The Israeli Air Force Museum is located at Hatzerim Airbase in the Negev desert in Israel.
130-530: The museum was established in 1977 and has been open to the public since 1991. The museum displays a variety of Israeli Air Force and foreign aircraft, as well as anti aircraft arms. Soldiers from the Israeli Air Force serve as the museum staff. The museum houses hundreds of models of fighter aircraft that served in the Israeli Air Force as well as actual fighter jets that have been retired from service or captured by Israel. Some of these aircraft, such as
260-674: A civilian casualty ratio of 1:30, or one civilian casualty for every thirty combatant casualties, in its airstrikes on militants in the Palestinian territories . Alan Dershowitz noted that "No army in history has ever had a better ratio of combatants to civilians killed in a comparable setting". The IAF played a critical role in the 2006 Lebanon War . IAF strikes—mainly, though not exclusively, in southern Lebanon —were aimed at stopping rocket launches by Hezbollah 's militia targeting Israeli towns. The IAF flew more than 12,000 combat missions during this war. The most notable, taking place during
390-591: A Beaufighter conducted a raid which Moyes said was "perhaps the most impudent of the war". T4800 , a Beaufighter Mk.1C of No. 236 Squadron, flew from Thorney Island to occupied Paris at an extremely low altitude in daylight to drop a tricolore on the Arc de Triomphe and strafe the Gestapo headquarters in the Place de la Concorde . The Beaufighter soon commenced service overseas, where its ruggedness and reliability quickly made
520-507: A bombing raid) were delivered. Flight tests found that the Merlins left the aircraft underpowered, with a pronounced tendency to swing to port, making take-offs and landings difficult and resulting in a high accident rate – out of 337 Merlin-powered aircraft, 102 were lost to accidents. On 2 April 1940, R2052 was delivered to the RAF; it was followed by R2053 two weeks later. On 27 July 1940,
650-562: A cannon-only armament. The design of the cannons and the armament configuration was revised on most aircraft. The addition of six .303 Browning machine guns made the Beaufighter the most heavily armed fighter aircraft in the world, capable of delivering a theoretical weight of fire of up to 780 lb (350 kg) per minute; the practical rate of fire was much lower due to gun overheating and ammunition capacity. Further armament trials and experimental modifications were performed throughout
780-490: A complete " power egg "; the design and approach of the Beaufighter's Merlin installation was later incorporated into the design for the much larger Avro Lancaster bomber. Success with the Merlin-equipped aircraft was expected to lead to production aircraft in 1941. In June 1940, the first Merlin-powered aircraft conducted its first flight. In late 1940, the two Merlin-equipped prototypes (the third having been destroyed in
910-629: A dark blue background. The service's most senior-ranking active officer is the air force commander, which is the billet of a major general ( aluf ), and reports directly to the IDF Chief of Staff . Bristol Beaufighter The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter (often called the Beau) is a British multi-role aircraft developed during the Second World War by the Bristol Aeroplane Company . It
1040-702: A fighter development of the Beaufort to the Air Ministry . The timing of the suggestion happened to coincide with delays in the development and production of the Westland Whirlwind cannon-armed twin-engine fighter. While there was some scepticism that the aircraft was too big for a fighter, the proposal was given a warm reception by the Air Staff . The Air Ministry produced draft Specification F.11/37 in response to Bristol's suggestion for an "interim" aircraft, pending
1170-461: A long-range heavy fighter aircraft such as the Beaufighter and in early 1941, Bristol proceeded with the development of the Beaufighter Mk.IC long-range fighter. Based on the standard Mk.I model, the initial batch of 97 Coastal Command Beaufighters were hastily manufactured, making it impossible to incorporate the intended additional wing fuel tanks on the production line and so 50-gallon tanks from
1300-545: A loss of 120 Beaufighters and 241 aircrew killed or missing. This was half the total tonnage sunk by all strike wings between 1942 and 1945. The Beaufighter arrived at squadrons in Asia and the Pacific in mid-1942. A British journalist said that Japanese soldiers called it the "whispering death" for its quiet engines, although this is not supported by Japanese sources. The Beaufighter's Hercules engines used sleeve valves , which lacked
1430-645: A loss of between 5 and 21 for the Israelis, on all fronts. No official numbers were released on the Arab side, though total Egyptian losses were between 235 and 242 aircraft. Syria lost between 135 and 179. Since the war, most of Israel's military aircraft have been obtained from the United States. Among these are the F-4 Phantom II , A-4 Skyhawk , F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon . The Israeli Air Force has operated
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#17328759208951560-509: A munitions factory south of Khartoum. The Israeli Air Force also operates surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery units. Since 1990 their primary role has been the interception of surface-to-surface missiles and rockets fired into Israel. In 2011 the IAF began operating the ' Iron Dome ' anti-rocket missile system, which within a year had successfully intercepted and destroyed 93 rockets fired at Israeli towns from Gaza. In November 2012,
1690-565: A number of domestically produced types such as the IAI Nesher , and later, the more advanced IAI Kfir , which were derivatives of the French Dassault Mirage 5 . The Kfir was adapted to utilize a more powerful U.S. engine, produced under license in Israel. On July 4, 1976, four Israeli C-130 Hercules transport aircraft secretly flew to Entebbe Airport for a rescue operation . In March 1978,
1820-577: A shortage of Hercules engines being expected, jeopardising the aircraft's manufacturing rate. The next variant, the Beaufighter Mk.II , used the Merlin engine instead. On 22 March 1941, the first production Beaufighter Mk.II, R2270 , conducted its maiden flight; squadron deliveries commenced in late April 1941. By mid-1941, manufacture of the Beaufighter varied to meet the demands of RAF Fighter Command and RAF Coastal Command . Early aircraft were able to be outfitted and perform with either command but later,
1950-420: Is a fighter derivative of the Beaufort torpedo-bomber. It is a twin-engine two-seat long-range day and night fighter. The aircraft employed an all-metal monocoque construction, comprising three sections with extensive use of 'Z-section' frames and 'L-section' longeron . The wing of the Beaufighter used a mid-wing cantilever all-metal monoplane arrangement, also constructed out of three sections. Structurally,
2080-574: Is also an exhibit of fighter jet parts explaining their uses, an anti-aircraft weapons display, a photography exhibition, and an exhibition titled "Pull to Life" about the 669 Tactical Airborne Rescue and Evacuation Unit . During Passover and Independence Day , the Air Force displays active aircraft at the museum, such as the F-15I Ra'am, F-16I Sufa , and Boeing AH-64 Apache , and presents special flyovers and activities for children. The cornerstone for
