DEPARTMENT OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION
Bristol Beaufort MK V A9-13
Click on image for larger version Beaufort cockpit on display
The Bristol Beaufort designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company initially as a three crew, later modified for a fourth crew member, twin engined light bomber aircraft derived from the earlier Bristol Blenheim, and designed as a topedo bomber.
The Beaufort first flew on October 15 1938 following a delay caused by problems with the Bristol Taurus engines. A total of 1,430 Beaufort aircraft were built in Britain consisting of 1,014 Mk1, 415 Mk11, and 1Mk1V.
In 1939, the Australian Government announced that the Beaufort would be produced under license by the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP). 700 of the aircraft would be built that included an order for 180 MkV machines for the RAF. The 520 RAAF machines were MkV111 and bore the RAAF serial A9. The first Beaufort assembled in Australia from parts supplied mainly by Bristol, was flown on May 5 1941, and the first fully Australian produced Beaufort A9-7, flew in August 1941. Early Beauforts were lightly armed with 6x30 calibre (7.7mm) machine guns, two firing forward, two in the dorsal turret, one in the port wing and one firing laterally from the entry hatch. In later variants these became 3x30 calibre machine guns two firing forward and one firing laterally from the entry hatch and 3x50 calibre (12.7mm) machine guns two in the dorsal turret and one in the port wing. The DAP Beauforts were powered by Pratt and Whitney 1,200 hp R1830 Twin Wasp seven cylinder radial engines.
The RAAF operated seventeen operational Squadrons including Nos 1,2,6,7,8,13,14,15,32 and 100. The first, No100 was raised on February 25 1942, but with the RAF's sustaining very heavy losses of the type operating in South East Asia, specialised tactics to be used when faced with enemy front line fighter aircraft were evolved for No100 Squadron and practiced before it's first operation on June 25 1942.
When production ceased in August 1944, the Beauforts had established an impressive reputation in operations against enemy forces in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor, and for successful anti shipping attacks as well as attacks on land based supply depots and troop formations in the South West Pacific theatre generally. Operations also included convoy support and reconnaissance.
The Museum's Beaufort A9-13 was the 13th DAP produced MkV and was part of the RAF order and delivered to the RAF in Australia during December 1941and assigned to No100 Squadron RAF based in Singapore along with five others. It returned to Australian before the fall of Singapore and was put on RAAF charge along with the rest of the RAF order aircraft, re serialed A9-13, and reassigned to No1 OTU in Bairnsdale Victoria, then in January 1944 to No8 Communications Unit in New Guinea. It was severely damaged in a forced landing following an engine failure at Tadji on the north coast where it was stripped of components and abandoned in May 1945.
Salvaged in 1974 and shipped to Australia, it was partly restored and displayed in Melbourne before being moved to Oakey Queensland, and displayed at the Australian Army Museum of Aviation. Negotiations with the owner eventually resulted in it being acquired by the Museum, arriving at Moorabbin in May 2014.
A9-13 is the oldest surviving Beaufort, the only former RAF service and oldest Australian built, and is one of only three surviving in Australia.
TECHNICAL DATA
Power plant : 2x 1,250hp Pratt and Whitney R1830 Twin Wasp seven cylinder radial engines
Length : 44'03'' (13.5m) Wingspan : 57'10'' (17.5m) Height : 14'03'' (4.3m)
Weights : empty - 14,070lbs (6,382kg) maximum - 22,500lbs (10,205kg)
Speeds : maximum - 220kt (265mph) (424km/hr) cruise - 212kt (255mph) (403km/hr)
Range : 1,450miles ( 2,319km)
The Beaufort first flew on October 15 1938 following a delay caused by problems with the Bristol Taurus engines. A total of 1,430 Beaufort aircraft were built in Britain consisting of 1,014 Mk1, 415 Mk11, and 1Mk1V.
In 1939, the Australian Government announced that the Beaufort would be produced under license by the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP). 700 of the aircraft would be built that included an order for 180 MkV machines for the RAF. The 520 RAAF machines were MkV111 and bore the RAAF serial A9. The first Beaufort assembled in Australia from parts supplied mainly by Bristol, was flown on May 5 1941, and the first fully Australian produced Beaufort A9-7, flew in August 1941. Early Beauforts were lightly armed with 6x30 calibre (7.7mm) machine guns, two firing forward, two in the dorsal turret, one in the port wing and one firing laterally from the entry hatch. In later variants these became 3x30 calibre machine guns two firing forward and one firing laterally from the entry hatch and 3x50 calibre (12.7mm) machine guns two in the dorsal turret and one in the port wing. The DAP Beauforts were powered by Pratt and Whitney 1,200 hp R1830 Twin Wasp seven cylinder radial engines.
The RAAF operated seventeen operational Squadrons including Nos 1,2,6,7,8,13,14,15,32 and 100. The first, No100 was raised on February 25 1942, but with the RAF's sustaining very heavy losses of the type operating in South East Asia, specialised tactics to be used when faced with enemy front line fighter aircraft were evolved for No100 Squadron and practiced before it's first operation on June 25 1942.
When production ceased in August 1944, the Beauforts had established an impressive reputation in operations against enemy forces in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor, and for successful anti shipping attacks as well as attacks on land based supply depots and troop formations in the South West Pacific theatre generally. Operations also included convoy support and reconnaissance.
The Museum's Beaufort A9-13 was the 13th DAP produced MkV and was part of the RAF order and delivered to the RAF in Australia during December 1941and assigned to No100 Squadron RAF based in Singapore along with five others. It returned to Australian before the fall of Singapore and was put on RAAF charge along with the rest of the RAF order aircraft, re serialed A9-13, and reassigned to No1 OTU in Bairnsdale Victoria, then in January 1944 to No8 Communications Unit in New Guinea. It was severely damaged in a forced landing following an engine failure at Tadji on the north coast where it was stripped of components and abandoned in May 1945.
Salvaged in 1974 and shipped to Australia, it was partly restored and displayed in Melbourne before being moved to Oakey Queensland, and displayed at the Australian Army Museum of Aviation. Negotiations with the owner eventually resulted in it being acquired by the Museum, arriving at Moorabbin in May 2014.
A9-13 is the oldest surviving Beaufort, the only former RAF service and oldest Australian built, and is one of only three surviving in Australia.
TECHNICAL DATA
Power plant : 2x 1,250hp Pratt and Whitney R1830 Twin Wasp seven cylinder radial engines
Length : 44'03'' (13.5m) Wingspan : 57'10'' (17.5m) Height : 14'03'' (4.3m)
Weights : empty - 14,070lbs (6,382kg) maximum - 22,500lbs (10,205kg)
Speeds : maximum - 220kt (265mph) (424km/hr) cruise - 212kt (255mph) (403km/hr)
Range : 1,450miles ( 2,319km)