Kyt, Further to the other thread, here's the Beau cockpit with an interesting windshield. Sorry about the quality, I messed it up resizing it for the web. View attachment 1305 Cheers Owen
Strewth! Do you have any more details Owen? That must have been one hell of a round to go through the thickest part of the canopy.
Hi Kyt, I have all of the details, but I thought I might keep you all in suspense for a few posts more. :becky: Cheers Owen
Rings a bell for some reason. You'll find, Owen, I say that a lot as there are many things that take a while to trawl up! I may have read this recently. An ace or at least "famous" pilot...
You know my first thought was that it looked as though the projectile had come from behind the windscreen. Btw, I'm used to Kyt being a swine so...
If it was anything like this, the crew deserves a medal! Sorties flown by RAF Banff Strike Wing 1943 - 1945, Scotland - UK September 14 1944. Twenty five Mosquito’s of 235 and 248 squadrons along with four MK XVIII Mosquito’s fitted with a 57mm Molins gun also of 248 squadron fly a Rover mission (armed patrol) with seven Beaufighters of 144 squadron and twelve Beaufighters of 404 Canadian squadron. The strike wing spots four motor vessels with two escorts off of Kristiansund. The wing attacked with hits being scored on all vessels with some fires being started. The flak ship SULLDORF —VP 1608,of 264 tons was sunk and the merchant vessel IRIS of 3323 tons was damaged. The flak barrage was intense, forcing Beaufighter "0" of 404 squadron to ditch 15 miles offshore. Lieutenant Taylor is believed to have escaped from the plane but did not survive, while Flying Officer Baribeau was taken prisoner after clambering aboard the planes dinghy. Also o damaged in the attack was Squadron Leader Schoaleso Beaufighter which had to make the return trip on one engine back to Banff. A third Beaufighter flown by Flying Officer A. Menaul and Flying Officer J. Tomeso, received a direct hit on the pilots windscreen, wounding Menaul in the arm, shoulder, chest and face. Suffering from these injuries Menaul continued his attack before Tomes came up front and helped Menaul control the damaged aircraft and administer first aid to his skipper. The Beaufighter made it back to base for a safe landing, both men later receiving awards of D.F.C.s.
Great post Andy. This particular aircraft is DAP Beaufighter A8-386 of the Camden Aviation Museum. The accompanying placard relates; The cockpit of A8-386 was found at the railway workshops at Chullora where Beauforts and Beaufighters were built during WWII. "Harry's Baby" had been painted on the side to mark the retirement of Harry Carroll, the Head of Production and Planning for the Beaufighter. The cockpit is brand new and NEVER SAW SERVICE and had been in storage since WWII. The hole was thus not made in active service and may have been made in an experiment testing armour glass or amunition. So it's all a bit of an anti-climax, but still a dramatic shot. View attachment 1335 Cheers, Owen
