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Beaufighter


Cranston Military Prints By Subject Aviation Art World War Two Beaufighter

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Second World War aviation art prints of the Beaufighter aircraft. Our collection of prints and original paintings of the Beaufighter aircraft of World War Two.
BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER The Bristol Beaufighter was a Torpedo Bomber and had a crew of two. with a maximum speed of 330mph and a ceiling of 29,000 feet. maximum normal range of 1500 miles but could be extended to 1750 miles. The Bristol Beaufighter carried four 20mm cannon in the belly of the aircraft and upto six .303in browning machine guns in the wings. it could also carry eight 3 -inch rockets, 1605 lb torpedo or a bomb load of 1,000 lb. The Bristol Beaufighter first flew in July 1939 and with some modifications entered service with the Royal Air Force in July 1940. In the winter of 1940 - 1941 the Beaufighter was used as a night fighter. and in March 1941 the aircraft was used at Coastal Command as a long range strike aircraft. and in 1941, the Beaufighter arrived in North Africa and used as a forward ground attack aircraft. The Bristol Beaufighter was used also in India, Burma and Australia. A total of 5,564 Beaufighters were built until production in Britain finished in 1945, but a further 364 were built in Australia for the Australian Air Force

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Seastrike by Ivan Berryman.


Seastrike by Ivan Berryman.
6 editions.
2 of the 6 editions feature up to 2 additional signatures.
£2.70 - £400.00

Kiwis at Dallachy - Tribute to No.489 Squadron by Ivan Berryman.


Kiwis at Dallachy - Tribute to No.489 Squadron by Ivan Berryman.
6 of 7 editions available.
£2.70 - £300.00

HMS Valiant and HMS Phoebe at Alexandria, 1941 by Ivan Berryman.


HMS Valiant and HMS Phoebe at Alexandria, 1941 by Ivan Berryman.
8 editions.
One edition features an additional signature.
£2.20 - £5300.00


Strike and Strike Again by Robert Taylor.


Strike and Strike Again by Robert Taylor.
3 of 5 editions available.
3 of 4 editions featuring up to 7 additional signatures are available.
£210.00 - £325.00

Surprise Attack by Ivan Berryman.


Surprise Attack by Ivan Berryman.
3 of 4 editions available.
All 4 editions feature up to 2 additional signatures.
£60.00 - £240.00

Half-Salvo by Ivan Berryman.


Half-Salvo by Ivan Berryman.
4 editions.
One edition features 2 additional signatures.
£40.00 - £320.00


Erich Topp - U-Boat Commander by Jason Askew. (P)


Erich Topp - U-Boat Commander by Jason Askew. (P)
One edition.
The edition features 3 additional signature(s).
£580.00

Beaufighter Attack by Ivan Berryman.


Beaufighter Attack by Ivan Berryman.
4 editions.
All 4 editions feature up to 3 additional signature(s).
£60.00 - £360.00

Buffalo  by Robert Tomlin.


Buffalo by Robert Tomlin.
One edition.
£50.00


Hit and Run - Tribute to No.144 Squadron by Ivan Berryman.


Hit and Run - Tribute to No.144 Squadron by Ivan Berryman.
7 editions.
£2.70 - £1750.00

Raid on Borizo - Tribute to 272 Squadron by Ivan Berryman.


Raid on Borizo - Tribute to 272 Squadron by Ivan Berryman.
6 of 7 editions available.
£2.70 - £300.00

Double Trouble by Stan Stokes.


Double Trouble by Stan Stokes.
3 of 4 editions available.
2 of 3 editions featuring an additional signature are available.
£35.00 - £130.00


Tribute to the Beaufighter Crews of No.89 Sqn by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to the Beaufighter Crews of No.89 Sqn by Ivan Berryman.
6 of 7 editions available.
£2.70 - £400.00

Tribute to Flight Sergeant Ladislaw Bobek by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to Flight Sergeant Ladislaw Bobek by Ivan Berryman.
8 editions.
3 of the 8 editions feature up to 2 additional signatures.
£2.70 - £1500.00

Desert Prang by Geoff Lea.


