Beaufort/Beaufighter

The Beaufort was built to a RAF Coastal Command requirement for a Torpedo Bomber to replace the obsolete bi-planes currently in use.

The prototype flew on 15th Oct 1938 with an in-service date with CC in Dec 1939. The RAF operated it in Europe until 1943ish and the last RAF mission was flow by 217Sqn in Ceylon in Apr 1944.

The RAAF started to operate them around May 1941 with an out of service year of 1946.

As for the Beaufighter TF Mk X once again it was in service from 1943 with the RAF as a Beaufort replacement.

The RAAF operated the Mk I, VI, X, XI and the Australian built Mk 21 was operated from May 1944 and was based on the TF Mk X. The biggest changes were the wing guns replaced by 4x .50 Cal MG, Sperry autoplilot (the bumps on the nose) and no torpedo.

The Mk I, VI, X when operating in RAAF markings (off course there were RAF contolled RAAF Sqn’s in Europe) were allocated A19-xxx serials, the Australian built Mk 21’s A8-xxx).

Is there any more pics around of the Stearman?

Has anyone got some pics og the Lincoln coversions (Lincolnian?). Also any colour pics of Lincolns (my father was a RAAF armourer with them during the Malay Emergency and I have a soft spot for them)

I can post some pics if people would like (only asking since it is slightly of topic).

Picture request for glanini

Sorry these are all I have. Good luck with the rest

Kazakhstan (MiG-29)
Uzbekistan (Mi-24)

AAwww come on, thats a load of bull! 🙂

Hey Propstrike,

why you calling that lovely FMA IAe-24 Calquin a joker? I’ve always thought they were quite attractive.

There was also the FMA IA-30 Namcu which was a Mosquito look alike as well.

The IAe-24 was originally supposed to have Merlins so the effect would have been even more striking if it did.