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The Bristol Beaufort | Britain’s Overlooked WWII Torpedo Bomber

Rex's Hangar

169,434 views

Today we're taking a brief look at the Bristol Beaufort, a British torpedo bomber from WWII. After a bumpy start, it went on to have a distinguished career within the RAF and RAAF, and it would eventually lead to the mighty Beaufighter.

Research & Writing by Kevin Karr and Christoper 'Rex' Emerson.

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Recommended reading:

Barnes, C. H. (1988). Bristol Aircraft since 1910. Brassey’s.
Robertson, B. (1976). Beaufort special. London : I. Allan.
Butler, T. (2005). Warpaint Series No. 50: Bristol Beaufort. Guideline Publications.
Royal Australian Air Force. (1943). Beaufort Descriptive Manual. Service Department, Beaufort Division.

20 Comments

@RexsHangar Creator 6 months ago Pinned

Q&A / Request Section - Ask your questions, or post suggestions, here :)

@gregmuon 6 months ago

Thank you for being a human and reading and writing your own text, and editing your own videos. Great stuff. So sick of the lazy AI slop.

@Ash007YT 6 months ago

The Beaufort is remembered well with much affection in Australia.

@MinesAGuinness 6 months ago

"To attack the Sharnhorst and Gneisenau, you'll have to fly past a thousand anti-aircraft guns, into a narrow path, release a torpedo at just the right moment, and then pull up sharply to escape. It's almost impossible."
"It’s not impossible. I used to bull’s-eye womp rats in my T-16 back home, and they’re not much bigger than two meters!"

- conversation at RAF command before the raid on Brest, possibly! :-)

@MarkErikEE 6 months ago

Weather that is "not uncommon in Britain" followed by an attack worthy of Victoria Cross. That's UK in WW2.

@nomar5spaulding 6 months ago

Jesus that run by Flying Officer Campbell sounds like an IRL Death Star trench run.

@alexreiz6128 6 months ago

Always had fascination with baseline workhorses of war. Yes, as it always is they not so flashy and not so famous as paraded contemporaries. But you won't win a thing without ungodly hours of mundane scouting, recon, patrol, transportation and whatever else. Which was done by brave people who deserve no less praise for their effort than anyone else

@mosesracal6758 6 months ago

For other channels, a 20 min video is already a deep dive but for Rex its just another Tuesday

@steveRBForge 6 months ago

Something just struck me. How quickly aircraft became obsolete during this time and now B52 are still flying near 70 years later

@UJ-LiteRC 6 months ago

Yes, also very fondly remembered in Australia. Thanks Rex.

@jfu5222 6 months ago

Another unconventionally beautiful plane from Great Britain. Thanks, Rex!

@michaelcroft813 6 months ago

My great uncle was one of two factory test pilots in Australia after flying in Britain early in the war. He famously put one in a vertical dive in an attempt to break the sound barrier, the plane resembled a “plucked duck” after bits falling off as a result. He commented if men were going to risk their lives in them why shouldn’t he. My grandfather also flew in them as a F/O Navigator/gunner after the squadron was upgraded from Hudson’s, initially in coastal patrols around Queensland then northern New Guinea later in the war until it ended.

@Pete-x9z 6 months ago

Two new Rex Hangar episodes. He is on Fire. With deep appreciation and Humble Thank you for your hard work.

@TerryShwetz-h5z 6 months ago

Now that I’ve learned more about the Beaufort I can hardly wait for the deep dive. Thanks from Canada, RexsHangar.

@keithbemrose3876 6 months ago

My father flew in Avro Ansons and then converted to Beauforts whilst flying with 217 Squadron Coastal Command. He flew operational sorties from 1939 to mid 1941 (by that time he had finished his tour of duty). During this period, Coastal Command suffered the highest losses of any command in the R.A.F.

@michaelmoore1403 6 months ago

I only learned about the Beaufort after having a look at the one being restored at Caloundra airfield, Qld, Australia. Very cool under reported aircraft.

@MattsModellingMemories 6 months ago (edited)

Thank you for this video, the Beaufort is a big favourite of mine. As a life member of the Moorabbin Air Museum in Melbourne, Australia, I have a bit to do with Beaufort A9-13, the oldest survivor of the type, which we’re slowly returning to display condition. I’m also slowly pottering away on my own project, to recreate the nose of Beaufort A9-133, incorporating substantial original sections and parts. Videos like this play an important role in telling the story of this type.