Desert Prang by Geoff Lea.
5 editions.
One edition features an additional signature.
£27.00 - £1800.00


The Blackest Friday by Ivan Berryman.


The Blackest Friday by Ivan Berryman.
7 of 8 editions available.
£2.70 - £300.00

Trouble Brewing by Keith Aspinall.


Trouble Brewing by Keith Aspinall.
5 editions.
2 of the 5 editions feature up to 2 additional signatures.
£2.95 - £50.00

Mediterranean Fury - Tribute to No.248 Sqn by Ivan Berryman.


Mediterranean Fury - Tribute to No.248 Sqn by Ivan Berryman.
7 editions.
£2.70 - £2200.00


Strike Wing Attack - Beaufighter by Frank Wootton.

Strike Wing Attack - Beaufighter by Frank Wootton.
One edition.
The edition features 5 additional signature(s).
£185.00

Beaufighter Aces of World War Two.

Beaufighter Aces of World War Two.
One edition.
£12.99

RAF North Coates Strike Wing by Robin Smith.

RAF North Coates Strike Wing by Robin Smith.
2 editions.
One edition features 4 additional signatures.
£90.00 - £145.00



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Text for the above items :

Seastrike by Ivan Berryman.

Without doubt one of the most outstanding and versatile aircraft in the Allied inventory during World War II, the Bristol Beaufighter was to endure a cautious reception by its crews when it first entered service, not least due to difficulties experienced by crews attempting to abandon a stricken aircraft in an emergency. Its performance and hard-hitting potential quickly overcame such doubts, however, and it went on to earn a commendable reputation - and the nickname Whispering Death. Here, two 254 Sqn TF. MkXs attack a captured Norwegian vessel in 1945.


Kiwis at Dallachy - Tribute to No.489 Squadron by Ivan Berryman.

The formation of six New Zealand squadrons within the RAF in the early part of WW2 acknowledged the contribution and commitment of the Commonwealth to the campaign against the Nazi invasion of Europe. Among these was 489 Sqn, based at Dallachy in Scotland, whose Beaufighter Mk Xs flew missions against Axis shipping in the North Sea as well as other missions along the Scandinavian coast. Here, two 489 Sqn Beaufighters run up their engines prior to a sortie in the Winter of 1943/44.


HMS Valiant and HMS Phoebe at Alexandria, 1941 by Ivan Berryman.

A pair of 272 Squadron Bristol Beaufighters roar over the extensively rebuilt battleship HMS Valiant as she lies at anchor at Alexandria late in 1941, accompanied by the cruiser HMS Phoebe and Valiants sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth (in the extreme distance)


Strike and Strike Again by Robert Taylor.

By the spring of 1945, Germanys once all-conquering submarine fleet, driven by allied forces from its bases in estern France, had fled to the relative safety of the Norwegian fjords - territory still remaining under German occupation since 1940. In one of Hitlers last stands, more than 100 U-Boats, merchant freighters, flakships, and other military vessels were hathered in the narrow fjords, laying up by day and sailing undercover of darkness. They were a menace that had to be dealt with. Tasked with the difficult job of eliminating this force were the Beaufighters and Mosquitos of RAF Coastal Commands Strike Wings based in Scotland. - Our job was to go after this shipping and sink it - recalled Wing Commader Colin Milson, C.O. of No. 455s Beaufighters. - The fjords were often just 200 - 300 yards across with cliffs rising vertically up 2000 feet, the deep water allowing the German shipping to get in beneath these high overhanging cliffs. This made for difficult and dangerous flying, exacerbated by the heavy flak and machine gun fire that always welcomed us.


Surprise Attack by Ivan Berryman.

The German crew of a Type VII U-boat man the guns as their submarine comes under a surprise attack from a Beaufighter of Coastal Command.


Half-Salvo by Ivan Berryman.

A Bristol Beaufighter of No.248 Sqn, Banff Strike Wing, fires off a half-salvo of four rockets.


Erich Topp - U-Boat Commander by Jason Askew. (P)

A U-Boat is attacked on the surface by a Beaufighter. A portrait of Erich Topp accompanies this scene.


