Pre-delivery photo. RD767 still existed in 1952 with 34 Squadron which disbanded that year. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

Accourding to James J. Halleys great squadron book 404 Sqn operated EE coded Beaufighter Xs in September to December 1943. The surroundings do not look like wintertime in Scotland though, so possibly the sources have this wrong. Canadian Armed Forces photo

One of six Beaufighters bought by Fairey Aviation for overhaul and resale. Fairey's working party has checked the engines and deleted the RAF serial before ferrying to Ringway. The a/c became G-AJMB/JMG and four were sold to Israel. G-AJMF remained in a hangar at Ringway until it was scrapped in August 1949.

The Beaufighter was a heavy fighter that first flew in 1939 and entered service in 1940. This example was one of 16 operated by the Portuguese Navy. It is under resoration at the Scottish Museum of Flight, the complete aircraft seen here in sections

Even just building Aifix models of the beaufighter as a kid I thought the type was menacing. Those huge engines meant it could carry a formidable armament turning the type into a very effective night-fighter or ground-attack aircraft. In total 5562 Beaufighters were built serving with 52 operational RAF Squadrons, indeed the last flight was not until 1960 at RAF Seletar. Although displayed with D-day stripes this airframe never flew with the RAF, rather served with the Portuguese Navy as BF-13.

The Beaufighter was one of the most significant British aircraft of the middle years of the Second World War. It was a very effective ground-attack aircraft and night fighter. After the War it was used by Coastal Command for shipping protection. This aircraft previously served with the Portuguese Navy as BF-13.

Hardly beautiful, the Beaufighter was developed from the Beaufort torpedo bomber. In WWII it was used at first as a night fighter at then as a long-range strike fighter, especially against Axis shipping.

The last of over 5500 Beaufighters built in the UK for the RAF. Newly completed at the Weston-super-Mare factory and equipped with rocket rails for Coastal Command. It was modified as a TT.10 target tug and retired only two years later. From Bristols 60 years ago.