Originally designed as a heavy fighter version of the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber, the Beaufighter developed into a multi-role aircraft. Its large size enabled it to carry early AI radar sets along with a heavy armament of four 20mm cannon and six .303 machine guns, making it an effective night fighter.
Later variants were able to carry torpedoes and rockets for the strike role, where it was employed for anti-shipping strikes and ground attack.
The Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF was operated by Fighter Command of the Royal Air Force. Improvements over the Mk IF included improved Hercules VI (also VII and XVI) engines and dihedral added to the tail plane to improve stability (although early models still had horizontal tail planes).
The Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF was used as a night fighter, equipped with AI radar and armed with four 20mm cannon, or as a strike fighter armed with rockets, cannon and machine guns.
Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIFGround crew pull the chocks away from a Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIF of 7 Sqn at Agartala, IndiaBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF with A.I. Mk.VIIIABristol Beaufighter Mk VIFBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF X7688Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF with guides for NURS and radar ASVBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF with AI.Mk.VIIIA radarBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF V8619Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF V8565 ZQ-F, of the Fighter Interception UnitBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF V8526Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF V8380 of 89 SqnBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF V8380 of 89 SqnBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF V8380 of 89 SqnBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF of 255 Sqn running up its engines during sunset at Setif, AlgeriaBristol Beaufighter Mk VIFs of 55 Sqn undergoing maintenance at sunset, at Setif AlgeriaDamaged Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIF of No. 177 Squadron RAF parked in a dispersal at Feni, India, after hitting a treeBristol Beaufighter Mark VIF, X8166 ‘E’ undergoing gun maintenance and harmonisation at Castel Benito, LibyaBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF MM849 ‘VA-I’, of 125 Sqn being prepared for a night sortieBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF ‘F-Freddie’ of 272 Sqn on the taxiway at Luqa, MaltaBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF ‘F-Freddie’ of 272 Sqn on the taxiway at Luqa, MaltaBristol Beaufighter Mark VIF, X8092 ‘R’, of 27 Sqn on trestles at the firing butts at Agartala, IndiaBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF
In Flight
Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF with AI.Mk.VIII radarBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF
Black Night Fighters
Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF X7883, on the ground at Filton, BristolBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF X7881Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF X7883, on the ground at Filton, BristolBeaufighter Mark VIF, X8023 BQ-I of 600 Sqn based at Predannack, Cornwall
Detail Photographs
The cockpit of a Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIF of 89 Sqn viewed from behind the pilot’s seatWing Commander C P ‘Paddy’ Green, Commanding Officer of 600 Sqn in the cockpit of his Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIF at Cassibile, SicilyWing Commander C P ‘Paddy’ Green Commanding Officer of No. 600 Squadron RAF at Cassibile, Italy, looks out of the cockpit of Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIF, V8762 ‘A’The navigator/radar operator of a 125 Sqn Beaufighter VIF settles into his position, ready for another night patrol from Exeter, 14 September 1943A WAAF corporal checks a delivery of 20mm Hispano cannon shells before they are loaded into a Bristol Beaufighter Mk VI of 96 SqnBristol Beaufighter Mark VIF, X8166 ‘E’ undergoing gun maintenance and harmonisation at Castel Benito, LibyaBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF V8748 ZJ-R of 96 Sqn being re-armed at HonilyArmourers clean the barrel of a Hispano cannon from a Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF of No. 96 Sqn, as WAAFs unload boxes of 20mm cannon shellsArmourers of 89 Sqn servicing the 20mm Hispano cannons of a Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF at Castel Benito, LibyaBristol Beaufighter Mk VIF with A.I. Mk.VIIIAAI Mark VIIIA scanner unit mounted on the nose of a Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIFFlight mechanics working on a Bristol Beaufighter Mk VI at 51 Operational Training Unit, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Crashes
A Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF which made a forced landing on the beach airstrip at Nidania while returning from a sortie over BurmaA Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF which made a forced landing on the beach airstrip at Nidania while returning from a sortie over BurmaDamaged Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIF of No. 177 Squadron RAF parked in a dispersal at Feni, India, after hitting a tree