2210-476: The Beaufort concluded that it had great structural strength and stiffness in the wings, nacelles, undercarriage and tail, so that the aircraft could be readily developed further for greater speed and manoeuvrability akin to a fighter-class aircraft. The Bristol design team, led by Leslie Frise , commenced the development of a cannon-armed fighter derivative as a private venture. The prospective aircraft had to share
2340-571: The Gaza Strip . Seventeen trucks were bombed, and thirty-nine smugglers were killed in the strike. On April 5, 2011, a car driving from Port Sudan Airport to Port Sudan was destroyed by a missile. Both passengers were killed. one of whom may have been a senior Hamas military commander. The Sudanese Foreign Minister blamed the attack on Israel. Sudanese newspapers reported that Israeli aircraft attacked Gaza-bound arms convoys again in late 2011. On October 24, 2012, Sudan claimed that Israel had bombed
2470-633: The Korean War . Israel Defence Forces had until 1995 denied women the opportunity to become pilots. In 1995, civilian pilot and aeronautical engineer Alice Miller successfully petitioned the Israel High Court of Justice to take the Israeli Air Force pilot training exams, after being rejected on grounds of gender. The court in 1996 eventually ruled that the IAF could not exclude qualified women from pilot training. Even though Miller would not pass
2600-679: The Ministry of Defense's Engineering and Construction Department and the Air Force announced an architecture competition to design the new Air Force Museum in Hatzerim, which, according to the Ministry of Defense, "will serve as a heritage center for the Air Force and a showcase for the Israeli aviation world." The competition was won by the Haifa-based architecture firm "Schwartz Besnosoff." In February 2022, it
2730-664: The South West Pacific Theatre , the Beaufighter Mk.IC was commonly employed in anti-shipping missions. The most famous of these was the Battle of the Bismarck Sea , during which Beaufighters were used in a fire-suppression role in a mixed force with USAAF Douglas A-20 Boston and North American B-25 Mitchell bombers. Earlier in the battle, eight Beauforts from No. 100 Squadron RAAF at Milne Bay had unsuccessfully attacked
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#17328759208952860-624: The Suez Canal into Egypt. Israeli forces fanned north and south, destroying Egyptian rear units and punching holes through its air defence array. This allowed the IAF the freedom of action it was previously denied and renewed attacks led to the collapse of the Egyptian Air Defence Force . This prompted increased diplomatic activity to resolve the war, coupled with increased activity by the Egyptian Air Force. From about October 18 to
2990-741: The Supermarine Spitfire "Black Spit" of Ezer Weizman and the yellow Harvard aircraft, are maintained in flying condition and even participate in various air shows. The museum includes historic aircraft such as the Mirage 3 Shahak 159 with 13 kills, the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 that was smuggled from Iraq in Operation Diamond , the Lavi built by Israel Aerospace Industries , an F-15 Baz with 4 kills, and an F-16 Netz 107 with 6.5 kills. There
3120-475: The Type 156 was given the name 'Beaufighter'. During early development, Bristol had formalised multiple configurations for the prospective aircraft, including variations such as a proposed three-seat bomber outfitted with a dorsal gun turret with a pair of cannons, the Type 157 and what Bristol referred to as a "sports model", with a thinner fuselage, the Type 158 . Bristol proceeded to suggest their concept for
3250-469: The Vickers Wellington were temporarily installed on the floor between the cannon bays. In April/May 1941, this new variant of the Beaufighter entered squadron service in a detachment from 252 Squadron operating from Malta . This inaugural deployment with the squadron proved to be highly successful, leading to the type being retained in that theatre throughout the remainder of the war. In June 1941,
3380-494: The Yom Kippur War broke out on October 6, 1973, Egyptian and Syrian advances forced the IAF to abandon detailed plans for the destruction of enemy air defences . Forced to operate under the missile and anti-aircraft artillery threats, the close air support it provided allowed Israeli troops on the ground to stem the tide and eventually go on the offensive. Since that war most of Israel's military aircraft have been obtained from
3510-802: The aerial and space warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence . As of April 2022 , Aluf Tomer Bar has been serving as the Air Force commander. The Israeli Air Force was established using commandeered or donated civilian aircraft and obsolete and surplus World War II combat aircraft . Eventually, more aircraft were procured, including Boeing B-17s , Bristol Beaufighters , de Havilland Mosquitoes and P-51D Mustangs . The Israeli Air Force played an important part in Operation Kadesh , Israel's part in
3640-570: The "Mk.21". Design changes included Hercules VII or XVIII engines and some minor changes in armament. By September 1945, when British production ended, 5,564 Beaufighters had been built by Bristol and the Fairey Aviation Company at Stockport and RAF Ringway (498); also by the Ministry of Aircraft Production (3336) and Rootes at Blythe Bridge (260). When Australian production ceased in 1946, 364 Mk.21s had been built. The Bristol Beaufighter
3770-402: The 1,000 hp Bristol Taurus engines on the Beaufort. The Hercules was a considerably larger and more powerful engine which required larger propellers. To obtain adequate ground clearance, the engines were mounted centrally on the wing, as opposed to the underslung position on the Beaufort. In October 1938, the project, which received the internal name Type 156 , was outlined. In March 1939,
3900-668: The 1956 Suez Crisis , dropping paratroopers at the Mitla Pass . On June 5, 1967, the first day of the Six-Day War , the Israeli Air Force performed Operation Focus , debilitating the opposing Arab air forces and attaining air supremacy for the remainder of the war. Shortly after the end of the Six-Day War, Egypt initiated the War of Attrition , and the Israeli Air Force performed repeated bombings of strategic targets deep within enemy territory. When
4030-868: The Beaufighter but it was soon passed over in favour of the rival Griffon engine, as the Hercules VI required extensive development. Due to production of the Griffon being reserved for the Fairey Firefly , the Air Ministry instead opted for the Rolls-Royce Merlin to power the Beaufighter until the manufacturing rate of the Hercules could be raised by a new shadow factory in Accrington . The standard Merlin XX-powered aircraft
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4160-511: The Beaufighter rose rapidly upon the commencement of production. Through 1940–41, the manufacturing rate of the Beaufighter steadily rose. On 7 December 1940, the 100th Filton-built aircraft was dispatched; the 200th Filton-built aircraft followed on 10 May 1941. On 7 March 1941, the first Fairey-built Beaufighter Mk.I performed its first test flight; the first Weston-built aircraft reached the same milestone on 20 February 1941. The volume of production involved, along with other factors, had led to
