VII-equipped Beau over enemy territory, so only Mk IV-equipped versions – of which there wasn´t many left – were allowed.

How a Beau would have fared in daylight, I can´t say.

I would have preferred to be strapped inside a Mosquito, amongst other parameters for its speed for getting away – but Braham was shot down in one anyway, over Denmark in 1944, by 2 FW-190s. In his own words, due to his own arrogance in not returning when he knew his flight was detected by the germans, and not maintaining top speed on the returning run…..

Jon

The Beaufighter found a niche in paralysing German coastal shipping with the exploits of the Banff and North Coates strike wings.

It could be simple lack of imagination or flexibility in the higher echelons. Or perhaps the success of the Typhoon in the ground attack role meant it wasn’t needed?

Moggy

Just a thought;- One wonders why the powers that be didn’t make more use of the Mosquito & Beaufighter for ground-attack. Perhaps a bigger target for the AA….? Is there a definitive answer out there…?

Much as I would expect. A lady of taste and refinement !

Much enjoyed that book.

‘The Last Torpedo Flyers’, Arthur Aldridge & Mark Ryan, Simon & Schuster, ISBN 978-1-47110-275-2

I was given that book for Christmas from the discerning Mrs Moggy.

It’s fabulous – a ‘must read’

Moggy

Oh come on..!

Somebody else must rate the Beau?

Moggy

They seem to at Dallachy:

Moray-20140216-00570 by martinperry77, on Flickr
🙂

Re 41 & 45

I’d always understood that Beauforts and Beaufighters were always very busy sinking lots of Axis ships.

‘The Last Torpedo Flyers’, Arthur Aldridge & Mark Ryan, Simon & Schuster, ISBN 978-1-47110-275-2

Sorry no way ,(Blenheim)Prewar technology, needs to be fast & able to take some hits.
There was of course the Soviet way the Il-2, but 20,000 were lost, probably the highest loss rate of any aircraft in WWII, not to mention the rear gunners were often prisoners on death row.
If the Tiffie was used for CAP etc, then we had two of the best twins down low, both packing a punch.
The “Mossie” & the “Beau”.
My 2 cents

If we are going down the Beaufighter route what about the Blenheim? Not as capable but could pack quite a punch with the gun pack under the nose.
Perhaps have a mixed bag. Beaufighters (for escort) and Blenheims.

The Beaufighter development experimented with 2x 40mm cannon replacing the 4x 20mm Hispanos. Add on the 2x 50-cal in each wing as in the Australian developed Mk21’s. Throw in a few RP’s under the wings or a couple of 250-lb bombs under the fuselage. Could even add a Boulton-Paul 4-gun turret behind the pilot seat (as in the Merlin-engined Beaufighter Mk V prototypes). It’d make a mess of a road convoy….or a seaborne one!

Oh come on..!

Somebody else must rate the Beau?

Moggy

i certainly do…..and with the raaf/dap mod of 4×50’s in place of the 6×303…she hit like a battleship…plus bloody good speed at altitude dot…….why it was never used against trains etc in Europe is beyond me.
so forward facing armament…4x20mm cannons…4x50cal machine guns(British built 6x 303)…plus rockets and bombs!!…a winner in my head 😎

Oh come on..!

Somebody else must rate the Beau?

Moggy