A9 Beaufort
In January 1939, a British Air Mission visited Australia to investigate the possibility of manufacturing aircraft for the rapidly expanding RAF and RAAF. A decision was quickly reached, and in March, it was announced that the Bristol Beaufort, the prototype of which had first flown in October 1938, would be built for both Air Forces.
With the outbreak of war in September 1939, a number of delays inevitably came about, but eventually the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) was established, which, in turn, controlled the Beaufort Division. At the time, manufacturing large numbers of such a modern twin-engined high performance aircraft was a major challenge to the Australian industry. Component parts were sub-contracted out to about 600 firms, and seven factories handled the major sub-assemblies that were then fed into the main workshops at Fishermens Bend and Mascot.
Meanwhile, the eighth Bristol-built Beaufort Mk I (L4448, which became A9-1001) was imported for trials and the original 1,000 hp Taurus engines were replaced by 1,200 hp Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasps. As from May 1941, several notable long-distance flights were carried out by this experimental prototype and all expectations were exceeded. The first DAP Beaufort was tested in August 1941, and was one of a batch of 180 ordered by the RAF for use in the Far East. When Japan entered the war in December 1941, six of these aircraft were flown to Singapore, but because of the rapid advance of the Japanese, it was agreed that all Beauforts would be taken over by the RAAF for the defence of Australia. Consequently, these first aircraft with RAF serials from T9540 were renumbered from A9-1.
As production increased, several modifications were incorporated and the first 180 aircraft consisted of Beauforts Mk V, VA, VI and VII. This original order was completed in November 1942, and the Beaufort Mk VIII was then manufactured in quantity for the RAAF.
When production ceased in August 1944, a total of 700 Beauforts had been built. These aircraft served with numerous units including Nos 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 32 and 100 Squadrons and established an impressive operational record. They attacked shipping in all areas of the South-West Pacific and sank cruisers, destroyers and submarines, as well as bombing and strafing inland supply dumps and troops. They were also used for routine convoy protection and coastal reconnaissance.
In 1943, a Beaufort Mk VIII (A9-201) was modified by the Beaufort Division for communications duties. After the first flight in February 1944, the bomb bay was enlarged to permit a large crate to be installed. This latter experiment proved unsuccessful, and A9-201 was reverted to its original form with gun-turrets removed to provide a cabin for five passengers. The RAAF became interested in the project because transports were required in the forward areas for dropping of supplies as the Japanese withdrew. Consequently, as Beaufort Mk VIIs became due for major overhauls, they were converted for communication duties. Although designated Beaufort Mk IX, these aircraft soon became known as Beaufreighters and carried the serial numbers A9-701 to A9-746.
Most of the Beauforts were phased out of service soon after the war. However, limited numbers were retained for various duties including fluid-spraying experiments, and some of these aircraft were used to combat the great locust plague in 1947.
TECHNICAL DATA: DAP Beaufort Mk VIII
DESCRIPTION:
Torpedo bomber with four crew. All-metal stressed-skin construction.
POWER PLANT:
Two 1,200 hp Pratt and Whitney Twin-row Wasps.
DIMENSIONS:
Span 17.63 m (57 ft 10 in); length 13.49 m (44 ft 4.5 in); height 4.83 m (12 ft 5 in).
WEIGHT:
Empty 6382 kg (14 070 lb); loaded 10 206 kg (22 500 lb).
PERFORMANCE:
Max speed 431 km/h (233 kt); Range 1706 km (921 nm) with standard fuel; Endurance 6 hours.
ARMAMENT:
990 kg (2000 lb) bomb load or torpedo; 0.303 in (and later 0.5 in) machine guns in turret, nose or wing.
Back to top
Back to Series 2
Back to RAAF Aircraft