4290-740: The Beaufighter were manufactured in Australia by the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP); such aircraft are sometimes referred to by the name DAP Beaufighter . The concept of the Beaufighter has its origins in 1938. During the Munich Crisis , the Bristol Aeroplane Company recognised that the Royal Air Force (RAF) had an urgent need for a long-range fighter aircraft capable of carrying heavy payloads for maximum destruction. Evaluation of
4420-408: The Beaufighter's operational life. By mid-1941, 20 Beaufighters were reserved for test purposes, including engine development, stability and manoeuvrability improvements and other purposes. In May 1941, the Beaufighter Mk.IIs R2274 and R2306 , were modified to the Beaufighter Mk.III standard; removing the six wing guns and two inboard cannons to install a Boulton-Paul -built four-gun turret behind
4550-529: The Beaufighter-equipped 272 Squadron based on Malta claimed the destruction of 49 enemy aircraft and the damaging of 42 more. The Beaufighter was reputedly very effective in the Mediterranean against Axis shipping, aircraft and ground targets; Coastal Command was, at one point, the majority user of the Beaufighter, replacing its inventory of obsolete Beaufort and Blenheim aircraft. To meet demand, both
4680-608: The Beaufighters during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea was recorded by war correspondent and film-maker Damien Parer , who had flown during the engagement standing behind the pilot of one of the No. 30 Squadron aircraft; the engagement led to the Beaufighter becoming one of the more well-known aircraft in Australian service during the conflict. On 2 November 1943, another high-profile event involving
4810-462: The Beaufort, having been deemed insufficiently powerful for a fighter, were replaced by more powerful two-speed supercharger-equipped Bristol Hercules radial engines . These powered three-bladed Rotol constant-speed propellers ; both fully feathering metal and wooden blades were used. The extra power had presented vibration issues during development; in the final design, the engines were mounted on longer and more flexible struts, which extended from
4940-409: The Beaufort, while the wing centre section was similar apart from certain fittings. The areas for the rear gunner and bomb-aimer were removed, leaving only the pilot in a fighter-type cockpit. The navigator-radar operator sat to the rear under a small Perspex bubble where the Beaufort's dorsal turret had been. Both crew-members had their own hatch in the floor of the aircraft. The front hatch was behind
5070-461: The Egyptian advance from Gaza northwards. On May 30, after un-assembled planes were strafed on the ground at Ekron airfield , the fighters were moved to makeshift strip located around the current Herzliya Airport . The airfield was used as it was a bit back from the front-lines, and was clandestine since it was a purpose built strip, that was constructed after the beginning of hostilities, in between
5200-710: The Fairey and Weston production lines were, at times, only producing Coastal Command Beaufighters. In 1941, to intensify offensive air operations against Germany and deter the deployment of Luftwaffe forces onto the Eastern Front , Coastal Command Beaufighters began offensive operations over France and Belgium, attacking enemy shipping in European waters. In December 1941, Beaufighters participated in Operation Archery , providing suppressing fire while British Commandos landed on
5330-517: The Greek island of Paros . This is possibly Beaufighter TF.X LX998 of 603 Squadron , which was shot down after destroying a German Arado Ar 196 during an anti-shipping mission in November 1943. The Australian crew survived and were rescued by a British submarine. A Mk.VIC Beaufighter, serial A19-130, lies in 204 feet (62 m) of water, just off the coast of Fergusson Island in the western Pacific. It
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5460-642: The Hamas-held Gaza Strip. In December 2008, the IAF spearheaded Operation Cast Lead , carrying out more than 2,360 air strikes. It had a principal role in destroying Hamas targets, and killed several senior Hamas commanders, including Said Seyam , Nizar Rayan , Tawfik Jaber , and Abu Zakaria al-Jamal . According to a CBS news report, in January 2009 Israeli planes struck a convoy of trucks in Sudan headed for Egypt and carrying weapons apparently meant for
5590-453: The IAF began preparing for a pre-emptive strike against Egyptian and Syrian airfields and anti-aircraft positions. The Israeli government decided against pre-emption. IAF aircraft were therefore in the process of re-armament to the air-to-air role when Yom Kippur War hostilities began at 14:00. The next morning began with Operation Tagar , a SEAD offensive against Egyptian air defences, beginning with strikes against Egyptian air bases. Tagar
5720-536: The IAF carried out Operation Mole Cricket 19 , crippling the Syrian air defence array. In subsequent aerial battles against the Syrian Air Force , the IAF managed to shoot down 86 Syrian aircraft without losing a single fighter plane in an air-to-air combat. IAF AH-1 Cobra helicopter gunships destroyed dozens of Syrian armored fighting vehicles and other ground targets, including some T-72 main battle tanks . In
5850-677: The IAF carried out Operation Solomon which brought Ethiopian Jews to Israel. In 1993 and 1996, the IAF participated in Operation Accountability and Operation Grapes of Wrath , respectively. In the late 1990s, the IAF began acquiring the F-15I Ra'am (Thunder) and the F-16I Sufa (Storm), manufactured specially for Israel according to IAF requirements. The first of 102 F-16I Sufas arrived in April 2004, joining an F-16 fleet that had already been
5980-467: The IAF consisted of 25 Avia S-199s purchased from Czechoslovakia , essentially Czechoslovak -built Messerschmitt Bf 109s , and 60 Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IXEs, the first of which, "Israel 1", was locally assembled from British abandoned spare parts and a salvaged engine from an Egyptian Air Force Spitfire, with most of the rest purchased from Czechoslovakia. Israel's new fighter-arm first went into action on May 29, 1948, assisting efforts to halt
6110-476: The IAF participated in Operation Accountability and Operation Grapes of Wrath , respectively. It has taken part in many operations since, including the 2006 Lebanon War , Operation Cast Lead , Operation Pillar of Cloud , Operation Protective Edge , Operation Guardian of the Walls and Operation Swords of Iron . On September 6, 2007, the Israeli Air Force successfully bombed an alleged Syrian nuclear reactor in Operation Orchard . The Israeli Air Force states
6240-469: The IAF participated in Operation Pillar of Defense , during which, according to the IDF Spokesperson , Israeli forces targeted more than 1,500 military sites in Gaza Strip, including rocket launching pads, smuggling tunnels, command centers, and weapons manufacturing and storage facilities. Many of these attacks were carried out by the Air Force. Between July 8 and August 5, 2014, the IAF participated in Operation Protective Edge , during which, according to
6370-477: The IAF was forced to operate under the SAM threat. Nevertheless, the close air support it provided allowed Israeli troops on the ground to stem the tide and eventually go on the offensive, first in the north and later in the south. After the failure of the Israeli counter-offensive in the Sinai on October 8, the southern front remained relatively static and the IAF focused its attention on the Syrian front. While A-4 Skyhawks provided much needed support to troops on
