Australians O let us rejoice in our Beauforts

[JMSmith]

hi guys,

thanks for this writeup, will copy paste it and keep with my beaufort files.
on the front of my manual it says MK1 and Mk2!!!!!!.
but here are a few more images, i was going to upload the full file but it is 450mb+ .

[mark_pilkington]

John,

The mark I and II were Bristol/UK built Beauforts used in the UK and Europe by the RAF, the Mark I was fitted with the Taurus engines and early centre fuselage/turret similar to the Australian mark V, VI, and VII.

The Mark II was fitted with Pratt and Whitney 1830's as per the Australian modified designs, and carried the late model centre fuselage and turret similar to the Australian mark VIII (other than the increased fin area, as I understand it)

Your first post mentioned your manual was for the OZ version, is it stamped RAAF or otherwise indicating use in Australia, I ask that as I do wonder if a specific RAAF manual was created or if a UK manual simply copied and implemented in Australia? The coverage of the mark II tends to discount that outcome as the mark II in the UK was a result of the Australian decision to use P&W 1830's in locally built examples, and the first mark II flew in September 1941, 4 months after the first flight in Australia of May 1941.


Currently two preserved Beauforts exist world wide, the Australian War Memorial has a restored Australian built mark VIII, (recovered from PNG in the 1970's).

The RAF Museum, at Hendon in the UK also has a restored Australian built mark VIII (also recovered from PNG in the 1970s) but presented as a Bristol built mark II in RAF markings.


regards

Mark Pilkington