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Beaufort - Aircraft Profile - Bristol : Beaufort

Beaufort

Manufacturer : Bristol
Number Built : 1821
Production Began : 1939
Retired : 1944
Type :

The Beaufort was developed from the Bristol Blenheim - originally built in 1934 as an executive aircraft for the proprietor of the Daily Mail, Lord Rothermere, who wanted a fast plane capable of carrying six passengers. Equipped with two Bristol Mercury engines, the Bristol Type 142, as it was then called, was 30 mph (48km/h) faster than the RAF's latest biplane fighter, the Gloster Gauntlet. Beauforts first saw service with Royal Air Force Coastal Command and then the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm from 1940. They were used as torpedo bombers, conventional bombers and mine-layers until 1942, Some of the Beaufort's actions were attacks on warships of the German Kriegsmarine. The first attack was on 21 June 1940, when nine Beauforts of 42 Squadron attacked the German battleship Scharnhorst off the Norwegian coast. No torpedoes were available at RAF Wick and a dive bombing attack was carried out using two 500 lb (230 kg) bombs. The Beauforts encountered Messerschmitt Bf 109s protecting the battleship and only four returned; shortly after, Beauforts were grounded for modifications to their Taurus engines. In early April 1941, after an air raid on Brest by Bomber Command, the German battleship Gneisenau had to move out of dry-dock because of an unexploded bomb. Photo reconnaissance revealed that the ship was in the inner harbour. An estimated 1,000 flak guns of all calibres protected the base and adding complication to the danger was the realisation that Gneisenau was only about 500 yd (460 m) from a harbour mole, requiring extremely accurate torpedo drops. The aircraft would be forced into a steep banking turn during the escape to avoid rising ground surrounding the harbour. In spite of these dangers 22 Squadron, based at RAF St Eval, was ordered to make a torpedo attack, timed to take place just after dawn on 6 April 1941. It was planned to attack the torpedo nets thought to be protecting the ship, using three Beauforts armed with bombs; another three Beauforts would then attack the ship with torpedoes. Following heavy rain that had drenched the airfield, the bomb-carrying aircraft became bogged down. Because of a sea mist, the other three Beauforts arrived at Brest independently; one, flown by F/O Kenneth Campbell, managed to penetrate the harbour and torpedo Gneisenau but was shot down immediately afterwards. Campbell was awarded the VC and his Observer, Sergeant J. P. Scott of Canada, the Distinguished Flying Medal. The other two crew members were Sgts R. W. Hillman and W. Mallis; all were lost. On the night of 12/13 June 1941, 13 Beauforts of 42 Squadron, based at RAF Leuchars and a detachment of five Beauforts of 22 Squadron from Wick, were sent out to find the cruiser Lützow and an escort of four destroyers, which had been sighted near Norway. At midnight, a signal from a Blenheim of 114 Squadron confirmed the position of the ships but most of the Beauforts failed to find them.[43] One 42 Squadron aircraft piloted by Flight Sergeant Ray Loviett (who had become separated from the main force) took Lützow by surprise (the Beaufort had been mistaken for a Junkers Ju 88, known by the ships to be on patrol in the area) and without a defensive shot being fired, Loviett's torpedo hit her on the port side. One Beaufort found Lūtzow limping back to port and attacked but was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109; Lützow was under repair for six months. During the famous Operation Cerberus, the "Channel Dash" by Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, which took place from 12 February 1942, three Beaufort units, with 33 serviceable aircraft were available: 22 Squadron was under orders to move to Singapore. 42 Squadron, based at Leuchars in Scotland, were supposed to move to Manston but had been delayed by snow. Only 86 and 217 squadrons were in position to attack the German ships. Of the 33 Beauforts, 28 eventually set out to attack the German ships: 13 failed to find them, three were shot down and on one the torpedo failed to release. Only 11 Beauforts sighted the battleships and launched torpedoes, none of which struck a target. One of the conclusions reached by a later Court of Inquiry was that a faster, longer-ranged torpedo bomber than the Beaufort was needed. Bristol was already working on a torpedo carrying conversion of the Beaufighter and were later to develop the Brigand. when they were removed from active service and were then used as trainer aircraft until being declared obsolete in 1945. Beauforts also saw considerable action in the Mediterranean; Beaufort squadrons based in Egypt and on Malta The Beaufort was particularly successful from Malta. No. 217 Squadron was based there from June to July 1942, when it was replaced by No. 86 Squadron. From Malta the Beaufort played an important role in denying Rommel desperately needed supplies. by attacking Axis shipping supplying Rommel's Deutsches Afrikakorps in North Africa. Although it was designed as a torpedo-bomber, the Beaufort was more often used as a medium day bomber. The Beaufort also flew more hours in training than on operational missions and more were lost through accidents and mechanical failures than were lost to enemy fire. The Beaufort was adapted as a long-range heavy fighter variant called the Beaufighter, which proved to be very successful and many Beaufort units eventually converted to the Beaufighter.[

Beaufort

Beaufort Artwork Collection



Bristol Beaufort by Ivan Berryman.


Exchange of Fire by Ivan Berryman.