6500-399: The IAF's impressive performance in the Six-Day War, the Lyndon Johnson administration decided to sell F-4 Phantom fighters to Israel in 1968, marking the first sale of American military equipment to Israel. Shortly after the end of the Six-Day War, Egypt initiated the War of Attrition , hoping to prevent Israel from consolidating its hold over the lands captured in 1967. Israel's goal in
6630-419: The IDF Spokesperson, Israeli forces targeted 4,762 terror sites across the Gaza Strip, including rocket launching sites, command and control centers, military administration facilities, weapons storage and manufacturing facilities and training and military compounds. In May 2021, Israeli artillery and air force carried out 1,500 strikes on Gaza during Operation Guardian of the Walls . Starting in October 2023,
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#17328759208956760-428: The Israeli Air Force carried out Operation Mole Cricket 19 , crippling Syrian air defences in Lebanon. On October 1, 1985, In response to a PLO terrorist attack which murdered three Israeli civilians in Cyprus , the Israeli air force carried out Operation Wooden Leg , bombing the PLO Headquarters in Tunis . In 1991, the IAF carried out Operation Solomon which brought Ethiopian Jews to Israel. In 1993 and 1996,
6890-421: The Israeli Air Force fulfilled a main role in the war against Hamas . The civil war raging within Israel's northern neighbor, has occasionally witnessed activity by the IAF, some overt, some unacknowledged and some merely attributed. Notable actions include: In the Israel–Gaza war beginning in October 2023, the IAF played a major role through its bombing of Gaza and subsequent support for ground troops in
7020-495: The Israeli Air Force participated in Operation Litani . On June 7, 1981, eight IAF F-16A fighters covered by six F-15A jets carried out Operation Opera to destroy the Iraqi nuclear facilities at Osiraq. Among the pilots who took part in the attack was Ilan Ramon , later Israel's first astronaut . Prior to the 1982 Lebanon War , Syria, with the help of the Soviet Union , had built up an overlapping network of surface-to-air missiles in Lebanon 's Beqaa Valley . On June 9, 1982,
7150-435: The Israeli Navy in capturing the Egyptian Navy destroyer Ibrahim el Awal , which had bombarded the Israeli city of Haifa – an airstrike damaged the Egyptian ship's engines, enabling Israeli ships to reach it and capture it. In three hours on the morning of June 5, 1967, the first day of the Six-Day War , the Israeli Air Force executed Operation Focus , crippling the opposing Arab air forces and attaining air supremacy for
7280-479: The Israelis. The Israeli Air Force played an important part in Operation Kadesh , Israel's part in the 1956 Suez Crisis . At the launch of the operation, on October 29, Israeli P-51D Mustangs , some using their propeller blades, severed telephone lines in the Sinai . 16 IAF DC-3s – escorted by fighters – dropped Israeli paratroopers behind Egyptian lines at the Mitla Pass and Et-Tur. The Israeli Air Force conducted attacks on Egyptian ground units and assisted
7410-414: The Japanese troop convoy with torpedoes and scored no hits. 13 Beaufighters of No. 30 Squadron flew in at mast height to provide heavy suppressive fire for the waves of attacking bombers. The Japanese convoy, under the impression that they were under torpedo attack from Beauforts, made the tactical error of turning their ships towards the Beaufighters, which allowed the Beaufighters to inflict severe damage on
7540-503: The Mk.X carried centimetric-wavelength ASV (air-to-surface vessel) radar with "herringbone" antennae on the nose and outer wings, but this was replaced in late 1943 by the centimetric AI Mk.VIII radar housed in a " thimble -nose" radome, enabling all-weather and night attacks. The North Coates Strike Wing of Coastal Command, based at RAF North Coates on the Lincolnshire coast, developed tactics that combined large formations of Beaufighters, using cannons and rockets, to suppress flak, while
7670-423: The Syrians had been pushed back and beyond their initial lines, Damascus had come within range of Israeli artillery and an Iraqi armored brigade, the vanguard of its expeditionary force, was destroyed. On October 14 the Egyptian army launched an offensive along the entire front but was repulsed by the IDF . Israel followed on this success by attacking at the seam between the 2nd and 3rd Egyptian armies and crossing
7800-489: The Torbeaus attacked at low level with torpedoes. These tactics were put into practice in mid-1943 and in ten months, 29,762 tons (84,226 m ) of shipping were sunk. Tactics were further refined when shipping was moved from port during the night. The North Coates Strike Wing operated as the largest anti-shipping force of the Second World War and accounted for over 150,000 tons (424,500 m ) of shipping and 117 vessels, most of which were small fishing and coastal vessels, for
7930-427: The United States. Among these are the A-4 Skyhawk , F-4 Phantom II , F-15 Eagle , F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Lightning II . The Israeli Air Force has operated a number of domestically produced types such as the IAI Nesher , and later, the more advanced IAI Kfir . On June 7, 1981, eight IAF F-16s covered by six F-15s carried out Operation Opera to destroy the Iraqi nuclear facilities at Osiraq. On June 9, 1982,
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#17328759208958060-407: The Vickers gun being installed on an anti-tank Hawker Hurricane IID. Large orders for the Beaufighter were placed around the outbreak of the Second World War, including one for 918 aircraft shortly after the arrival of the initial production examples. In mid-1940, during an official visit to Bristol's Filton facility by the Minister of Aircraft Production, Lord Beaverbrook , the minister spoke of
8190-591: The Westland Whirlwind had been cancelled due to production problems with its Rolls-Royce Peregrine engines. On 12 August 1940, the first production Beaufighter was delivered to RAF Tangmere for trials with the Fighter Interception Unit . On 2 September 1940, 25 Squadron , 29 Squadron , 219 Squadron , and 604 Squadron became the first operational squadrons to receive production aircraft, each squadron received one Beaufighter that day to begin converting from their Blenheim IF aircraft. The re-equipping and conversion training process took several months to complete; on
8320-468: The aircraft popular with crews. However, it was heavy on the controls and not easy to fly, with landing being a particular challenge for inexperienced pilots. Due to wartime shortages, some Beaufighters entered operational service without feathering equipment for their propellers. As some models of the twin-engined Beaufighter could not stay aloft on one engine unless the dead propeller was feathered, this deficiency contributed to several operational losses and
8450-442: The aircraft's usefulness, improved radars became available in January 1941, promptly making the Beaufighter one of the more effective night fighters of the era. By fighter standards, the Beaufighter Mk.I was rather heavy and slow, with an all-up weight of 16,000 lb (7,000 kg) and a maximum speed of 335 mph (540 km/h) at 16,800 ft (5,000 m). The Beaufighter was the only heavy fighter aircraft available, as
