Bristol Beaufighter

E161862

The Bristol Beaufighter was a British World War II heavy fighter and strike aircraft renowned for its roles in night fighting, anti-shipping, and ground-attack missions.

All labels observed (10)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf World War II military aircraft
strike aircraft
twin‑engine heavy fighter aircraft
aircraftConfiguration twin‑engine, twin‑seat fighter
airframeOrigin derived from Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber
armament four 20 mm Hispano cannon in the nose
rockets under wings in later strike versions
six 0.303 in machine guns in the wings in early versions
torpedo carriage in torpedo‑fighter variants
construction all‑metal monoplane
countryOfOrigin United Kingdom
crew 2
designedFor long‑range fighter and strike missions
engineType Bristol Hercules radial engine
equippedWith AI Mk IV airborne interception radar in night‑fighter versions
firstFlightDate 1939-07-17
introduced 1940
landingGear retractable tailwheel landing gear
manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company
maxSpeed approximately 320 mph (515 km/h)
nicknamed Beau
notableFor effective low‑level anti‑shipping attacks
notableVariant Beaufighter IC
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter

Beaufighter IF
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter

Beaufighter TF.X
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter

Beaufighter VI
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter

Beaufighter X
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter
numberOfEngines 2
primaryUser Royal Air Force
productionPeriod early 1940s
productionStatus out of production
range approximately 1,500 mi (2,400 km) with external tanks
retired 1960s
role anti‑shipping aircraft
ground‑attack aircraft
heavy fighter
night fighter
strike aircraft
serviceCeiling approximately 26,000 ft (7,900 m)
theatreOfOperations European theatre of World War II
Mediterranean theatre of World War II
Pacific theatre of World War II
usedInConflict Second World War
linked to: World War II
user Free French Air Forces
linked to: Free French Forces

Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
wingConfiguration low‑wing monoplane

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (21)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

RAF Coastal Command operatedAircraft Bristol Beaufighter
Boulton Paul Defiant successorInRole Bristol Beaufighter (night fighter role)
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter
Fairey Battle successor Bristol Beaufighter (in some roles)
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter
RAF Second Tactical Air Force aircraftOperated Bristol Beaufighter
No. 29 Squadron RAF aircraftOperated Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter notableVariant Beaufighter IF
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter notableVariant Beaufighter IC
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter notableVariant Beaufighter VI
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter notableVariant Beaufighter X
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter notableVariant Beaufighter TF.X
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Hercules usedInAircraft Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Hercules usedOnAircraft Bristol Beaufighter
subject linked to: Bristol Hercules radial engine
No. 264 Squadron RAF aircraftOperated Bristol Beaufighter
RAF Leconfield hostsAircraft Bristol Beaufighter (historical)
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter
No. 141 Squadron RAF aircraftOperated Bristol Beaufighter
RAF Drem aircraftOperated Bristol Beaufighter
Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp usedInAircraft Bristol Beaufighter (some variants)
linked to: Bristol Beaufighter
RAF Speke stationedAircraftType Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Aeroplane Company notableProduct Bristol Beaufighter
No. 29 Squadron RAF aircraftOperated Bristol Beaufighter
subject linked to: 29 Squadron