Beaufighter Attack by Ivan Berryman.

A pair of Beaufighters attacking Axis shipping in the North Sea. Without doubt one of the most outstanding and versatile aircraft in the Allied inventory during World War II, the Bristol Beaufighter was to endure a cautious reception by its crews when it first entered service, not least due to difficulties experienced by crews attempting to abandon a stricken aircraft in an emergency. Its performance and hard-hitting potential quickly overcame such doubts, however, and it went on to earn a commendable reputation - and the nickname Whispering Death.


Buffalo by Robert Tomlin.

Beaufighter TFX L2451 EE-M was the personal aircraft of Wing Commander A K (Ken) Gatwood DSO, DFC of 404 Squadron from Davidstow Moor in Cornwall, England. On 21st August 1944, Wing Commander Gatwood was involved in attacking warships at Le Verdon amongst the anti-aircraft fire exploding around him in the sky.


Hit and Run - Tribute to No.144 Squadron by Ivan Berryman.

The Beaufighters of No.144 Sqn wrought havoc on Axis shipping in the North Sea from their base at Dallachy in Scotland during 1944-45. Here, Mk X NT961 (PL-O) has singled out a lone vessel and dealt it the full salvo of rockets and machine gun fire.


Raid on Borizo - Tribute to 272 Squadron by Ivan Berryman.

Taking off from Luqa on the Island of Malta on 28th July 1941, Sqn Ldr A W Fletcher led his 272 Sqn Beaufighters on a strafing attack on the Italian occupied airfield of Borizo, Sicily. Flying T3317, he personally destroyed no fewer than four Savoia Marchetti SM.79s and two Fiat CR.42s on the ground. Just two days later, Fletcher was at it again, this time attacking Cagliari airfield in Sardinia where a further three SM.79s were destroyed.


Double Trouble by Stan Stokes.

The Bristol Beaufighter was one of the most successful twin-engine fighters utilized by the RAF during WW II. The forerunner of the Beaufighter was the Bristol Beaufort, which was the first modern torpedo bomber to enter service. The Beaufort, known officially as the Type-152 was derived from the earlier Type-150, which in turn had been influenced by the Bristol Blenheim. About the time the first Beauforts were being flight tested, the aircrafts chief designer, Leslie Frise, commenced a study to see if the Beauforts airframe could be adapted to create a twin engine fighter design. The modified design (Type-156) incorporated a narrower fuselage, a shorter nose section utilizing a single-seat cockpit, and a dorsal observers position. The prototype Beaufighter made its first flight in July of 1939. A year of flight testing and refinement followed. Only Hercules III engines were available for the first production models. This gave the first marks performance roughly comparable to a Hawker Hurricane. Most Beaus were armed with four nose-mounted canon and an additional six machine guns in the wings. This gave the Beaufighter an impressive amount of firepower. As the Battle of Britain raged priority was given to modifying existing aircraft to the night fighter role. German bombers were relatively free from RAF fighters when attacking at night. The Beaufighter represented an ideal platform for this night fighter role. It was fast enough at 360-MPH to catch German bombers, it was heavily armed, and the observers position was an ideal spot to incorporate a radar operators controls. These night fighter versions were painted a matte black. On October 25, 1940 a Beaufighter recorded its first night victory. The Beaus utilized a transmitting antenna mounted on the nose, and receiving antennas mounted on the leading section of both wings. As the War progressed the Beaufighter would also become an important ground attack and fighter/bomber for the RAF. As depicted in Stan Stokes dramatic painting entitled Double Trouble, an RAF Beaufighter piloted by Group Captain John Cunningham downs a Ju-88 bomber. Cunningham was the RAFs top night fighter ace. He, and his radar operator Jimmy Rawnsley, were credited with nineteen night victories. Cunningham also downed one enemy aircraft during daylight. He served with No. 604 Squadron, which had both a day and night fighter capability. The squadrons night fighting proficiency rose dramatically from late 1940 until mid-1941. By 1943, the Beaufighters were replaced with faster Mosquitoes. Cunningham was demobilized following the War. He joined DeHavilland Aircraft as its Chief Test Pilot following the War, and retired from British Aerospace in 1980.