8580-540: The attacks. The Israeli Air Force took an extensive part in IDF operations during the al-Aqsa Intifada , including the controversial targeted killings of Palestinian terrorist leaders, most notably Salah Shakhade , Ahmed Yassin and Abed al-Aziz Rantissi . While this policy was criticized due to the collateral damage caused in certain instances, Israel claims it is vital in its fight against terrorism and that IAF pilots do whatever they can to avoid civilian casualties, including aborting strikes. In 2007, Israel achieved
8710-470: The conflict. In the 2007 Operation Outside the Box , the Israeli Air Force attacked a suspected Syrian nuclear weapons site. The IAF used electronic warfare (EW) system to neutralize Syria's air defenses, feeding them a false sky-picture while IAF jets crossed much of Syria, bombed their targets and returned to Israel unchallenged. Since Hamas' takeover of Gaza in 2007, the Israeli Air Force has taken part in repeated bouts of violence between Israel and
8840-553: The deaths of aircrew. In the Mediterranean, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 414th , 415th , 416th and 417th night fighter squadrons received a hundred Beaufighters in the summer of 1943, achieving their first victory in July 1943. Through the summer, the squadrons conducted daytime convoy escort and ground-attack operations but primarily flew as night fighters. Although the Northrop P-61 Black Widow fighter began to arrive in December 1944, USAAF Beaufighters continued to fly night operations in Italy and France until late in
8970-436: The decades since the war's official conclusion (including the conflict that followed ), the IAF has regularly conducted air strikes against targets in Southern Lebanon, namely Hezbollah positions. On October 1, 1985, the IAF carried out Operation Wooden Leg , which involved the bombing of the PLO Headquarters near Tunis . This was the longest combat mission ever undertaken by the IAF, traversing 2,300 kilometers. In 1991,
9100-412: The earlier Beaufort in Australia and the great success of British-made Beaufighters used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), contributed to the Australian government deciding in January 1943 to manufacture Beaufighters under the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) organisation at Fishermans Bend , Melbourne , Victoria from 1944. The DAP Beaufighter was an attack and torpedo bomber known as
9230-435: The elevator control circuit, increased fin area and lengthening of the main oleo strut of the undercarriage to better accommodate weight increases and hard landings. During the pre-delivery trials, the first prototype R2052 , powered by a pair of two-speed supercharged Hercules I-IS engines, had achieved 335 mph (539 km/h) at 16,800 ft (5,120 m) in a clean configuration. The second prototype, R2053 , which
9360-514: The end of the war, intensive air battles took place between Israeli and Egyptian aircraft. Official Israeli Air Force losses of the Yom Kippur War were 102 aircraft, including 32 F-4 Phantoms, 53 A-4 Skyhawks, 11 Dassault Mirages, and 6 IAI Sa'ars , although other accounts suggest as many as 128 Israeli aircraft were lost. 91 air force personnel, of which 53 were airmen, were killed. 172 Egyptian aircraft were shot down in air-to-air combat, for
9490-466: The ensuing invasion of the Gaza Strip . Thirty nine Israeli pilots have been credited with ace status, having shot down at least 5 enemy aircraft. Of these, 10 have shot down at least eight jet planes. The top ranking Israeli ace is Colonel Giora Epstein , who shot down seventeen enemy planes. Epstein holds the world record for jet aircraft shot down, and the most aircraft of any type shot down since
9620-419: The exams, the ruling was a watershed, opening doors for women in new IDF roles. After the prohibition had been lifted, the first female graduate was F-16 navigator "Shari" in 1998, followed three years later by Roni Zuckerman , the first female jet fighter pilot in IAF history. IAF ranks are identical to other Israel Defense Forces ranks . The rank insignia are identical except for the use of silver against
9750-721: The fighting was to exact heavy losses on the opposing side, in order to facilitate a ceasefire. The Israeli Air Force undertook repeated bombings of strategic targets deep within enemy territory and repeatedly challenged Arab air forces for aerial supremacy, while supporting operations by Israel's ground and naval forces. In late 1969 the Soviet Union began to deploy fighter aircraft units and surface-to-air missile units to Egypt. The Soviet surface-to-air missile units soon joined their Egyptian allies in direct confrontations with Israeli aircraft. Soviet fighters conducted patrols, but Israeli pilots were ordered not to engage them. On July 30, 1970,
9880-599: The first five production Beaufighters were delivered to the RAF along with another five on 3 August 1940. These production aircraft incorporated aerodynamic improvements, reducing aerodynamic drag from the engine nacelles and tail wheel, the oil coolers were also relocated on the leading edge of the wing. The armament of the Beaufighter had also undergone substantial changes, the initial 60-round capacity spring-loaded drum magazine arrangement being awkward and inconvenient; alternative systems were investigated by Bristol. Bristol's proposed recoil -operated ammunition feed system
10010-436: The first, unarmed, prototype, conducted its maiden flight , a little more than eight months after development had formally started. The rapid pace of development is partly due to the re-use of many elements of the Beaufort design along with frequently identical components. R2052 was initially operated by Bristol for testing purposes while it was based at Filton Aerodrome . Early modifications to R2052 included stiffening of
10140-412: The following as its functions: The insignia / roundel of the Israeli Air Force consists of a blue Star of David on a white circle. Aircraft usually carry it painted in six positions – on the top and bottom of each wing, and on each side of the fuselage. A low-visibility variant – a blue Star of David without the white circle – exists, although its use is extremely rare. Squadron markings usually go on
10270-458: The front of the wings. This change moved the centre of gravity (CoG) forward, a typically undesirable feature for an aircraft, thus the CoG was moved back to its proper desirable location by shortening the nose, which was possible as the space within the nose had been previously occupied by a bomb aimer , a role that was unnecessary in a fighter aircraft. The majority of the fuselage was positioned aft of
10400-497: The fuselage required more work than expected and had to be redesigned. Perhaps in anticipation of this, the Air Ministry had requested that Bristol investigate the prospects of a "slim fuselage" configuration. Since the "Beaufort cannon fighter" was a conversion of an existing design, development and production was expected to proceed more quickly than with a new one. Within six months the first F.11/37 prototype, R2052 , had been completed. A total of 2,100 drawings were produced during
10530-480: The ground, at the cost of 31 aircraft by the end of fourth day of the war, IAF Phantoms repeatedly struck Syrian air fields. Following Syrian FROG-7 strikes on military and civilian targets in northern Israel, the IAF initiated a campaign to destroy the infrastructure on which Syria's war-making capacity depended, targeting strategic targets in Syria such as its oil industry and electricity generating system. By October 13
