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ADF-SERIALS

Australian New Zealand & Papua New Guinea Military Aircraft Serials & History
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 This site is devoted to providing as complete a record as possible of aircraft operated by the ADF, NZDF & PNGDF.
Included where known are brief summaries of the history and current status of aircraft employed in Australian New Zealand & PNG Military Service.

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RAAF Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IIF, VI, T.F.X
455 & 456 Sqns, RAAF

Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE343,
 

455 Squadron Beaufighter Image Gallery
 456 Squadron Beaufighter Image Gallery
 

See also A8 DAP Beaufighter and A19 Bristol Beaufighter
 
RAF.Serial. Type Aircraft History
T3370 Mk.IIF Served with 456 Sqn under RAF control, coded RX-Z.
X8100 MK.VI Served with 456 Sqn under RAF control, coded RX-E, Dec 1942.
KW277 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-D.
25/07/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
10/08/1944 Shot down during strike, Heligoland.
Crew; F/O L.A.Kempson and F/O R.Curzon RAF killed.
LZ192 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-H.
22/12/1943 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
Ditched after convoy strike.
Crew; F/O E.F.Collaery killed.
LZ193 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, not coded.
22/12/1943 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
29/12/1943 Crashed on demonstration flight.
Crew; F/O Toombs (489 Sqn RNZAF) and F/O P.S.Gumbrell (RAF) killed.
LZ194 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-U.
15/12/1943 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
06/07/1944 Hit by flak and ditched off Holland.
Crew; Pilot FSgt J.Costello killed and FSgt R.Taylor captured.
LZ402 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-J.
22/12/1943 delivered to 45 Sqn,
29/06/1944 Crash landed at Langham after convoy strike.
Crew; F/OJ.G.Fox.
LZ407 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-F and later UB-T.
22/12/1943 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
06/01/1944 Damaged on landing while practicing overshoots at RAF Leuchars, repaired.
04/04/1945 Damaged at Aardals Fjiord.
28/07/1944 Crash landed at Langham and written off.
LZ409 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-S.
Normally flown by WgCdr C.G.Milson.
02/04/1945 Aircraft retired after 400 hours flying with 455 Sqn.
LZ537 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-R.
15/09/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
23/09/1944 Crashed on takeoff.
NE196 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-P.
18/12/1943 Delivered to 455 Sqn.
NE200 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-A.
08/06/1944 Crashed into sea afer engine trouble.
Crew; F/OF.O.Williams and F/Sgt W.A.Roach Killed.
NE202 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-B.
Part of first delivery to Sqn 9/12/43.
NE204 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-C.
09/12/1943 Part of first delivery to 455 Sqn.
25/03/1944 Damaged on belly landing,
06/05/1944 Failed to return from a strike off the Dutch coast,
Crew; F/Lt B.Atkinson and F/Sgt J.A.Whitburn killed.
NE206 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-A and later UB-M.
09/12/1943 Part of first delivery to 455 Sqn.
Failed to return from ops from Holland.
Crew; F/Lt B.Atkinson & F/Sgt J.A.Whitburn killed.
NE207 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-N.
09/12/1943 Delivered as part of 455 Sqn's first batch of Beafighters,
05/04/1945 Collided with NT920 (UB-C) after aircraft attack, off Norway.
Crew; F/O's G.W.Hassell & E.J.Loonam KIA.
NE223 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-Y.
05/02/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn.
NE325 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-D.
18/12/1943 Part of second delivery to 455 Sqn.
NE326 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-C and later UB-O.
18/12/1943 Part of second delivery to 455 Sqn..
24/08/1944 Crashed and caught on fire on landing at Langham after a morning reconnaissance.
Crew; W/O J.A.McLean & FSgt W.A.McHugh OK.
NE340 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-L.
17/12/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
10/08/1944 Shot down during strike on Heligoland.
Crew; W/O W.T.Jones & F/Sgt H.E.Brock killed.
NE342 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-G.
23/12/1943 Delivered to 455 Sqn.
NE343 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control

Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE343,
NE347 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-J,
17/12/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn.
NE348 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-F.
23/12/1943 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
06/07/1944 Crashed into sea after being hit by flak off Dutch Coast.
Crew; F/O's W.M.Barbour and F.G.Dodd (RAF) killed.
NE353 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-W.
NE431 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-X.
NE441 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-X.
NE444 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-B.
25/09/1944 delivered to 455 Sqn,
22/04/1945 Shot down at South Vaagso.
Crew; F/OT.J.Higgins and W/O A.J.Mirow killed.
NE542 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-E.
Back to RAF.
NE543 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-E.
14/08/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
09/10/1944 Last flown by 455 Sqn.

Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE543 'UB-E', of No. 455 Squadron Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE543 'UB-E', of No. 455 Squadron
NE668 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-Z.
Ditched off Holland.
Crew; F/O D.K.Carmody and F/O G.C.Docking taken prisoner.
NE682 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-G later UB-J.
14/09/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn.
NE668 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-Z,
16/03/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
13/06/1944 ditched off teh Dutch coast,
Crew; F/O D.K.Carmody and F/O G.C.Docking taken prisoner.
NE669 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-S.
NE682 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control.
NE750 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-U.
29/09/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
03/05/1945 Flown by WgCdr C.G.Milson on 455 Sqn's last shipping strike for war.
NE760 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-A.
10/07/1944 Crashed into sea during patrol off Holland.
Crew; F/Sgt M.M.Roberts and J.T.Andrew.
NE773 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-C.
01/06/1944 Crashed and burned during formation Practice from Langham.
Crew; F/O's J.U.Billing and T.O.Edwards killed.
NE774 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-V.
NE775 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-X.
??/03/1944 delivered to 455 Sqn.
NE776 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-X.
15/06/1944 Belly landed at Langham.
NE777 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-T.
30/10/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
11/04/1944 Belly landed at Dallachy following attack on Fede Fjiord.
NE798 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-Q.
27/03/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
21/04/1944 First flew on operations,
04/45, Returned to RAF.

Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE798, of No. 455 Squadron
NE812 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-M.
10/05/1944 dlivered to 455 Sqn.
NT892 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-J.
26/08/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
09/09/1944 Crash landed and caught fire after reconnaissance flight.
NT914 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-M.
15/06/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
05/12/1944 Ditched off Shetland Islands (Sumburgh) afer being hit by flak during an attack at Orsta Fjiord.
Crew; P/O's A.E.Winter & C.J.Dunshea rescued.
NT915 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-Y.
24/06/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
01/11/1944 Collided with 489 Sqn RNZAF Beaufighter and crashed into sea, Norway.
Crew; F/O G.Hammond & FSgt G.Henry Killed.
NT920 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-C.
29/08/1944 Delivered to Sqn,
05/04/1945 Collided with NE207 UB-N off Norwegian coast.
Crew; FLt K.A.Moore and F.Sgt R.E.Bull killed.
NT923 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-Z.
15/01/1945 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
03/05/1945 Flown by F/O D.E.Cristofani on 455 Sqn's last shipping strike for war.
NT946 T.F.Mk.X Served with an RAAF Sqn under RAF control from 10/44.
NT947 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-E.
05/09/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn.

Beaufighter NT947 Beaufighter NT947 crew
NT954 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-A.
0/05/1945 F/O J.G.Cox flew last 455 Sqn shipping strike WW2.
NT959 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-H.
10/08/1944 Shot down during strike on Heligoland.
Crew; W/O G.E.Batchelor RAF & P/O H.R.Morris killed.
NT963 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-F.
12/09/1944 Crash landed at Langham after combined Wing low level shipping strike on Den Helder, Marsdiep Harbour, Holland.
Crew; F/O Steve Sykes (Pilot) unhurt and F/O Lee Turner (Navigator) slightly injured.

Beaufighter TF Mark X
NT987 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-W.
45/09/1944 Shot down on Wing Strike at Den Helder Harbour.
Crew; F/O C.E.Cock & W/O A.R.Lyneham killed.
NV177 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-K.
NV196 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-V.
09/02/1945 Shot down during strike on Forde Fjiord.
Crew; W/O D.E.Mutimer and F/Sgt J.D.Blackshaw killed.
NV199 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-O.
05/09/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
09/02/1945 Shot down during strike on Forde Fjiord.
Crew; Flt R.C.McColl and W/O L.L.MacDonald captured.
NV414 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-L.
29/11/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
26/02/1945 Aircraft abandoned after engine trouble after a convoy strike near Mandal.
Crew; F/O H.L.Brock parachuted but was blown out to sea and drowned.
NV423 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-H.
28/11/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn.
NV424 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-R.
03/05/1945 Flown by SqnLdr N.R.Smith on 455 Sqn's last shipping strike for war.
NV431 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-V.
15/10/1944 Ditched after flak damage off Holland.
Crew; FSgt N.G.Steer and F/O B.T.Roberts killed.
NV432 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-D.
28/11/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn.
NV438 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-V.
28/11/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
05/12/1944 Hit by flak and crashed during strike at Orsta Fjiord.
Crew; F/O J.A.Hakewell and FSgt F.G.Sides killed.
NV450 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-X.
NV542 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-P.
3/05/1945 Flown by F/O W.L.Ives on 455 Sqn's last shipping strike for the war.
NV543 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-W.
08/12/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn.
RD132 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-O.
24/02/1945 delivered to 455 Sqn,
08/03/1945 Lost during strike at Midtgulen Fjiord.
Crew; W/O W.D.Mitchell and FSgt I.H.Jury killed.
RD141 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-M.
28/12/1944 Delivered to 455 Sqn,
10/01/1945 Crashed into sea after attack on Haramso Is.
Crew; P/O's A.E.Winter & C.J.Dunshea killed after both survived resucue from NT914 just over a month earlier on 05/12/1944.
RD329 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-X.
24/03/1945 Shot down during convoy strike, Egersund Harbour.
Crew; W/OG.E.Longland and FSgt E.C.Nayda killed.
RD331 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-X.
RD332 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-C.
21/5/1945 Flew on last operational Sortie on anti U-Boat patrol.
RD396 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-L.
13/02/1945 delivered to 455 Sqn,
03/05/1945 Flown by P/O J.A.McLean on 455 Sqn's last shipping strike for the war.
RD427 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-G.
21/5/1945 Flown by W/O I.A.Murray on 455 Sqn's last operational Sortie on anti U-Boat patrol.
RD429 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-N.
26/04/1945 Crashed and exploded near Fede Fjiord after strike.
Crew; F/O W.J.Edwards and W/O K.L.Hamilton killed.
RD459 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-Y.
03/05/1945 Flown by F/O R.H.Penhall on 455Sqn's last shipping strike for war.
RD461 T.F.Mk.X Served with 455 Sqn under RAF control, coded UB-O.
03/05/1945 Flown by FLt J.C.Ellis on 455 Sqn's last operational strike for the war.
 