Tribute to the Beaufighter Crews of No.89 Sqn by Ivan Berryman.

Flying from their bases at Bu Amud in Egypt and Benina and Castel Benito in Libya, 89 Sqn's Bristol Beaufighter night fighters were kept busy in the early months of 1943 against Axis intruders who had been forced into night bombing missions by the total air supremacy of the Allied air forces. Here, a trio of Mk 1Fs bask in a glorious evening cloudscape, the nearest aircraft being V8447 (N), the personal aircraft of Wing Commander Dennis David, an ace with 17 victories to his name.


Tribute to Flight Sergeant Ladislaw Bobek by Ivan Berryman.

On the night of 28th / 29th May 1942, Beaufighter X7583, piloted by Flt Sgt Ladislaw Bobek with Sgt Kovaric as navigator, intercepted a lone Dornier Do217 off the coast of Norfolk, sending it plunging into the North Sea after a 20 minute chase. This was the first of Bobek's victories for 68 Sqn which was made up almost entirely of Czech exiles, the squadron being based at High Ercall. Flt Sgt Ladislaw Bobek would go on to become an Ace with 5 confirmed victories.


Desert Prang by Geoff Lea.

No text for this item


The Blackest Friday by Ivan Berryman.

Following intelligence reports that the German destroyer Z.33 was anchored in Forde Fjord, Norway, together with a selection of minesweepers, tugs and trawlers, Beaufighters of 144, 404 and 455 Sqns were at once scrambled to attack the shipping, fully expecting their assault to take the Germans by surprise. Quite the contrary transpired to be true however and the attacking Beaufighters had to fly through a hail of flak and anti aircraft fire to line up on their targets. Moreover, Focke-Wulf 190s of 9/JG 5 joined the melee and a frantic battle ensued. Here, one Beaufighter has become a victim of an Fw.190, whilst a 144 Sqn aircraft tries to make a low level escape, close to the forbidding Fjord rock face.


Trouble Brewing by Keith Aspinall.

Beaufighter and Torbeau of Coastal Command.


Mediterranean Fury - Tribute to No.248 Sqn by Ivan Berryman.

Providing vital support to the Pedestal convoy in 1942, No.248 Sqn were in action from their base on the island of Malta when, on 21st August, Sgt Ron Hammond destroyed a probable two aircraft in a single sortie. Flying Bristol Beaufighter T4843 (WR-X), he first dispatched a Ju88 and then found himself on the tail of a Fiat BR.20. Approaching on the enemy's right quarter, Hammond shot up the BR.20's starboard engine, the raking fire ripping through the wing and along the fuselage, eventually tearing off the port tailfin, which spun away, perilously close to his own aircraft. The Fiat was seen to spin out of control, plunging into the sea below.


Strike Wing Attack - Beaufighter by Frank Wootton.

Coastal Command Strike Wings by Neil Wheeler

It was not until ten years ago that the first detailed account appeared recording the achievements and sacrifices of the Beaufighter anti-shipping Strike Wings. Surprisingly, these important and, as a whole, very successful activites seemed to have been forgotten in the years immediately after the war. Until 1942 the attack of enemy shipping, particularly that to and from Dutch ports and North German and Scandinavian ports, ahd been carried out in the main by individual attacks by bomber aircraft, at times with considerable losses. The concept of using a Wing of Beaufighters, with two squadrons to suppress enemy anti-aircraft fire and one with torpedoes to sink the ships in the convoy, gradually developed in 1942. Unfortunately, the first strike on 20th November 1942 was disastrous, largely through failure to rendezvous with the fighter escort, the casualties were heavy and the results poor. The Wing was not to operate again until 18th April 1943, and only after a thorough revision of tactics and much training. That strike, which I led, was an unqualified success ans Strike Wings were, so to speak, born. They continued with great success until the end of the war. Initially, the casualties that were suffered were extremely high, particularly in 1943 before the Allies achieved overwhelming air supremacy. But they continued to be high because most were due to the concentrated anti-aircraft fire from the ships in the convoys. I understand that the casualties were about the same as Bomber Command. However, the Strike Wings, as a considerably smaller force in comparison, inflicted far greater losses on the enemy relative to their own.

