The Bristol Beaufighter

摘要

Developed from the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber, the Beaufighter - the name combining the 'Beau' from Beaufort with 'fighter' - became one of Britain's most effective twin-engined aircraft of World War Two. The de Havilland Mosquito is certainly more famous, and for good reason, but the quick and well-armed Beaufighter was used with great success in a variety of roles, most significantly as a night-fighter. By the end of the war, around 80 pilots (including 70 from the RAF) had become aces flying the Beaufighter, with a further 39 achieving at least part of their total at the controls of the type. Being one of the first night-fighters equipped with airborne radar, and being capable of delivering devastating firepower from its four cannons and wing mounted machine guns, the rugged Beaufighter posed a significant threat to the Luftwaffe night offensive.