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Marechallannes
04-27-2013, 04:46
August 1943 – a RAAF Beaufighter from No. 30 Squadron make a long range patrol near the coast of New Guinea.
Called “Whispering Death” by his enemies, this powerful twin-engine plane looks for costal batteries, single ships and supply units to bring death upon the Japanese invaders.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=87746&d=1366983083

A nearby Japanese fighter patrol detects the Allied plane and commences the attack.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=87745&d=1366983083

The Japs, a Kawasaki KI-61-I-KAIC Hien & a Kawasaki KI-61-IB-Hien, split their formation to attack the Beaufighter, that still heads straight on.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=87747&d=1366983083

A false estimation brings the KI-61-I in range of the Beaufighter and a powerful long range burst of his cannon armament let the Jap explodes in the air.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=87742&d=1366982912

With an elegant Immelmann maneuver the Australian pilot brings his plane in the direction of his second opponent.

A third KI-61-I-KAIC Hien reinforces his comrade.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=87743&d=1366982912

The newcomer manages to damage the Beaufighter’s engine but gets heavy fire in return…

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=87744&d=1366982912

Unfortunately we had to interrupt the fight at this point. :hmm:

We used altitude rules to test if it’s possible to outmaneuver the Beaufighter with two faster and more agile KI-61s.

The plan of my gaming buddy failed when he split of his formation to surround me & hold the same altitude, so the first long range shot was paid with the loss of one plane. Part two of his strategy, to attract the Beaufighter with one plane to get behind him with the other one failed too. The twin-engine gunship pretended the tact.

I think there are chances to outmaneuver the Beaufighter, but you need two regular fighters and an approach on different altitude levels. Start to curve and maneuver near to it. That raises the chances to survive and maybe to win the fight.

Like versus medium bombers special damage could quickly turn the game, like the engine damage, the Beaufighter recieved by the third Jap plane.

gully_raker
04-27-2013, 18:54
:thumbsup: Great to see you flying for 30 Squadron the same as I do Sven. That Sqd has a rich history in the New Guinea campaign & I recently got a DVD doco of Damian Parers War footage of 30 Sqd Aircraft in action from Port Morsby & in the Bismark Sea Jap convoy attacks.

I am now jealous :envy: as I see how large the Base is for the Beaus.

I also think its a bit too much to ask a Beau to out fight 3 Kawasakis!:eek:

Marechallannes
04-27-2013, 23:58
:thumbsup: Great to see you flying for 30 Squadron the same as I do Sven. That Sqd has a rich history in the New Guinea campaign & I recently got a DVD doco of Damian Parers War footage of 30 Sqd Aircraft in action from Port Morsby & in the Bismark Sea Jap convoy attacks.

I did a search in the world wide web to find a RAAF Beaufighter Squadron that operated in the South-West Pacific.

No. 30 Squadron was the first choice, so I add my "Aussi Beau" to this Squadron. ;)

This squadron will be an important part of my personal New Guinea solo campaign, when my pilots from VF-8 (USS Hornet) continue to fight the Japanese after the Battle of Midway.


I also think its a bit too much to ask a Beau to out fight 3 Kawasakis!:eek:

Depending on the pilot skills or his mission objectives, Barry.

We decided to add a third Japanese plane when the first one was pulverized with the real first shot.

gully_raker
05-01-2013, 00:13
I did a search in the world wide web to find a RAAF Beaufighter Squadron that operated in the South-West Pacific.

No. 30 Squadron was the first choice, so I add my "Aussi Beau" to this Squadron. ;)

This squadron will be an important part of my personal New Guinea solo campaign, when my pilots from VF-8 (USS Hornet) continue to fight the Japanese after the Battle of Midway.



Depending on the pilot skills or his mission objectives, Barry.

We decided to add a third Japanese plane when the first one was pulverized with the real first shot.

Yes those Beaus do put out a nasty lot of lead!

Sven, you might like to copy this image of 30 Squadrons insignia.

88104

Incidently there is a nice Squadron History on Wiki if you would like to read it.

Marechallannes
05-01-2013, 00:24
I think they will well work together with my carrier based US boys.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=88105&d=1367392961

I think I'll convert a P40 into an RAAF version, too.

Flying Officer Kyte
05-01-2013, 11:48
Very nice little action Sven.
I really must add one of those Beaufighters to my collection when I get it.
How big are they compared to a WWI two seater? Will they fit the same Hanger?
Rob.

Nightbomber
05-01-2013, 12:48
I would like to see the fight unfolding, Sven, for I am still thinking of getting B-fighters and add them to my collection. Unfortunately they are not available in local country stores...Well, let's wait and see...

calm
05-01-2013, 14:02
Very nice AAR ! :pint:

Zoe Brain
05-01-2013, 14:21
Very nice little action Sven.
I really must add one of those Beaufighters to my collection when I get it.
How big are they compared to a WWI two seater? Will they fit the same Hanger?
Rob.
Comparable to Rumplers/RE8s. Smaller than DH4s/Br14s. Larger than Rolands.

gully_raker
05-01-2013, 18:27
I think they will well work together with my carrier based US boys.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=88105&d=1367392961

I think I'll convert a P40 into an RAAF version, too.