Account of the operation on 21st July 1944 - Philip Brett

This was my second operational flight. On my first I had had a three foot hole blown in my tailplane, teaching me that shipping strikes were indeed dangerous. This time I was carrying my first live torpedo and I realised I now had to do in anger what I had done a hundred times in enjoyable practice runs. I was expected to fly at a height of 150 feet and a speed of 180 knots, keeping straight and level until I was within about half a mile of an enemy ship, with cameras recording what I was actually doing when I made my drop. To add to my nervousness we were told that the convoy consisted of nine merchantmen guarded by no less than 31 escort vessels. Fear was forgotten in the concentration needed to fly very low across the North Sea in close squadron formation but it reasserted itself sharply enough immediately the ships appeared. The convoy was as big as promised. The anti-flak squadrons, 455 (Australian) 489 (New Zealand) and 404 (Canadian) began their climb. Our leader, Squadron Leader Robin Burwell, held 144 back, aiming to brings us in to the ships just as the anti-flak aircraft completed their work. On his order - Attack, Attack - we spread out as briefed, choosing individually the biggest targets we could find and setting our travelling light torpedo sights accordingly. The other squadrons had caused havoc. There was smoke everywhere on the sea and in the sky. Explosions were occurring along the whole length of the convoy. I came in like a good new boy, doing just what I had been told. I was aware of a sort of sparkling curtain between me and my target and the pretty tracer curving gracefully towards us, but I was concerned only with speed and height and the need to wait until the ship grew large. My torpedo gone, I could at last ram open the throttles and take violent evasive action as I climbed through the flak from my target and the surrounding escort vessels into the safer sky beyond. As we circled the scene of the attack there were still bursts of heavy flak everywhere above the convoy. Some of the aircraft seemed to be having a second go. Many of the ships below were enveloped in smoke and steam and several were blazing - Bill Boorer, my navigator, thought our merchantman was one of them. We set course for our base, Strubby, in Lincolnshire, and landed in the dark, unscathed. At debriefing everyone told of the severe damage that had been inflicted but no-one could be really sure of who had done what. The next day I heard that, from my aircraft cameras and all the other evidence, my torpedo had been assessed as a hit.


Beaufighter Aces of World War Two.

Entering service at the end of the Battle of Britain, the pugnacious Bristol Beaufighter was deployed in numbers by Fighter Command just in time for the start of the Luftwaffes night Blitz on Britain. Flown by specialised nightfighter squadrons - several of them elite pre-war Auxiliary Air Force units - it was the first nightfighter to be equipped with an airborne radar as standard. Thus equipped, it combined the ability to see the enemy at night with the devastating hitting power of four cannon and six machine guns. This book covers the exploits of the men who made ace in the Beaufighter and includes stunning original artwork together with first hand accounts of the action.


RAF North Coates Strike Wing by Robin Smith.

The print depicts the three squadrons that comprised the first, and most successful Coastal Command strike wing, based at RAF North Coates, Lincolnshire. Using Beaufighters nicknamed whispering death due to their speed and armament and low noise, they worked together as a team, destroying enemy shipping with terrifying efficiency. A Beaufighter from 143 Squadron would go in first using 20mm nose cannon and wing guns. Secondly a Beaufighter from 236 Squadron would follow with eight 60lb or 25lb rockets - 25lb warheads were found to be more effective as they penetrated deeper into the hull, creating more damage. These two initial attacks reduced the on-deck anti aircraft initiative. You only have to look at some of the spectacular photos of convoys under attack, the ships can hardly be seen for water spray and explosions. This mayhem allowed a 254 Squadron Beaufighter with its 21in torpedo to finish the job off. The three squadrons operated together on three occasions during the war at North Coates, October 1942 - August 1944, February 1944 - May 1944 and September 1944 - October 1944.

This painting was commissioned for a reunion of association members at the North Coates airfield in May 2001

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