10660-406: The importance of the Beaufighter to the war effort and urged its rapid service entry. While the aircraft's size had once caused scepticism, the Beaufighter became the highest performance aircraft capable of carrying the bulky early aircraft interception radars used for night fighter operations, without incurring substantial endurance or armament penalties, and was invaluable as a night fighter. For
10790-510: The improved Beaufighter Mk.VIC . By the end of 1942, Mk.VICs were being equipped with torpedo-carrying gear for the British 18 in (450 mm) or the US 22.5 in (572 mm) torpedo externally; observers were not happy about carrying the torpedo, as they were unable to use the escape hatch until after the torpedo had been dropped. In April 1943, the first successful torpedo attacks by Beaufighters
10920-529: The largest outside the US Air Force. The IAF also purchased the advanced Israeli air-to-air missile Rafael Python 5 , with full-sphere capability, as well as a special version of the Apache Longbow , designated AH-64DI or Saraph . In 2005 the Israeli Air Force received modified Gulfstream V jets ("Nachshon"), equipped with advanced intelligence systems made by Israel Military Industries . By 2013 Israel became
11050-543: The lower fuselage, the vacant nose could accommodate the radar antennas needed, and while early aircraft interception equipment was too bulky to fit in single-engine fighters of the day, it could be accommodated in the Beaufighter's spacious fuselage. At night the onboard radar let the aircraft detect enemy aircraft. The heavy fighter remained fast enough to catch up to German bombers and, with its heavy armament, deal out considerable damage to them. While early radar sets suffered from restrictions in range and thus initially limited
11180-489: The maximum rate of production, sub-contracting of the major components was used wherever possible and two large shadow factories to perform final assembly work on the Beaufighter were established via the Ministry of Aircraft Production ; the first, operated by the Fairey Aviation Company , was at Stockport , Greater Manchester and the second shadow, run by Bristol, was at Weston-super-Mare , Somerset . Output of
11310-414: The museum was laid on July 16 , 1985 , mainly due to the efforts of Brigadier General (Res.) Yaakov Turner . The museum was opened to the public on June 20 , 1991 . In February 2015, the silver Boeing-Stearman aircraft was completely destroyed due to poor maintenance. The aircraft had been in flying condition and participated in air shows for years, often flown by Yaakov Turner. On November 6, 2016,
11440-443: The nicknames Rockbeau for its use as a rocket -armed ground attack aircraft and Torbeau as a torpedo bomber against Axis shipping, in which it replaced the Beaufort . In later operations, it served mainly as a maritime strike/ground attack aircraft, RAF Coastal Command having operated the largest number of Beaufighters amongst all other commands at one point. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) also made extensive use of
11570-494: The night of 17/18 September 1940, Beaufighters of 29 Squadron conducted their first operational night patrol, conducting an uneventful sortie, the first operational daylight sortie was performed on the following day. On 25 October 1940, the first confirmed Beaufighter kill, a Dornier Do 17 , occurred. Initial production deliveries of the Beaufighter lacked the radar for night fighter operations; these were installed by No. 32 Maintenance Unit at RAF St Athan during late 1940. On
11700-551: The night of 19/20 May 1941, 24 aircraft were shot down by fighters against two by anti-aircraft ground fire . In late April 1941, the first two Beaufighter Mk.II aircraft, R2277 and R2278 , were delivered to 600 and 604 Squadrons; the former squadron being the first to receive the type in quantity in the following month. The Mk.II was also supplied to the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy . A night-fighter Beaufighter Mk.VIF
11830-449: The night of 19/20 November 1940, the first kill by a radar-equipped Beaufighter occurred, of a Junkers Ju 88 . More advanced radar units were installed in early 1941, which soon allowed the Beaufighter to become an effective counter to the night raids of the Luftwaffe . By March 1941, half of the 22 German aircraft claimed by British fighters were by Beaufighters. During a raid on London on
11960-699: The noisy valve gear common to poppet valve engines. This was most apparent in a reduced noise level at the front of the engine. In the South-East Asian Theatre , the Beaufighter Mk.VIF operated from India as a night fighter and on operations against Japanese lines of communication in Burma and Thailand. Mk.X Beaufighters were also flown on long range daylight intruder missions over Burma. The high-speed, low-level attacks were very effective, despite often atrocious weather conditions and makeshift repair and maintenance facilities. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
12090-680: The occupied Norwegian island of Vågsøy . In 1942, long range patrols of the Bay of Biscay were routinely conducted by Beaufighters, intercepting aircraft such as the Ju-88 and Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor operating against Allied anti-submarine patrols. Beaufighters also cooperated with the British Eighth Army during action in the Western Desert Campaign , often in the form of ground strafing. In mid-1942, Coastal Command began to take delivery of
12220-425: The orange orchards around Herzliya, and did not appear on published maps. The Israeli Air Force scored its first aerial victories on June 3 when Modi Alon, flying Avia D.112, shot down two Egyptian Air Force DC-3s which had just bombed Tel Aviv . The first dogfight against enemy fighters took place a few days later, on June 8, when Gideon Lichtaman shot down an Egyptian Spitfire . During these initial operations,
12350-413: The pilot's seat. As there was no room to climb around the seat-back, the back collapsed to allow the pilot to climb over and into the seat. In an emergency, the pilot could operate a lever that remotely released the hatch, grasp two steel overhead tubes and lift himself out of his seat, swing his legs over the open hatchway, then let go to drop through. Evacuating the aircraft was easier for the navigator, as
12480-428: The pilot, to overcome the effect of recoil and nose-down tendency when firing the usual armament but was found to obstruct the emergency egress of the pilot. The fourth prototype, R2055 , had its regular armament replaced by a pair of 40 mm guns for attacking ground targets, the two guns being a Vickers S gun mounted on the starboard fuselage and a Rolls-Royce BH gun mounted on the port fuselage; these trials led to
12610-519: The proper introduction of the Whirlwind. On 16 November 1938, Bristol received formal authorisation to commence the detailed design phase of the project and to proceed with the construction of four prototypes. Amongst the design requirements, the aircraft had to be able to accommodate the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine as an alternative to the Hercules and that it have maximum interchangeability between
