Bristol Beaufighter Part I

This is the first of two articles on the Beaufighter and 406 Squadron. Pictured is the Tamiya 1/48 Bristol Beaufighter IVF marked to represent aircraft HU-P, serial number ND221 of 406 (Lynx, City of Saskatoon) Squadron, RCAF. Decals used are from an old ADH sheet. 406 squadron, the first RCAF night fighter squadron formed, used the unit motto “We Kill At Night”. It was established on May 10, 1941 with Bristol Blenheim MkI’s and Mk IV’s and used these until June 1941. The squadron used the Beaufighter Mk IIF from June 1941 until August 1942 and the Beaufighter Mk IVF from June 1941 until August 1944. The squadron also used the gun turret equipped Mk V prototype, serial R2274. The squadron used the Mosquito Mk XII from April until July 1944 until equipping with Mosquito FB Mk XXX’s, which was used until September 1945. The change in equipment coincided with a change in roles, with the squadron designated as an intruder unit on November 27, 1944. The squadron scored the first RCAF night fighter victory on the night of September 1, 1941 when Flying Officer R.C. Fumerton and Sgt Bing shot down a Ju88. The squadron ended the war as the top scoring RCAF/RAF intruder squadron with 64 aircraft destroyed, 7 probably destroyed, and 47 damaged. On August 25, 1943, now Wing Commander R.C Fumerton assumed command and remained until July 25, 1944. W/C D.J. Williams assumed command until November 3, 1944 and W/C R. Bannock assumed command during the units intruder phase. He was replaced by W/C R.G. Gray on May 15, 1945 and he would remain in command until the unit disbanded on September 1, 1945. 406 Squadron reformed at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on April 1,1947 and initially flew Mitchells. It was disbanded on April 1,1964 as part of the reduction in the RCAF’s Auxiliary Force. The squadron was reformed on July 12,1972 at CFB Shearwater in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and is still active at this base training Sea King air and ground crews. A prominent personality previously mentioned is the late W/C R.C. Fumerton (1913-2006). Not only was he responsible for the first RCAF night fighter kill, he was also the highest scoring RCAF night fighter ace with 14 kills. His final victory was on the night of May 14, 1944. The Beaufighter depicted is not his aircraft but and profile of his Beaufighter is presented in the Osprey book, “Beaufighter Aces of WW2”. The next article will deal with the kit itself.