:D Here is one that looks nice!

88179

And a Nexus one I converted.

88180

Lloydthegamer
05-01-2013, 21:20
Very interesting battle. I think your Beaufighter was a bit more pugnacious than those in real life. Here's a link to a site you might enjoy browsing. The journal "Whisperer" The Newsletter of the Beaufighter and Boston Association of Queensland was published between Oct. 1999 and Dec. 2006 when it was discontinued. It is chock full of interesting material on these Aussie attack bombers. Here's the internet addy

http://www.ozatwar.com/raaf/whisperer/newsletter.htm

gully_raker
05-02-2013, 03:38
:thumbsup:Thanks for that really great link Lloyd. Chock full of great stories.

Baldrick62
05-02-2013, 06:34
Lloyd, Thanks for posting a fascinating link! The photos of the 312BG Bostons in the Jan 2000 issue are amazing.

Flying Officer Kyte
05-02-2013, 07:01
Yet another really useful source for me Lloyd. As a WWII newby, I need all the references like this that I can get. I'm on a very steep learning curve.
Rob.

richard m schwab
05-02-2013, 19:29
Sven

A very nice report! Two KI-61`s in a tight formation will shred most opponents.

Rich

Marechallannes
05-02-2013, 21:46
Right, Richard.

That's something I need to train with my gaming buddy/wingman. :fixit:

We have a meeting with a bunch of skilled Spitfire & Hurricane pilots in July. :erk:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=83366&d=1364483757

Carl_Brisgamer
05-02-2013, 23:26
Hi Sven,

Great to see the Beaufighter on the map. I look forward to seeing more Beaufighter action in your New Guinea campaign.

Cheers,

Carl.

richard m schwab
05-04-2013, 04:29
Something to add to this discussion!:thumbsup:


Rich


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psUvAUw37D8

Lt. S.Kafloc
05-04-2013, 15:06
Lovely aircraft, would love to see the mosquito if they do one or get round to doing one.

Tonx
04-03-2015, 19:08
A great AAR detailing just what an amazing piece of kit the Beaufighter is. The Mk IVF really can pump things full of lead particularly at short range ... try five Axis aircraft of two different types whilst remaining virtually unscathed in my experience :clap:

Thunderbolt
05-04-2015, 11:40
Interesting battle Sven. Such an encounter requires excellent flight skills from Japanese pilots, as coming in front of B-fighter is always deadly!

OldGuy59
05-31-2017, 11:22
Just looking through a book here in the Comox Air Force Museum, and ran across an interesting point.

Australian-built Beaufighters, the Mk XXIs, were equipped with 4 .50s, not 6 .303s. Can't find when they were put into operation, but Jan 1945-ish?

This would require a bit of a change to Plane cards.

OldGuy59
05-31-2017, 14:26
More research, cause I can...

World War Photos - Beaufighter Mk V with Boulton Paul Turret (http://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/uk/raf/beaufighter/bristol-beaufighter-mkv-r2274-with-boulton-paul-turret/)

I thought this might be a really bad (good?) Q-ship of a plane. However, it isn't an additional four .303 mgs. They took out all 6 wing mgs and two 20mm cannons to get the turret fitted. Not a successful trial.

In addition to that attempt, there is a version trialling two 40mm cannons in place of the four 20mms.

And then, there is the 200 gallon drop tank fitment for extra range, or the two 500 lb and two 250 lb bomb load-out for D-Day. These last two were actually used operationally.

Carl_Brisgamer
06-01-2017, 00:25
Just looking through a book here in the Comox Air Force Museum, and ran across an interesting point.

Australian-built Beaufighters, the Mk XXIs, were equipped with 4 .50s, not 6 .303s. Can't find when they were put into operation, but Jan 1945-ish?

This would require a bit of a change to Plane cards.

I have been doing a little bit of research and found a notation that the third production DAP Mk 21 Beaufighter A8-3 was delivered to 1AD on 2/7/1944 was used on 27/7/1944 by 1 APU for 'armament service trials' including 50 caliber wing gun mountings and locally manufactured 20mm cannon. The RAAF Museum notation for the Mk.21 lists the armament as 4 x .50 cals and 2 x 20mm. Given the timing of the trial I would suggest at least some of the early production aircraft were likely delivered with the old .303 cal armament, but they may well have been modified in the field. The 'ADF serials' webpage lists the first deliveries to operational units in September 1944 (http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a8.htm), plenty of time to convert the first dozen or so completed aircraft to the new armament loadout.

Gotham Resident
06-01-2017, 10:21
Oh, good research finds gents! Lots of variants we can use.

I like this - lots of cards to allow for "personalization" and then use my single plane as a proxy for each one.