Americans flew Beaufighters in 1944 ?

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Simon Gunson
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Americans flew Beaufighters in 1944 ?

#1

Post by Simon Gunson » 29 Dec 2008, 22:08

Recenly I came across this report of a kill by an American Beaufighter. Can anyone shed some light please ?
150501 18 Oct 1944 6(F)./122 Ju 188D-2 F6+GP Shot down by an American Beaufighter of 417th NFS in the vicinity of Cramona at 1930. Ofw. K. Rautenburg and crew missing.

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phylo_roadking
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Re: Americans flew Beaufighters in 1944 ?

#2

Post by phylo_roadking » 29 Dec 2008, 22:47



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bf109 emil
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Re: Americans flew Beaufighters in 1944 ?

#3

Post by bf109 emil » 30 Dec 2008, 06:29

phylo_roadking wrote:Here you go...

http://www.usaaf.net/ww2/night/nightpg7.htm
I was unable to open this window but found this source on this topic
When the USAAF formed its first radar-equipped night fighter squadron in January 1943, the only American night fighter available was the makeshift Douglas P-70, a modified A-20 bomber using the U.S. version of the Mk IV radar. After initial training in the P-70, the first USAAF night fighter squadrons went to war in the more capable British Beaufighter.

The 414th, 415th, 416th and 417th Night Fighter Squadrons received more than 100 "reverse Lend-Lease" Beaufighters. They arrived in the Mediterranean during the summer of 1943, achieving the first victory on July 24. Through the summer, they conducted daytime convoy escort and strike missions, but thereafter flew primarily at night. Although purpose-built American P-61 Black Widow night fighters began to replace them in December 1944, USAAF Beaufighters continued to fly night cover for Allied forces in Italy and France until the closing days of the war.
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsh ... asp?id=492

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Simon K
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Re: Americans flew Beaufighters in 1944 ?

#4

Post by Simon K » 30 Dec 2008, 06:32

Also Spitfires.

Von Spreuth
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Re: Americans flew Beaufighters in 1944 ?

#5

Post by Von Spreuth » 07 Jan 2009, 13:55

Some interesting, unusual model projects there. A U.S.A.A.F marked beufighter would get some of the judges guessing. :lol:

Geery31
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Re: Americans flew Beaufighters in 1944 ?

#6

Post by Geery31 » 12 Jul 2019, 15:55

So I know the Americans flew the beaufighter MKVI but did they fly any other MKs? I have looked all over and have found nothing on this.

Carl Schwamberger
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Re: Americans flew Beaufighters in 1944 ?

#7

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 15 Jul 2019, 04:59

I'd recommend trawling the unit histories.

Dili
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Re: Americans flew Beaufighters in 1944 ?

#8

Post by Dili » 16 Jul 2019, 07:17

I only know of VIF's

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