12740-415: The radar operator to change the ammunition drums manually—an arduous and unpopular task, especially at night and while chasing a bomber. They were soon replaced by Hispano Mk. II cannon featuring a belt-feed system. The cannons were supplemented by six .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns in the wings (four starboard, two port, the asymmetry caused by the port mounting of the landing light). This
12870-414: The rear hatch was in front of him and without obstruction. The Beaufighter's armament was located in various positions on the lower fuselage and wings. The bomb bay of the Beaufort had been entirely omitted, but a small bomb load could be carried externally. A total of four forward-firing 20 mm Hispano Mk.I cannon were mounted in the lower fuselage area. These were fed from 60-round drums, requiring
13000-542: The remainder of the war. In a surprise attack, the IAF destroyed most of the Egyptian Air Force while its planes were still on the ground. By the end of the day, with surrounding Arab countries drawn into the fighting, the IAF had mauled the Syrian and Jordanian air forces, striking as far as Iraq . After six days of fighting, Israel claimed a total of 452 Arab aircraft destroyed, of which 49 were aerial victories. After
13130-416: The roles and equipment diverged, leading to the production of distinct models, distinguished by the suffixes F for Fighter Command and C for Coastal Command were used. Often, one command opted for modifications and features that the other did not. This occurred with the bellows -type dive brake that became standard for Coastal Command Beaufighters for its usefulness in torpedo-bombing. Production of
13260-409: The same jigs as the Beaufort so that production could easily be switched from one aircraft to the other. As a torpedo bomber and aerial reconnaissance aircraft, the Beaufort had a modest performance. To achieve the fighter-like performance desired for the Beaufighter, Bristol suggested that they equip the aircraft with a pair of its new Hercules engines, capable of around 1,500 hp, in place of
13390-565: The second day of the war, resulted in the IAF destroying 59 Iranian -supplied medium- and long-range missile launchers in just 34 minutes. Widespread condemnation followed the July 30 IAF airstrike on a building suspected to be a militant hideout near the village of Qana, in which 28 civilians were killed. Hezbollah shot down an IAF CH-53 Yas'ur helicopter on the last day of the war, killing five crew members. Israeli aircraft shot down three of Hezbollah's Iranian -made aerial drones during
13520-408: The ships' anti-aircraft guns, bridges and crews during strafing runs with their four 20 mm nose cannons and six wing-mounted .303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns. The Japanese ships were left exposed to mast-height bombing and skip bombing attacks by the US medium bombers . Eight transports and four destroyers were sunk for the loss of five aircraft, including one Beaufighter. The role of
13650-538: The squadron operated with a few planes versus almost complete Arab theater air supremacy . The airplanes were parked dispersed between the orange trees. The fighters were moved in October to Hatzor Airbase from the Herzliya strip due to its unsuitability in rainy conditions, probable loss of clandestine status, moving front lines which made former British bases safe for use, and a shift in the balance of air superiority towards
13780-712: The tail fin. Forerunners of the Israeli Air Force were Sherut Avir , the air wing of the Haganah , and the Palestine Flying Service established by the Irgun in 1937. The Israeli Air Force formed on May 28, 1948, shortly after Israel declared statehood and found itself under attack . The force consisted of a hodge-podge of commandeered or donated civilian aircraft converted to military use. A variety of obsolete and surplus ex- World War II combat-aircraft were quickly sourced by various means to supplement this fleet. The backbone of
13910-607: The tension peaked: An IAF ambush resulted in a large scale air brawl between IAF planes and MiGs flown by Soviet pilots—five MiGs were shot down, while the IAF suffered no losses. Fear of further escalation and superpower involvement brought the war to a conclusion. By the end of August 1970, the Israeli Air Force had claimed 111 aerial kills while reporting losing only four aircraft to Arab fighters. Egyptian and Soviet forces claimed to shoot down approximately 20 Israeli Air Force planes with surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery units. On October 6, 1973, with war imminent,
14040-429: The transition from Beaufort to the prototype Beaufighter, more than twice as many were created during later development, between the prototype Beaufighter and the fully operational production models. Two weeks prior to the prototype's first flight, an initial production contract for 300 aircraft under Specification F.11/37 was issued by the Air Ministry, ordering the type "off the drawing board". On 17 July 1939, R2052 ,
14170-464: The two engines, which would feature removable installations . Bristol began building an initial prototype by taking a partly-built Beaufort out of the production line. This conversion served to speed progress; Bristol had promised series production in early 1940 on the basis of an order being placed in February 1939. Designers expected that maximum re-use of Beaufort components would speed the process but
14300-494: The type as an anti-shipping aircraft, such as during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea . The Beaufighter saw extensive service during the war with the RAF (59 squadrons), Fleet Air Arm (15 squadrons), RAAF (seven squadrons), Royal Canadian Air Force (four squadrons), United States Army Air Forces (four squadrons), Royal New Zealand Air Force (two squadrons), South African Air Force (two squadrons) and Polskie Siły Powietrzne (Free Polish Air Force; one squadron). Variants of
14430-600: The type occurred when a Beaufighter, A19-54 , won the second of two unofficial races against an A-20 Boston bomber. From late 1944, RAF Beaufighter units were engaged in the Greek Civil War , finally withdrawing in 1946. Beaufighters were replaced in some roles by the Bristol Type 164 Brigand , which had been designed using components of the Beaufighter's failed stablemate, the Bristol Buckingham . The Beaufighter
14560-549: The war. By the autumn of 1943, the Mosquito was available in enough numbers to replace the Beaufighter as the primary night fighter of the RAF. By the end of the war, some 70 pilots serving with RAF units had become aces while flying Beaufighters. At least one captured Beaufighter was operated by the Luftwaffe – a photograph exists of the aircraft in flight, with German markings. It was recognised that RAF Coastal Command required
14690-409: The wing and, with the engine cowlings and propellers now further forward than the tip of the nose, gave the Beaufighter a characteristically stubby appearance. In general, with the exception of the powerplants used, the differences between the preceding Beaufort and Beaufighter were minor. The wings, control surfaces, retractable landing gear and aft section of the fuselage were identical to those of
14820-491: The wing consisted of two spars with single-sheet webs and extruding flanges, completed with a stressed-skin covering, and featured metal-framed ailerons with fabric coverings along with hydraulically -actuated flaps located between the fuselage and the ailerons. Hydraulics were also used to retract the independent units of undercarriage, while the brakes were pneumatically -actuated. The twin Bristol Taurus engines of
