The Beaufighter was one of the most outstanding aircraft of World War II. It was not only a very successful aircraft, but also formed the equipment of over forty squadrons in various RAF Commands, four squadrons in the USAAF, as well as a number of squadrons in the RAAF, RNZAF, SAAF and RCAF during the war years.
Victor Bingham describes the design, development and testing periods, its construction and production, as well as reviewing the Beaufighter's squadron service.
Apart from its various duties in Northern Europe, the Beaufighter became the scourge of shipping in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, a night fighter and strike fighter in North Africa, and an Army support and strike aircraft in Burma and along the eastern seaboard of the Indian Ocean. The Australians built i and used it in their strafing and bombing attacks on the Japanese enemy in the Pacific. To the Japanese the Beaufighter was known as 'Whispering Death' on account of its relatively quiet approach.
Climbing into the Beaufighter's heavily armoured cockpit, flanked on either side by a big, beautiful air-cooled Bristol Hercules engine, one had the feeling of the strength of the aircraft. When these two Hercules engines started up she became alive, she vibrated with power; and sitting in the cockpit with four 20mr cannon stowed in her belly she appeared tough — she was tough. The 'Mighty Beau' was no sylph-like creature, no sleek flatterer — she looked what she was — a pugnacious beauty of a war machine, a tough lady.
by Victor Bingham
Published Airlife 1994 1st edition. 168pp profusely illustrated with b&w photos and drawings, index, appendices. 19x25 bumped at top corners, otherwise fine, d/j slightly creased.
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"Long" descriptions, where shown, may have been taken from the book's dust jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "new edition" "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.
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