Beaufighter MkII with Rolls Royce Merlin Engines A Beaufighter Mark II aircraft of No 456 Squadron RAAF at Valley airfield. Left to right; Leading Aircraftman (LAC) Abbot, Sergeant Pilot Stevens, LAC Molloy, LAC Gibson, Corporal (CPL) Cooper, CPL Thomas. This airman of No. 456 (night fighter) Squadron RAAF at RAF Station Valley, sticks to his "diggers" slouch hat while making final adjustments to an engine of one of the squadron's MK II Beaufighter aircraft (Merlin equipped). Two Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark Xs of No. 455 Squadron RAAF, line up on the runway at Dallachy, Morayshire, prior to take off. Beaufighter TF Mark Xs of No. 455 Squadron RAAF, about to depart from Langham, Norfolk, on an anti-shipping strike.

 

The Author of this page is Ron Wynn, (Updated by Brendan Cowan & Martin Edwards)

Sources: Australian War Museum www; Baker, I. K., 2002, Aviation History Colouring Book Special No 49; Baker, C. & Knight, G. 1992. Milne Bay 1942, Baker-Knight Publications, Loftus, NSW.; Mann, W., Search and Destroy, (a partial history of 31 Squadron operations), circa 2001. self-published; McAuley, L., 1991. Six Aces Australian Fighter Pilots 1939-45, Baaner Books, Maryborough Qld; McDonald, K. N., 1996. Coomalie Charlie Commandos – 31 Squadron Beaufighters at Darwin 1942-43, Banner Books, Maryborough; Parnell, N. M., 1980. Whispering Death – A History of the RAAF's Beaufighter Squadrons, A & A. Reed Pty. Ltd. London; Pentland, G., 1980. RAAF Camouflage & Markings Vol 1 & 2, Kookaburra Technical Publications Melbourne; RAAF Record (History and Movements) cards for each Beaufighter; Scutts, J., 1995. Beaufighter in Action, Squadron/Signal Publications No. 153, Carrollton, Texas; Turnbull, D., 1993, Beaufighters over New Guinea – No 30 Squadron RAAF 1942-43, RAAF Museum, Melbourne; Wilson, S., 1990. Beaufort, Beaufighter & Mosquito in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications, Weston Creek; Source: Townsville at War Website, The Herald Sun Newspaper and Australian Aviation Magazine, "Six Aces" Australian Fighter Pilots 1939-45 Lex McAulay 1991, Whispering Death by Neville Parnell, 455 Sqn operations record book, Australian War Memorial, "Strike and Strike Again" Ian Gordon. RAAF Beaufighter Status card for A19-36. Bristol Beaufighter by Victor Bingham 1994, Catalina Chronicle, David Vincent, Norman, D. CPL, Aircrew Losses of the RAAF, Unpublished Original Work available to ADF-Serials Researchers; British Military Aircraft Serials 1911-1979, Bruce Robertson; Srike and strike again, 455 Squadron RAAF, 1944-1945, Ian Gordon;

Emails: Steve Young, Dean Norman, Mark Taylor, Gordon Birkett, Daniel Leahy, Alan Scheckenbach, Bob Livingston, John Andrade, Leo Powning, Grant Thomas.

Updated 29 November 2013