Top Aces for : Beaufort
A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking the pilots name.
NameVictoriesInfo
James Douglas Lindsay7.00The signature of James Douglas Lindsay features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Squadrons for : Beaufort
A list of all squadrons from known to have used this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

No.100 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 12th July 1917

Sarang tebuan jangan dijolok - Never stir up a hornets nest

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.100 Sqn RAF

No.100 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.217 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 1st April 1918
Fate : Disbanded 13th November 1959

Woe to the unwary

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.217 Sqn RAF

No.217 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.22 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 1st September 1915

Preux et audacieux - Valiant and brave

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.22 Sqn RAF

No.22 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.39 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 15th April 1916

Die noctuque - By day and night

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.39 Sqn RAF

No.39 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.415 Sqn RCAF


Country : Canada
Founded : 20th August 1941
Fate : Disbanded 15th May 1945
Swordfish

Ad metam - To the mark

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.415 Sqn RCAF

No.415 Sqn RCAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.42 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 26th February 1916

Fortiter in re - Bravely in action

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.42 Sqn RAF

No.42 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.44 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 15th April 1916
Fate : Disbanded 21st December 1982
Rhodesia

Fulmina regis justa - The Kings thunderbolts are righteous

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.44 Sqn RAF

No.44 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.47 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 1st March 1916

Nili nomen roboris omen - The name of the Nile is an omen of strength

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.47 Sqn RAF

No.47 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.48 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 15th April 1916
Fate : Disbanded 7th January 1976

Forte et fidele

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.48 Sqn RAF

No.48 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.86 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 1st September 1917
Fate : Disbanded 25th April 1946

Ad libertates volamus - We fly to freedom

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.86 Sqn RAF

No.86 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.
Signatures for : Beaufort
A list of all signatures from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
NameInfo


Squadron Leader Arthur Aldridge DFC
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Squadron Leader Arthur Aldridge DFC
Squadron Leader Arthur Aldridge DFC

Although Arthur Aldridge was only to spend two months in Malta - 217 Squadrons Beauforts were actually en route to Ceylon at the time - the results he achieved make hirn a legend amongst torpedo airmen. On his first operation from Malta on June 15 1942 he and his crew made a lone attack on the Italian fleet and sank the 10,000 ton heavy cruiser Trento. Perhaps as a result, the Italian Navy never put to sea as a fleet again. On June 21 Aldridge sank the 7,744 ton cargo ship Reichenfels. Although wounded in the action, Aldridge went to the rescue of another stricken Beaufort which was under attack from a Ju88 and drove it off. For his operations in Malta, Aldridge was awarded a Bar to his DFC.



Flight Lieutenant Ron Bramley
Click the name above to see prints signed by Flight Lieutenant Ron Bramley
Flight Lieutenant Ron Bramley

With 22 and 44 Squadrons he served on Bristol Beauforts as a W/Op and Air Gunner during the Battle of Britain and later attacked the German Battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and attacked Channel Ports and airfields on the French Coast including Cambrai. Also spending time on Beaufighters, he went on to serve in Malta and the Far East completing a total of over 220 operations.



Flight Lieutenant E Carlisle-Brown AE
Click the name above to see prints signed by Flight Lieutenant E Carlisle-Brown AE
Flight Lieutenant E Carlisle-Brown AE

As a Pilot with 39 Squadron he flew Beauforts during the siege of Malta, and he later flew a Dakota over Normandy on D Day, and finished with 271 Squadron flying Dakotas in Burma.



Flight Lieutenant Allan Davies MID
Click the name above to see prints signed by Flight Lieutenant Allan Davies MID
Flight Lieutenant Allan Davies MID

Joined RAAF in October 1940, served in Iraq and Egypt on Blenheims, then Baltimores, before being posted back to Australia in June 1944. He flew Beauforts and Mosquitoes at 5 OTU. then posted to 97 Sqn at Coomalie Creek NT completing 17 PRU missions over Borneo. His aircraft PR Mosquito Mk XVI A52-600 is being restored to flying condition by the RAAF at Richmond Airbase outside Sydney.



Wing Commander James Lindsay DFC
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Wing Commander James Lindsay DFC
28 / 10 / 2010Ace : 7.00 Victories
Wing Commander James Lindsay DFC

Born in September 1922, James Doug Lindsay joined the RCAF in February 1941, training on Harvards. He was posted to the UK, arriving in March 1943 and joining 403 Sqn in October that year. In his first tour, he claimed 5 Me109s as well as 2 Fw190s, plus another damaged. Of the Me109s he shot down, three of these were in a single minute, earning him a DFC. For his second tour, he rejoined 403 Sqn in April 1945, claiming a probable Fw190 during his short time with this squadron before he moved to 416 squadron until the end of the war in Europe. After the war he stayed with the air force, and in 1952 served during the Korean war with the USAF. He flew F-86 Sabres with the 39th Fighter Squadron of the 51st Fighter Wing, claiming victories over two MiG-15s and damaging 3 others. In 1953, he returned to the UK with No.1 Fighter Wing leading Sabres in formation at the Queen's Coronation. He retired in 1972, having flown more than 30 different types of aircraft (excluding different Mks). These included, Harvard, Anson, Master, Spitfire, Typhoon, Tempest, Hurricane, Mustang, Beaufort, Beaufighter, Oxford, Dakota, Tiger Moth, Vampire and Sabre.



Flying Officer Doug Waite
Click the name above to see prints signed by Flying Officer Doug Waite
Flying Officer Doug Waite

Volunteered at the age of 18 and went solo at Brough in Yorkshire, from where he went to Canada for further training at EFTS and SFTS with a final period at Spitalgate near Grantham flying Blenheims, Beauforts and Beaufighters. Doug then joined 169 Squadron Mosquito night-fighter unit attached to 100 group, conducting various deployments. The last one being 48 hours before the war ended, flying to Sylt at low-level dropping Napalm jelly 100 gallon drop tanks as bombs.


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