14950-481: The world's largest exporter of drones . In December 2016, Israel received its first pair of F-35 Lightning II from the United States. Three months after the assassination of the leader of Hezbollah , Abbas al-Musawi , the IAF launched an offensive across South Lebanon with five air raids in six days. Some of the targets struck were as far north as Baalbek . On the final day, 26 May 1992, there were more than 40 missile strikes. Over 20 civilians were killed during
15080-482: The wreck of a Beaufighter (probably a Mk.IC flown by Sgt Donald Frazie and navigator Sgt Sandery of No. 272 Squadron RAF) was identified about 0.5-mile (0.80 km) off the north coast of Malta. The aircraft ditched in March 1943, after an engine failure occurred soon after take-off and lies inverted on the sea bed, in 38 metres (125 ft) of water. Another Mediterranean wreck lies in 34 metres (112 ft) of water near
15210-757: Was a keen operator of the Beaufighter during the Second World War. On 20 April 1942, the RAAF's first Beaufighter IC (an Australian designation given to various models of the aircraft, including Beaufighter VIC , Beaufighter X , and Beaufighter XIC ), which had been imported from Britain, was delivered; the last aircraft was delivered on 20 August 1945. Initial RAAF deliveries were directed to No. 30 Squadron in New Guinea and No. 31 Squadron in North-West Australia. Before DAP Beaufighters arrived at RAAF units in
15340-589: Was also used by the air forces of Portugal , Turkey and the Dominican Republic. It was used briefly by the Israeli Air Force after some ex-RAF examples were clandestinely purchased in 1948. Many Mk.10 aircraft were converted to the target tug role postwar as the TT.10 and served with several RAF support units until 1960. The last flight of a Beaufighter in RAF service was by TT.10 RD761 from RAF Seletar on 12 May 1960. A number of sunken aircraft are known; in 2005,
15470-406: Was commonly operated as a night fighter , such as during the Battle of Britain . Mass production of the type had coincidentally occurred at almost exactly the same time as the first British aircraft interception radar sets were becoming available; the two technologies quickly became a natural match in the night fighter role. As the aircraft's accompaniment of four 20 mm cannons were mounted in
15600-616: Was decided to scrap 20 aircraft that were on display at the museum, including the Boeing 707 that served as a flying command post during Operation Entebbe . 31°14′18″N 34°41′46″E / 31.238343°N 34.696026°E / 31.238343; 34.696026 Israeli Air Force The Israeli Air Force ( IAF ; Hebrew : זְרוֹעַ הָאֲוִיר וְהֶחָלָל , romanized : Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal , lit. 'tl', "Air and Space Arm", commonly known as חֵיל הָאֲוִיר , Kheil HaAvir , "Air Corps") operates as
15730-529: Was furnished with Hercules I-M engines (similar to Hercules II) and was laden with operational equipment, had attained a lower speed of 309 mph at 15,000 ft. According to aviation author Philip Moyes, the performance of the second prototype was considered disappointing, particularly as the Hercules III engines of the initial production aircraft would likely provide little improvement, especially in light of additional operational equipment being installed; it
15860-412: Was later called the Beaufighter Mk.IIF ; the planned slim-fuselage aircraft, alternatively equipped with Hercules IV and Griffon engines, the Beaufighter Mk.III and Beaufighter Mk.IV respectively, were not built. In February 1940, an order was placed for three Beaufighters, converted to use the alternative Merlin engine. The Merlin engine installations and nacelles were designed by Rolls-Royce as
15990-615: Was lost in almost identical circumstances to the Malta aircraft – it ditched in August 1943 after an engine failure soon after takeoff. The aircraft sank within seconds, but both crew and their passenger escaped and swam to shore. The wreck was located in 2000. A Beaufighter lies at a depth of around 30 metres in the Høydalsfjorden in Norway. This aircraft was shot-down on the 7 February 1945, during
16120-403: Was one of the heavier, if not the heaviest, fighter armament of its time. When Beaufighters were developed as fighter-torpedo bombers, they used their firepower (often the machine guns were removed) to suppress flak fire and hit enemy ships, especially escorts and small vessels. The recoil of the cannons and machine guns could reduce the speed of the aircraft by around 25 knots. The Beaufighter
16250-483: Was originally conceived as a heavy fighter variant of the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber . The Beaufighter proved to be an effective night fighter , which came into service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Battle of Britain , its large size allowing it to carry heavy armament and early aircraft interception radar without major performance penalties. The Beaufighter was used in many roles; receiving
16380-681: Was performed by 254 Squadron , sinking two merchant ships off Norway . The Hercules Mk.XVII, developing 1,735 hp (1,294 kW) at 500 ft (150 m), was installed in the Mk.VIC airframe to produce the TF Mk.X (torpedo fighter), commonly known as the "Torbeau". The Mk.X became the main production mark of the Beaufighter. The strike variant of the Torbeau was called the Mk.XIC. Beaufighter TF Xs could make precision attacks on shipping at wave-top height with torpedoes or RP-3 (60 lb) rockets. Early models of
16510-495: Was quickly discontinued when the dire situation on the Golan Heights became apparent. IAF efforts were redirected north, where the ill-fated Operation Model 5 was carried out. Flying with outdated intelligence and no electronic screening against mobile SAM batteries and heavy flak, 6 IAF Phantoms were lost. The sustained campaign required to defeat enemy air defences was abandoned in the face of Egyptian and Syrian advances and
16640-505: Was recognised that demand for the Hercules engine to power other aircraft such as the Short Stirling bomber posed a potential risk to the production rate of the Beaufighter. These factors had thus sparked considerable interest in the adoption of alternative engines for the type. Roy Fedden , chief designer of the Bristol engine division, was a keen advocate for the improved Hercules VI for
16770-418: Was rejected by officials, which led to a new system being devised and tested on the fourth prototype, R2055 . The initial rejection was later reversed, upon the introduction of a new electrically driven feed derived from Châtellerault designs brought to Britain by Free French officers, which was quite similar to Bristol's original proposal. The initial 50 production aircraft were approved for completion with
16900-459: Was supplied to squadrons in March 1942, equipped with AI Mark VIII radar . The Beaufighter showed its merits as a night fighter but went on to perform in other capacities. As the faster de Havilland Mosquito took over as the main night fighter in mid-to-late 1942, the heavier Beaufighter made valuable contributions in other areas such as anti-shipping, ground attack and long-range interdiction, in every major theatre of operations. On 12 June 1942,
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